Planning Commission Denies Daycare Recommendation
The Goddard School is looking to come to Upper St. Clair.
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The Upper St. Clair Planning Commission denied the request to recommend that a zoning amendment be added to allow for The Goddard School to be built next to the KinderCare on North Highland Road.
The planning commissioners did not explain their reasoning during the Thursday night meeting.
The property owner, Alex Bunson, was requesting that the township change it's zoning ordinance for daycare centers to be allowed in the R-3 district. Other allowed buildings in the R-3 district, such as nursing homes, are required to have 1 acre of land. Bunson's property is .994 acres.
There were concerns about changing the R-3 zoning ordinance because single-family residential homes are next to the property of the proposed daycare center.
The application will now go to the Upper St. Clair Board of Commissioners without the recommendation of the planning commission.
The final plans for Bedner Estates and the application to build apartments off Boyce Road, items that were both on the agenda earlier this week, were tabled for a later meeting.
Would you like The Goddard School to be built in Upper St. Clair? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.
Laura M.
1:10 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Denied over .006 of an acre? 6/1000ths? Less than 20 square yds? It seems they'd be setting a precedent if they were making an exception for 1/10th or even 1/100th of an acre, but common sense says most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference visually between 1 acre and .994 of an acre. Bad call.
Francis Kilinsky
6:26 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
That was a great call. That is a residential neighborhood and the Planning Commission was correct in not recommending a zoning amendment be made to allow a commercial establishment to be located at 1630 N. Highland Road.
Mary
1:32 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Can an adjoining property owner give or sell that little piece to them?
Seems like such a minor detail. When the township needs to take some of your land to expand a road etc. that's a different story.
Rules are rules, but if they didn't give another reason, and no one objects, let them open their school.
Francis Kilinsky
6:28 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Not one adjoining property owner would be interested in either giving or selling Alex Bunson a small piece of their property so that a "school" could be built at 1630 N. Highland Road becuase if the school is built their property would be devalued.
Becky Brindle
1:36 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
I just got off a phone call and got some more details/clarifications. It's a little more complex than a land issue. Mr. Bunson was also requesting that the township change its existing zoning ordinance to allow a daycare center on that property. As the property is currently zoned, a daycare center is not allowed. So it's a zoning issue and a land measurement issue. We'll see what the commissioners think in the near future. Thanks for your comments. What does everyone else think?
Francis Kilinsky
6:30 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Alex Bunson can build a home or two on that property but he is greedy and trying to get mega bucks for the property by having a "school" built on it.
PS
1:47 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Seriously? They are willing to change zoning for the entire area formerly leased by Consolidation Coal, but they aren't willing to budge for .006 of an acre for a small, quiet daycare that won't impact traffic, noise, or quality of living in any nagative way? Sounds strange to me.
Francis Kilinsky
6:31 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
PS - if you lived in the neighborhood you would feel differently about it.
Laura M.
7:28 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
And a daycare is only open 6-6 Monday - Friday. It looks like the current zoning (R3) allows for a nursing home (open 24/7 with ambulances coming and going who knows when) and allows for a group home (also open 24/7 with who knows what kind of people coming and going) and allows for oil and gas drilling. It seems a daycare would be welcome over those other options...
Francis Kilinsky
7:35 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Laura M. - The options you mentioned are not available for that piece of property.
Jill Baer
2:32 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
As usual Upper St. Clair proves it would rather tax their residential property owners than take on some commercial property that would help their tax base. This piece of property is next to a present Day Care and across from the Chick-Filet, Trader Joes etc. The daycare would be much quieter. Seriously, my grandchildren go to the Goddard School in Peters and I can't imagine a better neighbor.
Francis Kilinsky
6:37 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Jill - Get serious! I get sick and tired of hearing that by building this "school" it would generate more property taxes for the township and create jobs. What it would really do is devalue all the homes in the surrounding neighborhood and cause more traffic in an already congested area. Maybe you could convince the Goddard School to build a facility next to your house.
Jim
7:20 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Francis, You are such a tool!! I guess you must live near there and you are upset that you weren't smart enough or had a set to buy and resell the property in question and make some money on it. That new building would generate a lot more tax revenue than your little house !
Francis Kilinsky
7:30 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Jim - Your statements were the dumbest comments I have ever read. I suggest you do a little research to see what the implications are if the zoning is changed to allow a commercial property in a residential neighborhood.
PS
8:43 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Francis, I agree with you completely!! I was just commenting on the inequity of the decisions made by the planning commission. I live right by Consolidation Coal and am horrified with what's happening here. Traffic is already a nightmare, and the lights and noise will be even worse once Whole Foods is finished.
John Rambo
9:38 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
What is utterly amazIng to me is the number of people who comment on a subject like this and know nothing about it! Attend the meetings and educate yourself before you make foolish statements no matter which side you fall on. Apathy is contagious!