CONNOQUENESSING - Heated debate marked borough council's decision Tuesday night to ease zoning ordinances, virtually assuring the development of 349 new homes on 152 acres in the municipality.

Council voted

to increase the number of homes allowed per acre, and to increase the percentage of homes allowed to be multi-family units.

Council members David Brown and Maureen Cavanaugh-Brown voted against the measure, with council President Lloyd Leslie, who owns the 152 acres being eyed for development, abstaining.

Cavanaugh-Brown asked those in favor of the measure to explain how the ordinance change would benefit the majority of the community.

"I'm really concerned, financially, how we're going to afford the upkeep," she said.

Council vice president Harold Rader said the addition of population and homes is inevitable, and the borough needs to change to keep pace with surrounding communities.

"It's like any business, if you stay status quo you're going to get left in the dust," he said.

Councilman Ryan Graham was quietly blunt when he explained his rationale for voting for the change.

"I'm looking at the increase of my property value," he said.

Graham said he wanted to continue to farm in the future and thought the town would benefit from the planned development proposed by developer Angelo Spagnolo. Architect for the plan is Victor-Wetzel Associates of Sewickley

During the meeting's first public comment session, former board member Alice Schmid-Miller said the community would be getting "a lot of headaches" as a result of the vote.

"This is not going to benefit our community as a whole. It will probably benefit a few people, but not the community," she said.

Debate grew heated at the end of the meeting, when resident Steve Beers questioned Rader directly about comments made at previous meetings.

"You said that light industry makes you money but that houses cost you money. What did you mean by the last part?" Beers asked.

After several exchanges, Rader's face turned pink.

"It really burns my gall. The whole problem with the people in this town is that they hate to see a person put a penny in their pocket. The bottom line is money, and you're jealous because you're not getting any," Rader said.

Beers said he didn't care who made money off the project.

Rader said that despite his age he has no retirement plan or life insurance, his investment being in his property.

Beers said the council was using the ordinances for personal gain.

"I don't like the conflict of interests here. You gave no consideration for those without a lot of property," Beers said.

Leslie said the previous borough council, which had updated the zoning codes and ordinances in December, made it difficult for those with farms to profit from a sale because those changes allowed fewer homes per acre and fewer multi-unit buildings.

"How can you screw me out of the value of my property? The last council screwed everything up." Leslie said.

Beers' wife, Cindy, was council president for the 2003 term.

While Beers was speaking, a motion was abruptly made to adjourn.

Beers continued to speak as the meeting ended and council stood to leave.