USC commissioners honor Eagle Scout
During their first meeting of the new year, the Upper St. Clair commissioners recognized Liam Carse of Boy Scout Troop 228 for successfully obtaining Eagle Scout status.
Commissioner Robert Orchowski presented Carse, a senior at Upper St. Clair High School, with a proclamation from the township during the Jan. 3 meeting.
Carse and 25 volunteers spent 125 hours collecting new and used soccer equipment, including nets, soccer balls, pumps, cleats, and other equipment, that were cleaned, packed and shipped to children in LaCroix, Haiti. Liam, the son of Jesse and Debbie Carse, also participated in a medical mission trip to Haiti in 2016.
During a continued public hearing at the meeting, the board approved a zoning map amendment for rezoning 1353,1355, 1357 and 1361 McLaughlin Run Road from a RM Restricted Light Industrial District and RL-1 Low Intensity Residential District to RM Restricted Light Industrial District. Also, the board approved nonresidential conditional use approval for warehousing at 1371 McLaughlin Run Road.
The change was requested in December to expand and improve the current precast business on McLaughlin Run Road. A conservation easement is planned for the steep slope portion at the rear of the property, from the toe of the hill to Cook School Road.
During a second public hearing in December, there was a presentation requesting conditional use approval for warehousing at 1371 McLaughlin Run Road, the site of an auto repair garage. The applicant proposed painting the building and installing a new roof and new garage doors. The warehouse would be used for storing equipment for an industrial painting contractor.
Added to the conditional use approval for 1371 McLaughlin Run Rd. were requirements that all storage will be within the existing building and any outdoor parking must be on the subject property.
Under new business, a public hearing was held regarding amendment of the township zoning code with respect to free-standing business identification signage. The proposed amendment would add the SB-MU zoning district to the list of zoning districts where freestanding business identification signage is permitted. It would also clarify provisions for freestanding signage in non-residential zoning districts.
Under the new amendment, a freestanding business identification sign with a maximum area of 20 feet or less would be permitted in non-residential zoning districts for individual or multiple businesses, and located no closer than ten feet to any lot line. The sign must also be a maximum of six feet above the ground.
Adam Benigni, USC’s director of planning and community development, said the changes would allow multiple tenants to use one sign. Using the Dunkin’ Donuts building as an example, Benigni said that under the current code, new tenants in the building would not be permitted to place their business names on the monument type sign located by the road.
Benigni said the code change would have the most impact on businesses located in areas with lower speed limits, like the McLaughlin Run Rd. corridor or Boyce Rd.
At the end of the meeting, Orchowski recognized the passing of former commissioner Gloria Smith. Smith served for 12 years as township commissioner, from 1994 to 2005. Prior to her three terms as commissioners, Smith, a certified elementary teacher, also served on the USC School Board for 13 years.