Hempfield delays decision on zoning change for proposed development near Valley Green

Hempfield supervisors are taking more time to mull over a request to rezone 100 acres of farmland to allow for a housing development after neighbors voiced concerns regarding flooding, traffic and wetlands on the property.

Supervisors voted unanimously to table the measure.

“Growth’s important to the township, I support controlled growth, but you brought things here tonight that concern me,” said Supervisor George Reese. “I just want to let you know that we will work to get answers and share that with you. There’s nothing being ramrodded through.”

The zoning change request was made by John and Betty Guzzy, who own vacant property at the intersection of Route 819, Albrights Lake Road and Valley Green Road between Greensburg and Armbrust.

Eric Guzzy said during a hearing on the request Monday that his parents bought the property years ago with hopes of building homes on it, but those plans fell through after township officials opposed it. John Guzzy, who died this month, was a self-employed homebuilding contractor in the area, according to his obituary.

Now, the developer of a nearby housing plan along Valley Green Road has offered to buy the Guzzy property, but it first has to be switched from agricultural use to suburban residential.

“In order for them to develop it, that’s what they’re requesting,” Guzzy said. “We have an agreement with them to sell the property.”

Several residents were opposed to it.

They asked township officials to look at traffic issues at the confluence of those roads, specifically stop signs at Albrights Lake and Valley Green roads.

“Nobody pays attention to that stop sign the way it’s configured,” said Todd Neptune, who lives on Albrights Lake Road.

Township manager Aaron Siko said that intersection could see future improvements.

Staci Neptune brought up concerns about wetlands she said exist on the Guzzy property.

“Hopefully, you’re going to look at this and realize this is not a good idea to rezone this property,” she said.

Others had concerns about traffic on Route 819, which is a state road.

“That road is not a highway, and we already have problems with people cutting through Valley Green,” said John Keenan, who bought his property on Route 819 because it was in an agricultural area.

The zoning change request is an initial step in the process. If the change is approved by the supervisors, the developer would have to present plans for the proposed housing development to the township, which would be up for a vote at a later date.

Reese asked planning manager Matthew Pernelli to create a priority list of resident concerns to keep an eye on, if the project gets the green light. Route 819 resident Jacob Silvis IV suggested township officials take a closer look at the cost for continued growth.

“There has to be a greater plan for Hempfield Township,” he said. “If we’re going to continue as an ag community and a residential community, we have to work together, but we just keep burning out farm grounds saying we need more houses.”