Residential Development Returns to Commissioners' Agenda

The proposal for a new residential plan is expected to come up again before Upper St. Clair commissioners at their next regular meeting, on Aug. 6.

A public hearing for the Willowbrook Estates Planned Residential Development began at the May meeting and has been continued at the request of developer Allen Sherwood “to allow additional time to address concerns raised at the public hearing and review comments from township staff,” according to Scott Brilhart, director of community development.

Residents who live near the proposed development have raised the issue of flooding.

The PRD calls for 15 new single-family homes off Willowbrook Road and Oaklawn Drive, near the southeastern corner of the township. Sherwood estimates the home costs to be around $500,000, with a house width of about 50 feet to 52 feet and square footage between 2,500 to 3,000, according to township records.

Six of the lots will be along a portion of Oaklawn to be constructed, which will join the two unconnected sections of the street. At the end of section are “hammerhead”-type turnaround areas.

The remaining properties will be accessed from Willowbrook Road, which continues for nearly a mile south of Johnston Road before coming to an abrupt end on a private drive called Willowbrook Extension.

“The way in which this road terminates makes it difficult for the township to maintain this road and for vehicles to turn around at the end of the street,” Brilhart wrote in a memo to Matthew Serakowski, township manager. “In order for this property to be further subdivided or developed, Willowbrook Extension will need to be upgraded to include a cul-de-sac and paved to the township’s specifications.”

Sherwood, owner of Allen Sherwood Homes Inc., brought the PRD before the township planning commission in November for a preapplication conference. In March, the commission voted the recommend the project.

Township commissioners will consider tentative approval of the development, which has a total area of 10.155 acres.

Sherwood has entered a sales agreement for the purchase of the land from the estate of Stephen and Mae Curtis.

“The property was originally part of the Willowbrooke Farms Subdivision that was recorded in 1915,” Brilhart wrote. “Later these lots were part of the Heagy Plan, which was recorded in 1967. The Heagy Plan consolidated several lots along Willowbrook Road to create the lot configuration that exists today.”

Addressing concerns about the natural state of the surrounding area, Sherwood said that the wetlands would not be disturbed and all construction will take place on the subject property, according to township records.

Construction of homes will be subject to approval of an individual storm-water management report specific to each parcel.