West Deer has denied a request from a developer to rezone the Pittsburgh National Golf Club, preventing the developer from being able to build up to 352 homes on the golf course.

Leslie Road Associates wanted to rezone the 189-acre property from rural residential and semi-suburban residential to suburban residential. Doing so would have allowed them to put up to 352 single-family lots and a clubhouse and pool community center on the property at 287 Monier Road.

Under the current zoning, the company could build only 98 single-family homes on the part of the golf course zoned rural residential and 39 single-family homes, 88 duplexes and 99 townhouses in the area zoned semi-suburban residential.

Denial of the zoning change was recommended by the planning commission at its July 23 meeting.

James Elson, who lives on Monier Road, asked the supervisors to consider the detrimental impact the proposed development would have on the surrounding properties.

“It basically will increase the amount of infrastructure needed. The road will need to be replaced, and it will be a nightmare for us trying to farm that land with people from that development coming into our land,” Elson said.

The supervisors denied the rezoning request at their meeting last week.

Supervisors Chairman Arlind Karpuzi said the board denied the request based on the recommendation of the planning commission.

“We agreed with the concerns after they had completed a thorough review of the project and request,” Karpuzi said.

Before the vote, Steven Victor, speaking on behalf of Leslie Road Associates, said the company had changed its plan to address concerns made by the planning commission and residents and noted the proposed development would boost the property value from $1.8 million today to more than $100 million. He added many of the would-be residents would be employed, boosting wage taxes.

Reached by phone Monday, Victor said the proposed development would have been built where the existing golf course is.

“To develop the property, it would have taken out the golf course,” Victor said.

Victor couldn’t say what will become of the project.

“I don’t know where it’s going to go. At this point in time, it’s not going anywhere ’cause the supervisors denied the rezoning request. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next,” Victor said.

The golf course is still open, according to Gene Smith, golf course controller. Smith said neither general manager Jim Horan nor owner Colin Dunwoody were available for comment.

Joe Gray of Nicklaus Way said he moved to The Links at Deer Run because of its proximity to the golf course. He has lived there since 2002.

“The golf course really used to be a source of pride for our community for West Deer Township as a whole. Golfers, really from all over the Pittsburgh area, come into West Deer to play the golf course,” Gray said. “If the current golf course owner has really lost his interest or passion to run the golf course, then I’d urge the board to encourage the current owner to find a new owner for the golf course versus approving a rezoning request, which is essentially going to close the golf course.”

Mary Kay Giarrusso of Player Way said she moved to the Links community because of the wide-open spaces. She loves the farms and the lack of traffic. She said the proposed development would be a drain on the sewage system, the school district and the roads.

“As much as it looks good up front to have 350 new homes and taxes, it’s stupid to think that we need to improve all of the infrastructure around it,” Giarrusso said. “This is a beautiful, quiet, gentle community that we’ve all learned to enjoy.”

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