Benbrook parking lot expansion given thumbs up
BUTLER TWP — The township planning commission approved Tuesday the creation of a 148-space parking lot at Benbrook Medical Center, 102 Technology Drive.
According to Bob Maher, project manager with Gateway Engineers, the center, owned by Butler Health System, has an addition project in the works that will cut down the amount of parking spaces available. The asphalt lot will be built on an “open-grass field” encompassing 3.23 acres and is proposed to have two access points, which Maher said is to expand capacity and cut down on congestion.
“It’s a pretty simple plan ... stormwater will be directed toward a retention pond located at the south end of the lot,” Maher said. “There are 11 light standers that will be installed in the proposed project along the perimeter of the lot.”
Maher said the lot would be used mainly by employees of the medical center.
Butler Township zoning officer Jesse Hines said the developer still needs to acquire a developer’s agreement, bond and stormwater agreement before the township commissioners can give final approval.
New rental company proposal
The commission also approved a development request from AERCO, a heavy-equipment rental company, for Old Plank Road near Litman Road, the site of a former Butler Township fire station. Jonathan Garczewski, project engineer for Gateway Engineers, said the parcel of land had been rezoned as a commercial property, allowing for a business to operate there.
According to Garczewski, the company will rent equipment strictly for commercial businesses, not for the general public. The business will have two driveways along Old Plank Road, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The developers will plant trees around the property, since it is surrounded by residential properties, to comply with a township ordinance, Garczewski said.
Hines said he didn’t see anything proposed in the project that would require a developer’s agreement or bond.
With approval from the planning commission, both of the proposed plans will be presented to the township commissioners for final approval.
