Cranberry supervisors signed off last week on two new plans that promise to expand banking, shopping and dining options in the township.

On the immediate horizon is the Oak Tree Place development at the site of the old Oak Leaf Motel along Route 19 near Dutilh Road. It will include a Cracker Barrel restaurant, a Starbucks, a drive-through bank and retail shops.

Also winning unanimous approval is a plan for Rite Aid, a one-story, 14,673-square-foot pharmacy with a drive-through along Freedom Road across from the Cranberry Mall.

Both projects are to be under construction this spring.

The Oak Tree Place project, being pursued by Walnut Capital Partners, of Shadyside, could be open by June 2009. The project was noteworthy for more than just the tenants it will contain. Township officials said Walnut Capital voluntarily agreed to pay transportation impact fees not only to Cranberry, which it is required by law to do, but also to Marshall. The project is being developed on the municipal border.

Cranberry Planning Director Ron Henshaw said it's clear that the project would increase traffic in both Cranberry and Marshall but state law doesn't require developers to pay multiple municipalities. Still, Walnut paid $243,522 to Cranberry and $118,300 to Marshall. The amounts on based on each municipality's transportation impact fee regulations which are tied to how much traffic a given development is expected to generate.

Mr. Henshaw noted that Walnut's willingness to help defray the impact of its plans in both municipalities is sure to weigh heavily with the state Department of Transportation, which ultimately will review the Oak Tree Place plans because of its proximity to Route 19, a state highway.

The Oak Tree Place development will have 41,581 square feet of commercial space.

Also last week, the supervisors agreed to seek bids for the 2008 road maintenance program. The township will spend about $358,000 on its collector roads and about $263,000 on its neighborhood roads. The costs mirror the township's allocation from state liquid fuels tax proceeds. In addition, $243,000 will be redirected from the township's unrestricted portion of its transportation improvement program fund for more maintenance.