Housing development planned at site

A new subdivision is proposed on land once eyed for Conemaugh Health System’s technology park.

Plans for a new 16-lot residential development were discussed with Richland Township Planning Commission during a workshop session after Tuesday’s meeting.

Brian Kelly of Paul C. Rizzo Associates engineers said property owner Raymond DiBattista originally considered building townhouses on the parcel but decided not to pursue a zoning change.

“Now we are back to single-family lots in the R-2 (residential) district,” Kelly said.

An estimate of the project’s cost was not immediately available from DiBattista.

Planning commission workshops provide a chance for informal discussions about plans and possible concerns before a formal submission, Chairman Keith Saylor said.

Drawings reviewed Tuesday showed lots along each side of a short street connecting to Elton Road east of Schoolhouse Road and across from University Park Church of God property.

A second street connects to the proposed street, with both ending at cul-de-sacs.

Although the cul-de-sacs do not exceed the maximum 600-foot length set by township ordinance, commission member George DeFrehn said township supervisors might be concerned because Richland is trying to limit the number of dead-end streets.

Driveways in all lots will be required to connect to the development’s streets, not Elton Road, Saylor added.

Meanwhile, another proposed development moved closer to reality when the planning commission sent Oakridge Springs’ sewage plan documents on to the state. The 35-lot subdivision is proposed at Mount Airy and Oakridge drives’ intersection.