Supervisors Delay Public Comment on Rezoning Request For Townhouse Development

Citing apparent confusion and ill preparation by some residents and their respective council, supervisors unanimously voted to
delay hearing public comment on the proposed rezoning of Chesnic Drive during a special hearing Tuesday.

The board's agenda meeting was preceded by the hearing, when an attorney representing two Burgettstown residents made a brief presentation. The couple—Jack and Renee Chesnic—want to rezone approximately seven acres of land situated between the two dead-ends of Chesnic Drive from a high-density residential area to a highway commercial area.

The couple has said the move would allow them to develop multi-family dwellings there.

“That area was previously (commercial) in 1999. We want to develop it into multi-
family housing and connect the two dead ends of Chesnic, so the rest of that
community would have easier access to I-79,” their attorney, Dennis Popojas said.

The Chesnic Manor Home Owners Association had retained attorney D.J.
Nichols as of Monday, because it wanted to halt any possible action on the zoning request—even though neither the public hearing nor the following meeting allowed votes.

“I’m asking to stay any decision until the homeowners have a chance to
review all available information," Nichols said. "If you go ahead and rezone, problems may arise for the homeowners, like property devaluation."

He added: “I think the general concern is that under C-1 classification, anything can happen, and not the proposed dwellings.”

About 15 Chesnic Drive residents attended the hearing, telling supervisors they weren’t notified of the meeting or had been notified late.

According to the board, the property was posted and legal notification was
given in local media; letters were received by residents by Oct. 13, and no calls were received by the township from Chesnic residents prior to Tuesday's hearing.

After a motion from Supervisor Bill Brooks to delay the public comment portion of the hearing, supervisors unanimously voted yes.

The hearing was continued to Nov. 15.

In board meeting that followed, supervisors heard complaints about possible noise ordinance violations at .

Dan Bachorski, of 536 Bluegrass Drive, gave lengthy testimony of his and
others’ frustrations with noise there.

“The language that Joan Rivers used when she was here permeated up
through the (Meadowbrook) neighborhood, and it was awful,” Bachorski said.
“We’re asking the board to advise us on what to do—who to direct our
complaints to.”

North Strabane Code Enforcement Officer Doug Trbovich said he’d been hearing complaints since May, and has been talking with representatives from the casino.

“On occasion the sound level is out of hand, (the casino is) trying to be good neighbors. The (air conditioning) units that (Bachorski) complained about are now all enclosed. The casino is continuing to install dampeners," he told those in attendance. "They’re making the effort. I’ve taken it as far as the township can go.”

Barchorski’s complaints were aimed more at a lack of apparent response
from the township, to which later commented on.

“Don’t be afraid to call 911. I know we’ve been taught only to use it for
emergencies, but at least in Washington County, that’s how we keep record," he explained. "And you could later use that record in your complaint.”

In other business, said business
sponsorship signs purchased from Musco Lighting would be used in lieu of banners that would hang from light posts. Sulc said the size allows for more of them.

Sulc also said that the North Strabane Parks and Recreation Department now has a Facebook page, which he said has been used most recently for soliciting park
pavilions for rent.