Upper St. Clair approves 15 new Willowbrook lots

Upper St. Clair commissioners gave unanimous final approval Tuesday for a 15-lot addition to the Willowbrook Farms subdivision after a summer of public debate and hearings.

The 10-acre development on Willowbrook and Oaklawn drives would include an underground stormwater retention system and pond, expected to ease flooding elsewhere in the nearly 100-year-old development.

More than a dozen property owners expressed concerns about flooding and other matters during the past several months, and commissioners narrowly gave tentative approval to the project last month in a 4-3 vote.

Sai T. Yeung of Oaklawn Drive asked commissioners Tuesday to require engineers to provide written assurance that stormwater runoff in the neighborhood — which residents say already floods some homes — wouldn’t worsen once the development is built.

“We aren’t trying to stop the project, we just want to make sure it’s done right,” said Mr.

Yeung, who said he was representing several other property owners.

“What you’re asking for is a guarantee and, unfortunately, Mother Nature is very powerful,” said Commissioner Russell Del Re, who added that he had the “utmost” faith in township engineer RuthAnn Omer, who reviewed the stormwater management plan and will oversee plans for the development.

Township Manager Matt Serakowski told Mr. Yeung the township will watch the development closely to monitor runoff and will respond if the developer doesn’t follow regulations.

“This doesn’t end here,” he said.

Engineer Kim Gales said construction will probably be started by spring.

Also moving forward are plans to renovate and expand Friendship Village of South Hills, which received unanimous final approval from commissioners.

Architect Joel Schwartz said the senior community off Boyce Road will build a new fitness center, cafe, kitchen, theater and 300-seat community room, along with a redesigned entrance way and parking lot. The improvements are slated for the common area of the community, not the residential wings, he said.

Commissioners also gave a unanimous nod to a plan by Crossgates Development to expand parking in the rear of the Norman Centre to accommodate a new restaurant.

Company vice president Bob Sapsara said he could not reveal which restaurant will move to the site of a former Pearle Vision Center but said the operating hours likely would be between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Mr. Sapsara and property owner Art Schwotzer said they had met with a neighbor regarding a wooded buffer zone between Norman Centre and residences and they came to an agreement to clear away dead trees and some overgrowth.

A hearing to decide whether to grant permission for an outdoor dining patio at a soon-to-bebuilt Bonefish Grill restaurant at South Hills Village was continued until the Oct. 1 township meeting to gather public input.

The application has been reviewed and is recommended for approval by the township planning commission.

The restaurant would be near a new Target in the southwest corner of the mall and would include a 4,893-square-foot restaurant and 648-square-foot patio with additional parking.