Sep 11, 2014 By David Singer 3 min read

The South Fayette board of commissioners is seeking proposals to lease the 8.5 acres next to the newly built Children’s Hospital South on Miller’s Run Road.

By a 4-1 vote at the Sept. 10 meeting, the board approved advertising for a ground lease of the property that would have non-profits paying the equivalent of any taxes a for-profit company would pay.

“The selected developer must demolish the existing movie theater by no later than April 1, 2015, and must agree to make tax payments to both South Fayette Township and South Fayette Township School District,” the request for proposal said, and that “proposals should include an option to provide 45,000 square feet for township facilities.”

Commissioner Jessica Cardillo Wagenhoffer cast the dissenting vote, saying outright sale should be on the table.

“What could we be missing out on if a developer only wants to buy and not lease? This is prime real-estate off of I-79 that should be sold so its on the tax rolls,” she said.

Township manager Ryan Eggleston said an amendment could be made later to include selling the property, and that the building itself would still be taxed.

“This is just to gauge responses and see what type of interest is out there,” commissioner Lisa Malosh said.

The request for proposal said applicants can only make submissions in person or through the mail, and not through email, and that the RFP documents are available on the township website.

“Acceptance of a proposal is anticipated by Jan. 21, 2015,” the RFP read, and that “the proposed ground lease must have a minimum 25-year term, with two optional 10-year renewals.”

In other business, the board heard a proposal from Lancaster-based development group Charter Homes to build a residential community along Mayview road called Hastings.

Though the township doesn’t own the nearly 140 acres that Charter Homes wants to build upon, the board of commissioners got a preview of what a neighborhood would look like if the privately held plot was sold.

President of Charter Homes, Rob Bowman, presented a draft for 620 lots with 400 homes on a roughly 70 acre plan.

“This would include micro-retail districts, and a terraformed park with sloped, rolling hills and rock formations. The plan would have lots of green space that connects each home and also to nearby Mayview park,” Bowman said

The property is currently owned by Mark and David Aloe, entrepreneurs who have worked in the coal industry. Bowman said they are still working to close the sale of the property.

In other action, the board voted unanimously to approve updated floodwater management plans, which required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, allows homeowners to keep or renew flood insurances.

The board tabled a $30,000 proposal from AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. to examine current storm water management plan and infrastructure.