Flood issues help kill development request

Flooding was residents' main topic of concern.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A request to build a housing development went down the drain, unlike the recent floodwaters that hit the township.
Mill Creek Homes Ltd., on behalf of James R. Fornwalt of Hitchcock Road, planned to build 22 homes off of Hitchcock between Deer Run and Squirrel Hill drives. The plans call for a planned-unit development in an area zoned for only single-family homes. Such requests require conditional-use permits and must go before the board of zoning appeals.
Flooding, overdevelopment and water quality concerned residents who packed Wednesday night's meeting.
Standing room only
There was standing room only in the township government building. Residents in the development area hoped to voice their concerns to the board. Zoning board members had to call for quiet several times amid the groans and whispers of residents when Joe Gonda, an engineer for Western Reserve Land Consultants, explained how storm water would be handled in the new development.
Barbara Hulzschuh of Jaguar Drive told the appeals board that residents in her area are tired of and upset over water issues and do not want any additional development that may exacerbate the problem. She said the community had been having water problems even before the heavy rains of the last season.
"Every time it rains, you're running around hoping it doesn't come in. I am not being dramatic. This is what we live with," she said.
Don Cappitte of Hitchcock Road circulated a letter throughout the community opposing the development. He said the development area is "swampy" most of the time.
"We have such extreme drainage problems; we just didn't need any more," he said.
Other concerns
Although water was the main topic, some residents expressed other concerns. Ray Thomas of Hitchcock Road said chemicals from lawn care could seep into well water in the area. Others had concerns about displaced wildlife.
The appeals board agreed with the residents, unanimously voting down the conditional-use permit.
"What we have here is a situation where the existing infrastructure may be outdated and cannot handle any further development taxing on the system," said board member Atty. John Shultz. "Sometimes, just speaking for myself, some property just shouldn't be developed."
Zoning inspector Darren Crivelli said the developer could build one home without a conditional-use permit. He said the permit could be appealed in common pleas court within 30 days.
The matter can be taken before the board again after six months.
jgoodwin@vindy.com