Development decisions teem
Plans are in the works to demolish the former Sharp’s Furniture on Route 19 in South Strabane Township.
The backs of the stores in the Old Mill development in South Strabane Township are shown in the distance from where 250 apartments are proposed.
Taco Bell is coming to South Strabane Township, Dunkin’ Donuts is not, and a 200-unit apartment complex is swathed in uncertainty.
In separate meetings over the past week, the township’s supervisors and zoning hearing board approved, disapproved and tabled the three proposals at the municipal building off Route 19.
The supervisors approved final land-development plans Nov. 24 for Charter Foods North to construct a Taco Bell at Northgate Plaza, 460 Washington Road, but voted down a final land-development plan by Heartland Restaurant Group to construct a Dunkin’ Donuts at the intersection of Murtland Avenue and Raymond Boulevard.
The planning commission recommended approval at its Nov. 5 meeting for the 1,849-square-foot Dunkin’ Donuts building, including a drive-through, but supervisors said they were concerned about adding traffic to an already-bustling intersection. Dan Orie of Heartland said current road construction on Route 19 accounts for the restaurant’s presence.
“My concern is the traffic. It’s busy now,” said Chairman Jack Keisling, before voting against the plan. Edward Mazur and Robert Koman also voted no.
There is only one Dunkin’ Donuts in Washington County – the one that opened May 4 on Cavasina Drive in Canonsburg. Dunkin’ does not have a Greene County presence.
The zoning board Monday night tabled a variance request by HCB Foundry LLC,, which wants to build mid-rise apartments in the Old Mill complex. HCB plans to construct 200 to 220 units in three to five buildings standing four stories. They would be on a 15-acre plot at the top of the property, near Berry Road.
Old Mill currently is retail-only, including restaurants.
Pittsburgh attorney Jonathan Kamin presented HCB’s case to the board, supported by a large drawing of the Old Mill property. Pat Cooper of Gateway Engineers and Andy Boyd, senior asset manager for The Staenberg Group, developer of the 104-acre project, also endorsed the apartments proposal.
They want the buildings to have apartments only, but the township ordinance requires retail space on the first floor. That is the reason for the variance request.
“The ordinance is very clear in a C-2 district,” zoning member Andy Rembert said. “You can’t just have an apartment building. This cannot be done if there is no retail.”
Kamin said, “What we are proposing is a residential district. We would share all utilities and stormwater access (with retail), have a unified use. Retail and apartments would be connected, but not on top of each other.”
Rembert said the request is a conditional-use issue, which the township planning commission would have to determine.
The two sides agreed to table the variance application for 60 days, or until late January. Kamin pledged to return with more information and drawings.
“If we can’t do apartments without first-floor retail,” Kamin added, “we probably won’t build.”
The zoning board also tabled a request by Aspen Dental to erect a second sign designating its future location off Route 19. That sign would be geared toward commuters driving toward Washington.
Aspen plans to be in a building to be constructed on the former site of Sharp’s Furniture, which closed in August. That structure will be demolished.
The board wants more information before its next meeting in about a month.
Staff writer Natalie Reid Miller contributed to this report.