USC Board OKs Neighborhood Plan

The Upper St. Clair Planning Commission is recommending the township allow Heartland Homes to build a 12-lot subdivision with sidewalks on the former Jordan estate.

The plan started with 14 lots and has decreased to 12 lots.

If approved by the commissioners, the subdivision would be connected to Glendale Drive, off of Old Washington Road. One of the 12 lots would face Old Washington Road. Matt Cramer, of Heartland Homes, said he would ideally like to start grading the land before winter.

Nearby neighbors at Thursday's planning commission meeting were assured builders would leave as many natural trees on the property as possible. Cramer also said there may be a line of pine trees planted between the old and new lots.

Kim Gales, a representative for Heartland Homes, asked the township "for some relief on side lot lines, they are not all perpendicular with the road."

Scott Brihart, director of community development, agreed.

"It would be impossible to make ever line perpendicular," he said.

Brilhart said he would work with Gales to make sure lots would have about five lot lines instead of six.

Planning commissioners Joel Helmrich, Marvin Haddox, James Sekela and Robert Stevenson voted in favor of the new neighborhood. Scott Slagle, David Wade and Philip Tanner were absent from the meeting.