Peters Township Rezones Part Of East McMurray Road

Peters Township Council began their meeting with a public hearing. The hearing centered on the ordinance that governed the Mixed Use Residential Overlay area along E. McMurray Road. The ordinance allows for multi family housing in the proposed “Town Center” area that is described in the current Comprehensive Plan. That area never developed and now a property owner is trying to convert a single family home with an in-law suite into a duplex. Neighbors felt that it was not in the spirit of the ordinance and asked council to rezone a 14 home area back to single family, low density housing. Council agreed with residents and unanimously voted 6-0 to rezone the properties. Council President Gary Stiegel said that the new home owner was trying to exploit a loophole in the ordinance. Phil Ross is a neighbor to the property in question. He said that he would have had no problem with the ordinance had the “town center” idea took off. Council’s and resident’s vision of the area is very similar to what can be found at Southpointe, a mix of homes, apartment buildings, retail and recreation. It was felt that converting a home into a duplex did not fit the intent of the ordinance.