Plans to redevelop the former Koppers chemical plant adjacent to Interstate 79 in South Fayette include building up to 550 homes and 600,000 square feet of retail space.

During a public hearing Monday night, developers representing Beazer East Inc., of Pittsburgh, presented preliminary plans to build a mixed commercial and residential complex on 301 acres divided by Presto-Sygan Road, just east of I-79.

The site is less than a mile from Bridgeville, near Route 50 and Oak Ridge Road.

South Fayette commissioners will vote Monday on Beazer's request for a conditional use permit, which would allow residential and commercial development on the land, which is in a planned economic development zone.

Of approximately 35 people who attended the meeting, about 15 asked questions, including four members of the Lower Chartiers Watershed Council, who were concerned about possible effects on Chartiers Creek, which runs through the property.

Township officials said many of the inquiries were premature and could be posed again later, when more detailed plans are available. "There are about 20 to 25 more steps to go [before final approval]," solicitor Jonathan Kamin said.

Dubbed Newbury, the development would include 213 acres under the township's open space design option, which allows housing to be built at a greater density in exchange for preserving open land.

This upper portion, north of Presto-Sygan Road, would include 250 to 300 single-family houses and townhouses, said W. Jeffrey Funovits, a principal of Burt Hill, a Pittsburgh architecture and engineering firm working for Beazer, which owns the property.

Mr. Funovits said developers would consider South Fayette's pre-existing character when designing the buildings. "We don't just drop cookie-cutter plans," he said.

On the lower 88 acres, in place of the defunct chemical plant, would be 600,000 square feet of retail space, and next to that would be 200 to 250 condominiums and garden apartments, Mr. Funovits said.

The developers said they would be asking for less than the required 100-foot setback in the commercial section along I-79.

Most of the commercial area would be paved over and built upon, said John Knott, project manager with EQA Landmark Communities, of Pittsburgh, the developer.

Plans showed nearly 22 acres for active recreation spread throughout the residential areas. Pre-existing soccer fields would be relocated to one of those areas, the developers said.

Overall, about 178 acres, or about 60 percent of the land, would be preserved without any type of development.

The property has two existing access points, on Millers Run and Presto-Sygan roads. Previously, a Burt Hill architect said traffic studies would determine whether direct access to Route 50 could be added.

Bethany Cemetery, which is on the property, would remain undisturbed, the developers said. The burial sites date from 1814 to 1943.

In October, the commissioners rezoned the land from two categories, suburban-residential and industrial, into a single planned economic development zone, which encourages integrated living and working on a campus-like setting. With a conditional use permit, the zone allows a mix of commercial, retail, residential and recreational development.

In September, an environmental manager for Beazer said he hoped to start building by next year, but the timeline would depend on environmental cleanup and township approvals.

Before development can start, Beazer must work with the state Department of Environmental Protection to clear the site of chemical pollutants, present detailed plans to the township for approval and demolish more than 20 office, warehouse, research, maintenance and manufacturing buildings.

The 77-year-old chemical production facility began as Sheldon Co. in 1928. In 1934, American Cyanamid bought it. In 1963, it was sold to Koppers Pittsburgh Co., and then to Koppers Co. Inc.

In 1989, Koppers leased part of the facility to Reichhold Chemicals, which closed last year. In 1990, Koppers changed its name to Beazer East Inc., part of Hanson PLC, a London-based, international heavy building materials company focusing on natural aggregates, concrete products, bricks and ready-mixed concrete.