Apr 26, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 5 min read

Residents attended North Strabane Township supervisors meeting Wednesday to voice concerns about a proposed housing development bordering Peters Lake.

Diane Damon, left, and Linda Lopez walk Lopez’s dog, Mocha, at Peters Lake on Thursday afternoon.

A group named Friends of Peters Lake is concerned about a proposed housing development planned near the shore of Peters Lake in North Strabane Township.

Trish Williams Mann kayaks on Peters Lake. A 35.5-acre housing development is proposed near the lake.

Residents from North Strabane and Peters townships gathered at a North Strabane Township supervisors meeting Wednesday to voice opposition to a proposed 35.5-acre housing development near Peters Lake.

About 50 people attended the meeting, with a dozen sharing their concerns with supervisors during public comment about the potential impact The Collective at Peters Lake, a 41-unit development proposed to be built on North Spring Valley Road, will have on Peters Lake and residents who live in the community.

The board of supervisors will vote on the conditional use application, submitted by Laurel Communities LLC for a conservation subdivision at its April 30 meeting, but township business manager Andrew Walz said Wednesday any approval will include several conditions the developer must meet to move forward.

Residents are worried about the impact the development may have on natural springs and underground water sources, as North Spring Valley Road residents rely on either wells or springs for their water supply.

Along with water, residents are concerned about the environmental impact on Peters Lake, which is cited by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program as a “site of significance” and is home to the rare white trout lily. There have been 516 species of plants and animals observed at the park, according to iNaturalist.

The lake and its tributaries are classified by the state Department of Environmental Protection as “high quality,” “unimpaired,” and supportive of aquatic life.

Residents also raised concerns about increased traffic, and the ability of emergency vehicles and school buses to access North Spring Valley, which at its narrowest point is 12 feet, 4 inches wide, short of the township requirements for new construction.

“If you’ve been there, you’d understand why there is such an emotional response from the people who are affected. It’s a place where we bring our dogs – we know everybody’s dogs who walk around the same time – we make connections with other people. It’s a community,” said Lisa Jamnback, who lives on Fulton Road. “The wildlife, the lake is beautiful, the sunrises and the sunsets; it’s a wonderful, uplifting place to be in this world where there’s little uplifting going on. It’s just a real treasure when it comes to our emotional wellbeing.”

No one spoke on behalf of the developer, and phone messages to Laurel Communities were not returned Thursday.

Nearly 1,200 people have signed a petition in opposition of the development. Residents also attended the Peters Township supervisors meeting on Monday to share concerns, although Peters Township doesn’t play a role in the development.

John Lubic, who moved to his home on North Spring Valley Road 12 years ago, said his time there “has been the best 12 years I’ve ever had.”

“During COVID, this was a sanctuary to so many people,” he said. “It became sort of like, in a good way, I-79, with people and their families out there every evening. It was a cool thing.”

Walz said the conditions the supervisors plan to attach to the conditional use approval include a traffic study that will include a sight distance study at the intersection of North Spring Valley Road and Waterdam Road; a sight distance study at each of the proposed intersections on North Spring Valley Road; a study for fire truck radius at intersections; installation of sidewalks from the development to the lake; a general study of the roadways; and an analysis of existing water wells and a request for Laurel Communities to extend water lines the length of North Spring Valley Road and to allow residents to tap in.

North Strabane Township officials said if the conditional use application is approved, the DEP and Washington County Conservation District will play a role in the development, and that the plan likely will be “highly scrutinized” because it is a high-quality watershed.

Linda Lopez, who has lived on North Spring Valley Road Extension for 47 years, said she is worried the housing plan will “ruin the intrinsic value of the lake,” and impact water quality.

“They will be disturbing the water that feeds the lake, which is high-quality water; that’s going to happen,” said Lopez.

“I think the supervisors listened to everybody’s points, I could see they were really paying attention, and I felt they were leaning into everything we were saying,” said Lopez.

“The lake is a gem. There’s nothing like this lake, anywhere. People drive from Castle Shannon, other areas, to visit because there is nothing like it. It’s special.”