Residents plan ‘Save Peters Lake’ walk as demonstration against proposed housing development
Residents of both North Strabane and Peters townships are planning to demonstrate against a proposed housing development along Peters Lake with a “community walk” later this month.
The “Save Peters Lake” walk is planned for July 21 at shelter B in Rolling Hills Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. followed by the walk at 10.
The Friends of Peters Lake group formed earlier this year as North Strabane Township supervisors have considered a 35.5-acre development called The Collective at Peters Lake. Laurel Communities LLC hopes to build a 41-unit development on North Spring Valley Road.
Last month the group filed an appeal in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas of the supervisors’ approval of Laurel Communities’ conditional use application. The developer is still early in the process, and township officials have indicated it could take about a year to receive a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Laurel Communities did not respond to a request for comment.
Laura Diiulio moved to a Peters Township home near the lake nine years ago. The proximity to the lake was the biggest draw to her family.
“There is not a day we’re not spending time there with our children. I can’t even emphasize what it did for our mental health during COVID,” Diiulio said. “It was pretty much the only thing we had day in and day out. The amount of hours we have logged there as a family is immeasurable.”
Diiulio and other residents involved in Friends of Peters Lake are concerned about development of The Collective potentially harming or polluting the lake. The group has attended North Strabane supervisors meetings in recent months to voice their concerns. They are hopeful for the support of neighboring Peters Township council.
Peters council Vice Chairman Gary Stiegel said the township would monitor the lake should any development occur nearby, but acknowledged the issue is largely out of council’s hands.
“We’ll make sure the lake isn’t impacted if construction moves forward. We really don’t have any say in the approval,” Stiegel said.
According to a press release from Friends of Peters Lake, more than 1,900 residents have signed an online petition opposing the development.
Those interested in the community walk can pre-register at peterslake.com.