Traffic causes concern in Upper St. Clair
A public hearing on a conditional-use approval for a new development at the former Consol property on Route 19 in Upper St. Clair will be continued Sept. 3.
Township commissioners Monday held the first part of the public hearing on the request, during which residents asked the commissioners to consider traffic concerns raised by the development.
The proposed plan includes 12 townhouses and 21 patio homes at the development being called Siena at St. Clair. A 39,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market is proposed along Route 19 with underground parking beneath the market in addition to surface parking. Another set of buildings is proposed to house offices, retail establishments and restaurants.
Rachel Myers, a traffic engineer with David Wooster and Associates, testified the traffic study her firm performed indicated the proposed development would not significantly impact the intersections of Fort Couch Road and Consol Drive with Route 19 during peak hours.
She said peak hours measured were 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday. Myers said the intersections would continue to function at an acceptable level of service, according to state Department of Transportation standards.
Myers said the study did not include the intersection of Orr Road with Route 19 because traffic is not expected to use the intersection to get to the development. She said a time analysis indicated use of that cut-through route did not improve travel time.
Fort Couch Road resident Randy Shaffer disagreed.
“Orr Road is going to become a nightmare,” he said.
Frank McFaden of Glo-Min Drive said the traffic engineers didn’t take into account the traffic in the area at Christmas time. He said he doesn’t know much about the engineering that goes into traffic analysis by engineers, but, “I do know when I get stuck.”
Debbie Levy of Cadbury Court said it takes longer for her and her family to navigate the area as more businesses open up.
“Come shopping with me on Saturday,” she said to the commissioners. “I’m hoping you’ll protect my family. Traffic studies are not often in the real world.”
Commissioners granted approval July 1 for a liquor license transfer to the proposed Whole Foods Market at 1800 Washington Road.
There is one entrance off Washington Road proposed at the former Consol site and one proposed on Fort Couch Road as a right turn in and out only.
Matt Racunas, an attorney representing two residents, listed items he viewed as deficiencies in the proposal he said should constitute refusal by the commissioners.
Representing Margaret Witner and Michelle McKnight, Racunas said, “You can’t just approve it because it looks pretty and might be a good idea. Clearly this application does not meet the ordinance.”
The property was the focus of several well-attended public hearings in 2011 by the planning commission and the board of commissioners regarding a zoning amendment sought by the developers to permit multi-family housing units on the site in addition to a list of more than 20 commercial uses not previously permitted there under the current special business district zoning.
Hundreds of residents packed the meeting rooms at the township’s community center for the meetings, which had to be moved to the larger venue from the municipal complex. Residents expressed concern about the potential effect on traffic, property values, the impact on schools, and buffer zones separating their homes from the property.