Jul 24, 2025 By Jon Andreassi 4 min read

South Strabane Township supervisors unanimously approved conditional use for a proposed housing development that would include 401 residential homes.

Developer MLD Meadows Landing LLC plans to build its Meadows Landing development off of Route 19, behind Landings Drive.

Alberto Jarquin, a project manager with Pittsburgh-based Gateway Engineers, represented the developer at Tuesday’s supervisors meeting.

According to Jarquin, those units would consist of 170 single-family homes, 90 duplexes and 141 townhouses.

Multiple residents spoke during the public hearing about concerns over the development.

Linda Rumbaugh, whose property neighbors the proposed housing plan, criticized the current design with two entrances from Route 19 about 1,000 feet apart.

“The traffic on Route 19 is already horrendous because of Berry Road being closed. It’s going to be 10 times worse. And good luck, (South Strabane Fire Chief Jordan Cramer), trying to get a fire truck in there. Big deal, 1,000 feet apart. That’s your entrance in there,” Rumbaugh said.

Chester Patrina also lives in a neighboring home, and expressed concern about trespassing on his property once people have moved into the housing plan.

“I’ve taken all precautions to warn people about trespassing on the property. I believe a fence would be the onus of the developer to erect and own this fence,” Patrina said. “What I’d like is a commitment and a good faith effort, a commitment, right now, right here, a yes or no answer. Are you going to erect a fence along the property lines of the residents?”

Patrina ultimately got that commitment, as part of the supervisors’ approval was contingent on Meadows Landing building fences between the development and neighboring properties. The developer will also be required to pay any traffic impact fees.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Trans Associates, a Pittsburgh-based transportation engineering firm, presented its report on Berry Road traffic and recommended potential improvements.

South Strabane paid the firm $57,000 through a local share account grant to complete the study.

Berry Road is currently closed between Manifold Road and Old Mill Boulevard after flooding damage in June.

Zach Staley, a traffic engineer with Trans Associates, said between 2,777 and 4,134 vehicles travel on Berry Road daily.

“The majority of that volume is actually destined to and from Strabane Square, south to Locust Avenue,” Staley said. “As you drive north, or progress north, along Berry Road, traffic volumes as you approach Manifold Road actually decrease just because of the residential land uses in the area.”

Trans Associates’ study found that there were 50 crashes on Berry Road between 2019 and 2024. One of those crashes was fatal, and nine were single-vehicle accidents.

One of the firm’s recommendations is to realign Berry Road and Country Club Road to form a four-way intersection at Locust Avenue. Trans Associates estimates this would be a $5.7 million project.

It also suggested eliminating the ramps at Manifold Road and reconstructing that portion of the road into a “T” intersection, estimated to cost $1.2 million.

Bob Goetz, of Trans Associates, told supervisors that speeding north of Old Mill Boulevard is an issue on Berry Road.

“One effective way of trying to lower those speeds is with the installation of speed humps. There are a number of different ways to do it,” Goetz said.

South Strabane supervisors also approved the transfer of a liquor license from Main Street Tavern in Monongahela to the future site of Industry Public House. Industry Public House plans to open its third location at 315 Washington Road at Strabane Square, previously a TGI Fridays.

The restaurant and bar also has locations in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh and North Fayette.

Owner David Viszlay said at the meeting that Industry Public House would have six salaried employees and about 40 full-time and part-time positions.