Residents question expressway development plans
LUZERNE TWP. – The plan for potential development along the Mon-Fayette Expressway’s Brownsville to Uniontown corridor drew about 40 people to a public input session Monday. Consultants Erica Todd and Jodi Koviach of Pashek Associates, the firm hired to prepare the corridor development study, reviewed the input received at previous public meetings that helped them develop the vision of the development near the five interchanges on the proposed expressway.
The goals that came from that input include balancing a variety of land uses consistent with current development patterns and complementing existing natural and historic features, showcase and provide access to the corridor’s historic, natural and community assets to increase tourism economic opportunities, and to provide safe and efficient transportation.
A number of people in attendance own land that is either within the corridor or adjacent to it and they raised a number of questions about the future use of their property. One couple that owns property along Royal Road in Redstone Township questioned whether their agricultural land would still be zoned agricultural in the future, or if they would be zoned out of their current way of life. Members of the public also questioned plans for housing developments near each of the interchanges, saying the current residents would have to move out to make room for the proposed development.
“We all are going to have to move out so these people can move in,” said Joan Lawrence, who owns property along Route 166 near the corridor.
Fred Erhard, of Luzerne Township, questioned the plans for development at the interchanges.
“In most of these areas there are no sewers, no water and the state roads are terrible. How are you going to develop something on something that isn’t worth anything?” Erhard said.
“If a developer want to come into your community bad enough, they will pay for the infrastructure development,” Todd said.
The first proposed interchange on the expressway in Fayette County is in the area of Bull Run and Telegraph roads in Luzerne Township. The plan calls for a visitors center highlighting local historic sites, additional housing development near the Swan Plan off of Bull Run Road in the Stony Creek Road area, hotels and restaurants to serve tourists and people coming to visit the new state prison and a mixed use downtown area for Brownsville Borough.
“Because conceptual ideas are outlined doesn’t mean they are going to happen,” Todd cautioned.
The proposal also calls for a regional commercial park area for large stores such as Target and Lowe’s and an industrial and business park along the Monongahela River.
The second interchange, the Brownsville Connector near Route 166 in Redstone Township, would also emphasize the historic nature of the area.
“This is the first time you are traveling the expressway in Fayette County where you can access the historic National Road,” Todd said. “We don’t want to prevent new development, but we want to set some guidelines for it to maintain the historic nature.”
The interchange at Searights in Menallen Township would preserve the scenic views while providing space for local commercial development, Todd said. Heavier business and residential development would come in North Uniontown Township, which is being proposed as the site of a trucking distribution center. The final interchange at Routes 119 and 51 would preserve the Mount St. Macrina view shed and green space, Todd said, while adding new village-style housing in a radiating pattern around the interchange.
Joe Agnello of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was at the meeting and said the road construction is not as far into the future as some might think.
“Construction could begin in late 2005 and we’re talking four years or so,” Agnello said.
Agnello said issues such as the toll for the expressway are still years away from being determined.
Agnello said the current road plans call for a bridge about 150 feet over the Monongahela River into Fayette County and no additional high-level bridges. Under the current plans for the expressway, Bull Run Road in Luzerne Township will not be severed as had originally been planned.
Todd said additional feedback sessions on development around the expressway interchanges will be held in the fall.
Angela Zimmerlink, a Republican candidate for county commissioner, attended the meeting.
“It’s promising to see that people in this area continue to come to these meetings despite the fact that the comments afterward are they didn’t learn anything new. It seems that the same goals are repeated, but there is nothing specific. The people attending want to see more specific plans,” Zimmerlink said.