Summerhill residents question second-phase development in Murrysville

Several residents of the Summerhill neighborhood in Murrysville questioned whether it was appropriate to build an additional 61 townhomes in a development served by private roads.

“My main concern is safety, especially those coming in and out onto Logan Ferry Road,” said Denise Gibson, one of a group of residents with questions for the Murrysville Planning Commission about a proposal to build a second phase in the Summerhill plan.

The proposal is for 18 buildings, a mix of 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-unit townhomes, extending from Goldie Lane. The property is zoned R-3 residential, which permits multi-family housing. Jeff Parobeck with Ascent Consulting & Engineering said the second phase would be governed by a homeowners’ association separate from the existing Summerhill Condominium Association.

“The streets will continue to be private,” Parobeck said. “The existing stormwater facility will be upgraded, and we’ve already submitted plans to the Westmoreland Conservation District for (federal environmental) permitting and begun that discussion.”

Murrysville community development coordinator Jim Morrison said developers would also need to submit a conditional use application for excavating poor soil, which would be accompanied by a public hearing.

Parobeck said the majority of the new units’ sewage would be served by grinder pumps. Morrison advised that they seek comments from the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority about the pumps prior to the planning commission’s June 11 meeting.

“It’s just one entrance coming in,” said Summerhill resident Cathy Addessi. “I just don’t understand how safe it will be for 111 houses to be all on one private road.”

Planning commissioners said a traffic study from Summerhill’s original development in 2005 took an eventual second phase into account. Residents, however, felt another study was due.

“Even right now with 50 homes, it’s really dangerous,” said Summerhill resident Denise Gibson. “I know it takes a lot to get stop signs installed, but I’d be willing to do what it takes to get a four-way stop at (Summerhill’s entrance at the) Logan Ferry Road, Remaley Road and Shirley Lane (intersection).”

Adessi said she hoped commissioners would visit the site.

“Summerhill is built on the side of a mountain,” she said. “I’m really happy that they built my house, because I love my house, but I can’t imagine having 61 more units all piled up against one another.”

Several Summerhill residents also questioned the validity of the easement granting developers access to the proposed second-phase property. Planning chair Robert Mitall said it was a legal matter that Murrysville’s solicitor would have to address.