By Sandra Fischione Donovan

Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 9:01 p.m.
Updated: Friday, February 15, 2013

Acreage on Coraopolis Heights Road in Moon once proposed for commercial use has been rezoned again for residential use.

After a hearing, supervisors on Feb. 6 approved the change for a 4.6-acre tract, known as the Tarquinio property.

They also approved removing it from the Carnot Overlay District, where Moon officials have been working to develop a “live-work,” village-style atmosphere in the township's main commercial district.

Assistant township manager and planning director Adam McGurk said the rezoning will permit a single-family dwelling.

The property's owner, Ronald Tarquinio, said he had razed the 70-year-old house that sat on the land but preferred not to discuss any plans for it.

The rezoning puts to rest a disagreement with nearby residents, who opposed supervisors' rezoning it for commercial use. They filed an appeal of the rezoning in Commonwealth Court, and a developer dropped out of plans to turn the house into an assisted-living facility.

It was not immediately known what would happen with the lawsuit, but the rezoning would appear to make it moot.

Supervisors also approved preliminary and final development plans for the Noble Woods townhouse development on Hookstown Grade Road. FC Hookstown LLC plans 10 buildings with a total of 41 units that Ryan Homes will build. McGurk said the development will be similar to Montclair, a nearby townhouse development built by Heartland Homes.

Meanwhile, a house at 971 Beaver Grade Road, known as the Gundelfinger home, has been razed. Owner Aloe Brothers LLC of the East End demolished the home after purchasing the seven-acre property on Sept. 28 for $1, according to Allegheny County real estate records.

Mark Aloe of Aloe Brothers said a decision has not been made on how to use the property, but said any development would be “environmentally friendly and community-friendly.”

“We don't want to put anything in that's objectionable,” Aloe said. The parcel is zoned for mixed use, meaning it could be used for housing and/or commercial endeavors.

Thomas Janidas of R&D Holdings of Mars backed out of buying the property last year because the state Department of Environmental Protection informed him that he would have to remove a considerable amount of coal on six of the seven acres before development.

But Aloe said the coal is under two of the seven acres.

Sandra Fischione Donovan is a freelance writer.

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