A plan by Progressive Insurance to build an auto claims center in a residential area of Forest Hills is not what Sheena Calderwood and her neighbors on Edgewood Road want for Christmas. Or any other time, either.

"We do not want your business in our neighborhood," Ms. Calderwood told Progressive's manager of development, Kevin McGrath, at an informational meeting organized by the Ohio-based auto insurance company earlier this month. Progressive wants to move its current auto claims center on Rodi Road in Penn Hills to a parcel of land at the top of Digital Drive, a five-acre area between Edgewood Road and the Parkway East ramp from Ardmore Boulevard.

Company officials addressed community concerns at a Dec. 1 meeting. About 75 residents attended, and more than 300 have signed a petition opposing the claims center, saying it will create unacceptable levels of noise, traffic and pollution.

Several residents also wondered why Progressive needed to build a new facility in a residential neighborhood when an empty space was already available at the vacant Builders Square on Yost Boulevard.

The planning commission already has rejected the plan, but it is council that has final say. Council is not expected to take action on it until its January legislative session.

Mr. McGrath told residents at the information meeting that Progressive is under contract to buy the land from C & F Partnership, a local real estate and construction company.

"We've looked for over nine months for the right property, and Forest Hills is the heart of it for us," said Mr. McGrath.

Progressive wants to build a 5,000 square-foot, single-story office building with parking spaces for 172 cars. Progressive customers either would drive in or have their damaged cars towed to the facility, leave them to be assessed for repairs and pick up rental cars on site.

All repair work would be done off-site at local body shops, and cars would then be returned to the claims center for owners to pick up.

Progressive has 23 similar claims centers nationwide, including one in the Philadelphia area.

Mr. McGrath said the proposed facility would cost about $5 million to complete and be more attractive than the one on Rodi Road, which is leased.

"We're going to own it and we're going to take care of it," said Mr. McGrath, adding that all diagnostic work would be done inside the building, and grounds would be professionally landscaped.

In reply to residents' concerns over drainage problems on the site, Matt Casey, of Zaremba Group LLC, which is overseeing the proposed construction, said storm water run-off would be directed to the three storm sewers that empty into Ardmore Boulevard.

It's estimated that the center would process 18 cars a day at start-up, increasing to 44 maximum over several years.

Planning Commission member Steve Greenberg, who lives at 300 Edgewood Road, said the commission rejected the plan when Progressive presented it at last month's planning meeting because it did not fit into any approved use under the borough's zoning ordinance.

According to Forest Hills Manager Steve Morus, the land, which is zoned as an S-2 or Special District, can be developed as a hotel, hospital, bank or office building, but only if council approves it as a conditional use.

The property is already ap-proved for a playground, park or church.

Mr. Greenberg said that putting up a 5,000-square-foot structure on such a large piece of land -- about 17,000 square feet -- is not within the conditions of the zoning ordinance.

Mr. Greenberg and others also objected to the 15-foot retaining wall that would be located across from the houses on Edgewood Road, because it is less than the required 70 feet from the houses.

"We will fight you tooth and nail on this," said Mr. Greenberg. Neighbor Gregg Ross, a 15-year Edgewood Road resident, agreed.

"Forest Hills was founded as a residential community, and this development is inconsistent with its history," said Mr. Ross. "It does not fit."

Progressive will hold another informational meeting for residents at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Westinghouse Recreational Center on Greensburg Pike.