Board again rejects Old Mill apartments plan

It’s strike two for the Old Mill apartment project.
South Strabane Township’s zoning hearing board Monday rejected a bid by HCB Foundry LLC to build 200 to 220 apartments in the complex between Washington and Berry roads. Zoners tabled HCB’s variance request on this proposal Nov. 30.
The Staenberg Group, developer of the 104-acre Old Mill, wants to construct mid-rise units in three to five buildings standing four stories. The structures would be on a 15-acre plot at the top of the property, near the back entrance off Berry.
The main point of contention is a township zoning ordinance designating Old Mill as a C-2 district, for general commercial development. Apartment buildings are allowable there only if retail is on the first floor. Old Mill currently has only retail businesses and restaurants.
“We do allow apartments elsewhere where it’s not C-2,” township Manager John Stickle said Tuesday.
HCB Foundry does not want retail on the ground floor.
Stickle did not attend Monday’s meeting, but did get particulars from zoning board clerk Ellen Waller. “They (HCB) didn’t comply with the ordinance,” Stickle said. “There also was talk about additional traffic.”
The board voted, 2-0, against HCB’s proposal. One member was absent.
Though “very disappointed” with the decision, Andy Boyd, senior asset manager for Staenberg, said his group has “started working on a plan B. We’re hoping to be back with the township and get this resolved in the next month or so. We think we have a good chance of getting this approved through another process.”
Boyd said, “It’s not feasible to have retail on the first floor at the back of a shopping center. That may work in a bigger area, like a city.”
As in November, Boyd presented HCB’s case along with Pittsburgh attorney Jonathan Kamin and engineer Pat Cooper of Gateway Engineers.
“We gave an hour and 15-minute demonstration,” Boyd said, “and thought we had demonstrated our hardships, not only through physical aspects but planning and marketing aspects.”
The board then went into an executive session, which Boyd considered a positive for his side. “But they came back and voted against it and didn’t give a reason. But we’ll move on.”