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Demolition of park's barn topic in Upper St. Clair
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Upper St. Clair commissioners on Monday scheduled a full slate of public hearings over the next two months to address a host of residential and commercial developments and one controversial demolition project.
At its regular Monday meeting, the board is expected to resume a public hearing that began in May over a 16-lot development in Willowbrook Estates.
At issue are concerns raised by neighbors in the nearly 100-year-old development about flooding and stormwater runoff.
Township staff met with the development team this summer to address some of those concerns, and revised plans are expected to be submitted during the continuation of the hearing.
Scott Brilhart, township director of community development, said staff members will also ask commissioners at the Monday meeting to make a decision about the plan.
The board also will decide whether to award a contract for the demolition of the historic Boyce-Mayview Park barn.
The nearly century-old structure was once part of a farm that supplied food and jobs for patients at the former Mayview State Hospital.
Although some community members objected to the barn's destruction, officials said studies have shown the barn, built around 1916, would cost about $5 million to rehabilitate due to serious interior damage.
A recently formed parks and recreation task force said it could find no redeeming recreational use for the structure, which is being used for light storage.
The township budgeted $150,000 for the demolition, but said some of the seven bids received for the work were about half that amount, including the low bid from Dom Folino Construction for $79,899.
Staff members will recommend at the meeting that the Dom Folino company be awarded the project, but one commissioner said he's wary about the price.
"I find it very hard to comprehend that someone is going to tear that down for $79,000," said Commissioner Russell Del Re, who questioned the scope of work included in the bid documents. "I can't see that happening in this day and age."
Mr. Del Re said he would be "very uncomfortable" awarding the contract for such a low price without first reviewing the details of the bid specifications.
The township hopes to award the contract Monday so work to demolish the site can begin after the township pool closes in September.
Commissioners also heard from Ken Pasterak, board member of The Outdoor Classroom, a nonprofit group that works in tandem with the township at Boyce-Mayview Park to promote environmental education and nature preservation.
Mr. Pasterak reported that the group last year worked with dozens of local school districts, scout groups and other children to offer educational programs.
Since the group's inception in 2005, revenue from fee-based programs has grown from $6,541 to $41,924, he said, although that amount represents only about 20-30 percent of expenses. The remainder comes from fundraising and grants, Mr. Pasterak said.
He asked the board to support funding for the program from the Allegheny County Regional Asset District, and staff members said they would assist the group in seeking grants and would likely include the group in the township's annual budget.
On Monday, the board will:
• Hold a public hearing to consider an application from the Norman Center for additional parking in the rear of the shopping center along Route 19 to accommodate a new restaurant.
• Review plans for an expansion of the Deerfield Manor residential development for five new lots, including a connection between Boyce Road and Circle Drive in Peters. The development, started in the 1950s, is planning a phase nine.
• Hear a presentation regarding a five-year capital improvement program for 2013-17 from the township budget finance committee.
The board also scheduled public hearings for Sept. 4 for Bonefish Grill, which wants an outdoor seating section at its proposed South Hills Village restaurant, and to review an application from Friendship Village of South Hills for renovations and additions.
The public hearings are held during board meetings at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal offices on McLaughlin Run Road.
First Published August 2, 2012 5:44 am
