Jun 21, 2016 By Suzanne Elliott 3 min read

For nearly three hours Monday, Peters Township Council heard from residents on the township’s plans to implement two proposed overlay districts within its residential zoning ordinance.

It was hoped the public hearing, held June 20 at Peters Township Middle School to accommodate the crowd, would help council to decide to add the overlays – Conservation Residential, or CR, and Mixed Residential, MR – to its existing residential zoning. Both overlays would allow for more housing units per acre than currently permitted, while the CR overlay would encourage developers to set aside more green space.

Residents who spoke at the hearing appeared to be evenly divided on the overlays. Some residents said they welcome the opportunity to see different housing stock in Peters, while others exressed concern that the potential changes could jeopardize existing property values.

“The goal is to diversify housing with less of a foot print,” Ed Zuk, Peters planning director, said at the beginning of the hearing, which attracted about 60 residents.

The majority of Peters Township, the most populous municipality in Washington County, already is zoned residential. But much of the eastern part of the township remains undeveloped and ripe for new construction.

Dan Taylor, a resident of Golden Eagle Drive, told council that many people are new to the concept of an overlay district, which creates a special zoning district within an underlying base zone. Taylor said he wanted to know why residents were not better informed of the proposed changes.

“The communication has to be there,” he said. “You are proposing something that will increase traffic.”

But Lisa McLaughlin, a local Realtor, told council the proposed changes represent a vision for the township.

Still, residents questioned the potential impact of the changes to their home values and quality of life.

“How can I build an estate home next to a patio home?” said Ed Courtney of Venetia.

Residential developers in Peters are allowed to construct 1.2 housing units on one acre of land. With a CR overlay, three units could be placed on one acre if 40 percent of the is set aside for open space.

Other components of the CR overlay include five-foot-wide sidewalks and streetscape options.

The MR overlay would allow up to six units on one acre, while 10 percent of the land would be dedicated to open space. Also, the MR could allow for multifamily units with a limit of 24 units per building, as well as five-foot-wide sidewalks.

Michael Silvestri, township manager, said the next step is to review the comments made at the hearing. When that step is completed, it will then be decided if adjustments are to be made.

If council decides changes are warranted, another public hearing will be held, Silvestri said. If no changes are necessary, then council will publicly advertise when it plans to take action on the ordinance.