North Strabane to vote on zoning for senior facility
North Strabane Township supervisors will vote on a proposed zoning ordinance amendment Tuesday that will determine the future of a senior housing facility.
Presbyterian SeniorCare and Laurel Communities have plans for a 57-acre site on McDowell Lane near Canonsburg Lake, the first step of which will be a four-story senior apartment complex. Developers have been before the township several times in an attempt to move forward, but the height of the building is presenting a challenge.
In January, the planning commission voted down a recommendation to approve adding the definition of “senior garden apartments” to the R-3 residential district in the current zoning ordinance. Developers then came back and asked that the maximum stories for senior garden apartments be increased from three to four; that proposal was also voted down by the planning commission.
Commission member Neil Kelly, who voted against recommending approval, said the four-story plan clashes with the traditional definition of a garden apartment and that it’s not the township’s responsibility to make ventures “financially feasible” for developers.
But Terry F. Bove, representing Presbyterian SeniorCare, said a higher-story building is a preference of seniors, who like to be closer to the core of the building, “getting away from long corridors and closer to the elevator.”
Bove said three-story buildings were traditionally constructed because the equipment used by fire departments in the case of an emergency could only reach that height. Modern equipment can handle higher-story buildings, he said.
“The fire department is comfortable with whatever they build,” said North Strabane fire Chief Mark Grimm.
An underground parking garage is planned below the building. Later development includes standalone villa homes and carriage homes.
Supervisors will consider the planning commission’s recommendation when they vote on the matter Tuesday.
They will also consider an amendment to the zoning ordinance allowing dog boarding facilities as a special exception in the C-1 and C-2 commercial districts.
Cecil Township resident Jessica Salko made the request for a “dog day care” facility, that would include overnight accommodations for the animals.
Current zoning allows for veterinarians to board animals in agricultural districts of at least five acres. The planning commission voted to approve the proposal.
The board of supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.