Politics & Government

Siena at St. Clair Decision Pushed Back

Upper St. Clair's commissioners need more time to think about the former CONSOL Energy headquarters site.

Don't start building just yet.

During a public hearing on Monday regarding the potential Siena at St. Clair development at the former CONSOL Energy headquarters site, the Upper St. Clair Township Board of Commissioners voted to push its decision for the project's approval back until at least Sept. 3, when the hearing will continue.

The facility, proposed by developers Gerard Cipriani of Upper St. Clair and Hal Kistler of Mt. Lebanon, includes plans for a Whole Foods Market, coffee shop, office spaces, residential homes and two or three restaurants.

All businesses and homes in the complex would be cohesive with a matching "Tuscan style" with tile roofs, stained wood and earth-tone detailing. 

Retail Space and Restaurants 
The developers remained mum about what office spaces or retail establishments to expect in the complex; although, only half of the building would be retail businesses.

Cipriani said that they are in serious discussion with multiple businesses and to expect two or three restaurants.

"We've gotten a significant amount of interest," Cipriani said.

Cipriani mentioned Burgatory and Outback Steakhouse as restaurants of interest. The developer also dropped the possibility of a Nordstrom-brand store and what he called "mom and pop, or local, purveyors." 

"We are very proud of the vision, and we arrived at this plan after a lot of hard work with our neighbors," Cipriani said.

Housing Development
The Siena housing development is expected to have 33 two-story units at approximately 3,300 square feet, according to Dale Earl, the project's landscape architect from Fahringer, McCarty, Grey Inc.

Earl said that the entire Siena development would boat spacious sidewalks, making it pedestrian-friendly.

"Some residents that live here might work here, eat here and shop here," Earl said.

Traffic Conditions
Rachel Myers, a traffic engineer that was part of the study on the roads surrounding the potential development, announced that her team from David E. Wooster and Associates predicts little change in area traffic.

The study looked at intersections on Route 19 from Abbeyville Road to Devonwood Drive as well as portions of Fort Couch Road and was accepted and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

"If this project were built, studied intersections would not see any significant impact," Myers said.

Public Reaction
During Monday's public-comments time, residents cited traffic woes and ordinance violations as problems with the development.

Attorney Matt Racunas spoke up to represent Upper St. Clair residents Margaret Witner and Michelle McKnight. Racunas pointed out code and ordinance violations which he said should lead the commissioners to not have approved the Siena development's conditional use.

"I'm surprised this is even going forward to be honest with you," Racunas said. "You can and should deny this if it doesn't meet the requirements of your ordinances, the ones that you've established.

"You can't just approve it because it looks pretty and it might be a good idea."

Although there are no point-counterpoint debates during public hearings, board President Robert W. Orchowski did make a statement in reply.

"Trust me when I say that this board does take seriously sorting out conditional use versus preliminary versus final land development issues," Orchowski said, "and that will be the basis of where this board goes in regard to this matter. Period."


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