In North Strabane Township, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a new battle is brewing over a proposed manufactured home community.
According to the Observer-Reporter, developers are working on Hidden Acres, a 182-acre plan with 228 manufactured home units. Based on the location, which is zoned for manufactured homes, officials do not see a reason for the township to deny the proposal.
“The (development) would be extremely difficult for the township to deny, unless there are deficiencies,” said Frank Siffrinn, township manager.
But some area residents see it differently.
In what appears to be another case of NIMBY (Not-In-My-Back-Yard), Attorney Thomas McDermott, who represents a group of about 200 area residents, said at a public hearing on a conditional use application last week that his clients are concerned about traffic, a railroad crossing near the property, and the potential of narrowing nearby streets.
The Township planning commission recommended approval of the application from developers last month with conditions, including the requirement that the community be 55 plus.
“I don’t think we could make that stick,” said township solicitor Gary Sweat.
Mike Wetzel, of designer Victor-Wetzel Associates, says that the plan for the community would be done in six phases, and would not require adjustments.
“We are not asking for any modifications,” said Wetzel. “This meets township ordinances.”
By rule, the board is required to make a decision within 45 days. Both parties on the matter agreed to leave the record open for 30 days to work toward an agreement.
“We could possibly come to some kind of consensus,” McDermott said.
The Daily Business News has covered a number of potential NIMBY (Not-In-My-Back-Yard) stories recently, where current residents appear to be working to keep manufactured homes or communities out. Most notable is the case in Aiken, South Carolina, where Councilman Danny Feagin was quoted as saying “As long as it keeps the mobile home parks [sic] out, I think the folks would be satisfied,” in relation to a proposed rezoning ordinance. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
