The North Huntingdon planning commission on Monday unanimously rejected a site plan for construction of three medical buildings -- Irwin Family Care Center -- that was proposed by Excela Health.

Communications director Robin Jennings said: "Excela Health plans to review the plan, evaluate the issues and work with the [township] planning staff and commissioners before deciding whether we intend to continue with the project."

The planners then voted, 5-1, with one abstention, to recommend an amendment to a 29-year-old zoning ordinance to allow the proposed Full Pint Brewing microbrewery to operate as a permitive use in a commercial 1A district off Route 30 West near North Versailles.

Newly re-elected board Chairman William Chapman, Tom Kerber, Virginia Stump, Susan Casper and new member James McHugh favored the motion. Bernard Solomon dissented while Robert Pioth Jr. abstained with no reason provided.

Breweries are permitted in an industrial zoned district, of which the township has few with adequate space to develop.

Planners believe the section of the ordinance regarding C1A zoning, enacted in 1991, does not account for microbreweries, which were nonexistent then.

"It's been a trip using outmoded, restrictive ordinances while trying to recommend approval of sincere commercial development desiring to locate within the township," Mr. Chapman said. "Amendments to zoning ordinances, especially in zone uses, are long overdue."

Mr. Solomon expressed concerns about odors being produced during Full Pint's planned brewing of about 11,000 barrels of beer annually. It makes five different beers.

"Anytime this board massages an existing ordinance, we set precedents, which is not a good idea because you're opening the door for whatever," he said. "A conditional use would have allowed the commissioners to set conditions pertaining to the brewery's operation."

Andy Blenko, township planning director/engineer, said: "I agree with Mr. Solomon. A conditional use would have established parameters for this microbrewery and those that may follow."

Beer produced will be distributed among the Rivertowne Pub restaurant group's establishments in Western Pennsylvania -- including ones in North Huntingdon and Monroeville -- and North Country Brewing Company in Slippery Rock

Ratification of the planners' decision by the commissioners this month could end MKGFB Inc.'s court appeal of the zoning board denial of a special exception of the ordinance. The exception was for the business to operate in a commercially zoned building served by Floral Drive, a narrow, mostly unpaved road with limited parking.

Brewing equipment that the group purchased from the defunct John Harvard Brew House in Penn Center, Wilkins, is already stored in the building, which will become the brewery.

"If the commissioners go along with the planning commission's recommendation, we could be brewing beer in April," said Mark Kegg, a Sewickley Township resident and principal in the investment group.

On the other issue, George Saad, of Land Tech Engineering, failed to convince planners to consider approval of a site plan to construct a complex of three medical buildings on nearly 10 acres across Barnes Lake Road from the Mills Pointe commercial development.

"I've worked more than two months trying to make Mr. Saad understand that a site plan for development must comply with township ordinances prior to consideration by this board," Mr. Blenko told the planners.

"I identified about 54 issues that must be addressed. I haven't received a response nor has Mr. Saab responded to a letter I sent dated Jan. 22, requesting a copy of his application for a highway occupancy permit from [the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation] for a curb cut to access Barnes Lake Road."

Mr. Saab insisted a highway occupancy permit PennDOT awarded to DeBartolo Development Irwin for a $4.8 million modification of Route 30 and relocation of Barnes Lake Road extends to his proposed complex of one-story structures.

More than two years ago, Excela purchased two existing two-story office buildings along Barnes Lake Road overlooking Norwin Hills Shopping Center.

Excela bought additional parcels for proposed construction of an ambulatory and imaging center, which would include the two buildings for doctors.

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