Feb 21, 2017 By Harry Funk 3 min read

The vision for Peters Township’s McMurray Town Center includes the presence of tall buildings, but just how tall those buildings can be has yet to be determined.

During a nearly two-hour workshop session Feb. 20, members of the township’s council and planning commission pored through proposed changes to the TC zoning district, providing administrative staff members with direction on how to proceed toward a final draft ordinance.

The session followed a Jan. 25 stakeholder-focus group meeting, allowing public input with regard to plans for the area extending north from the intersection of East McMurray and Valley Brook roads.

One aspect that has drawn considerable interest is the proposal to allow for buildings with up to four stories, with some council members pointing to the economic viability of such a maximum.

“I think the biggest reason would be the cost of the property at this juncture in the McMurray Town Center district,” council Vice Chairman James Berquist said. “I know a friend of mine wants desperately to build an apartment building in that area, but he needs it to be four stories to make the numbers work.”

Councilman Frank Kosir Jr. agreed.

“I think you have to provide for four stories at some point because otherwise, from a financial standpoint, it doesn’t make sense for anyone to come here and buy the land,” he said.

Council Chairman Frank Arcuri took the opposite point of view, citing a situation by which someone might construct “a four-story kind of structure with a huge parking lot” next to smaller buildings.

“That doesn’t sound right,” he said. “In my mind, that’s just too much there.”

Councilwoman Monica Merrell suggested a compromise of sorts.

“I would only agree with four if it’s back off the road,” she said. “I’m not keen on the idea of a four-story building right on East McMurray, and I think a four-story building on Valley Brook, up against the trail, would be an abomination.”

One scenario would be to allow up to three stories along streets and four elsewhere.

“We have looked at that, and that’s certainly well within the realm of possibility,” said James Segedy, the township’s land use planner.

Councilman David Ball said an option could be to provide for four stories as a conditional use rather than permitted use, meaning that plans would be subject to council approval.

No matter how many stories, the proposed change to the zoning ordinance calls for a maximum height of 56 feet for buildings with a pitched roof and 51 feet for a flat roof. The current maximum is 45 feet, the height of the three-story McMurray Elementary School.

Council and planning commission members also examined numerous other aspects of the zoning district, including the types of businesses that will be allowed – “sexually oriented establishment” is not – and minimum/maximum dimensions for lots and buildings.

The Town Center district is “intended to provide a defined community-scale residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment district and central gathering place for Peters Township residents. The priority is placed on optimizing the physical characteristics of the built environment for increased walkability,” according to information provided by the township.

The process of bringing the vision to reality continues.

“The first step is to get the zoning in place,” planning director Ed Zuk said. “The next step is to look long-term and think about how we promote this and get this thing off the ground.”