With patients scheduled to move out by the end of the year, officials are beginning to look at other uses for the Mayview State Hospital property.

An 11-member task force led by state Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, and Rep. Nick Kotik, D-Robinson, met for the first time last night to consider future use of the South Fayette site.

The task force, which met at the hospital's conference center, spent part of the meeting going over a status report on the 335-acre property.

Rich Kuppelweiser, Mayview's chief operating officer and a task force member, distributed a list of about 30 hospital buildings, some of them dating to the 1890s and about one-third of them in poor or very poor condition.

Mr. Kotik said he looked forward to an open discussion from everyone on a compromise plan for the property's reuse.

Other task force members expressed varying concerns about reuse of the property.

Mark Mansfield, Upper St. Clair's acting township manager, said officials there favored redevelopment that complements Boyce Mayview Park, which borders the hospital property on three sides.

South Fayette Commissioner Deron Gabriel favored small business or other commercial development.

Roy Kraynyk, executive director of the Allegheny Land Trust, said his group wants to guard against problems that could be brought on by development, "so we don't see another landslide or increased flooding downstream."

A massive slide on the former Dixmont State Hospital property, the site of a proposed Wal-Mart shopping plaza, closed Route 65 in Kilbuck in 2006.

The Mayview property currently is zoned for low-intensity residential use, primarily single-family homes, officials said.

Local real estate agents said the property could be attractive to developers.

"Because of its location, it will be extremely desirable," said Doug Burig of Keller Williams, noting the property is close to Interstate 79 and Downtown Pittsburgh.

In August, the state Department of Public Welfare announced plans to close Mayview, Allegheny County's last state hospital for people with mental illnesses, and to move most patients to community settings.

Mr. Kuppelweiser said that land reuse task forces have been convened before and have helped to shape future use of state mental hospital property.

The state Department of General Services, which acts as the state's real estate agent, typically is guided by legislation in determining subsequent use of surplus state property, said agency spokesman Ed Myslewicz. Stipulations can be included that affect property use, he said.

Mr. Pippy said he expected that approach "to be the direction we'd want to go."

Proceeds from any sale would go to the state's general fund, he noted at the meeting. One audience member, Holly Cerini of Carroll, Washington County, said she felt funds should be allocated for mental health services in the counties served by Mayview.

Besides the two lawmakers, Mr. Kuppelweiser, Mr. Mansfield, Mr. Gabriel and Mr. Kraynyk, other task force members are Ford Thompson of the state Department of Public Welfare; Joe Brimmeier Jr. of the state Department of General Services; South Fayette Manager Mike Hoy; Emerald VanBuskirk, executive director of the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce; and Chris Goswick of the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development.

Mr. Pippy said he hoped to add residents and community group representatives to the task force. He said a Web link will be developed for public input.

The task force probably will meet monthly, perhaps into next year.