Murrysville Council hears proposal for 'right-size' development south of Route 22
Developers are responding to an indication by Murrysville Council that the community needs more housing options for older residents.
Council held a public hearing for Hillstone Village, a 42-home planned residential development at the intersection of Harrison City-Export and Claridge roads.
“At the last (comprehensive) plan discussion, it was mentioned that there was a need for people who want to ‘right-size,’ who want to stay here but don’t have a lot of options,” said Bruce Corna, vice president for builder Kacin Companies. “This site is perfect for that type of development.”
Kacin is proposing 22 carriage homes fronting Harrison City-Export Road, and 20 single-family homes inside the development. It will include sidewalks, a clubhouse, athletic courts and a “pocket park.”
The planned residential development (PRD) designation means that lots will be smaller than average for Murrysville, in exchange for active open space in the form of amenities like the athletic courts and sidewalks.
Corna said the people Kacin envisions moving into Hillstone “don’t want big lots. They’ve maintained big lots here in Murrysville their entire lives.”
Construction would be limited to roughly 16 of the property’s 37 acres, Corna said.
A significant portion of the development will be kept as meadow, with no trees removed, “to try and keep the design as non-invasive as possible,” he said.
The development will come before council for a vote at its Nov. 4 meeting.
Council also recently saw a proposal to expand the 1900s-era Pedora housing plan in the White Valley neighborhood, with a focus on senior housing.
Earlier this month, council voted to vacate several unbuilt streets in the original housing plan. The proposed development would be off the end of Pennsylvania Street.
Liquor license
Council also held a public hearing for the transfer of a liquor license to Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint, a restaurant opening in the former Smartie Artie’s space near the corner of Old William Penn Highway and Fitzsimmons Lane.
Council is expected to vote on that issue as well on Nov. 4.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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