CRANBERRY TWP — Much to the displeasure of more than a dozen residents, the planning commission approved Monday, Sept. 30, a Preliminary Land Development application and a Conditional Use application for the proposed Summerwind Townhouse Development to be reviewed by the board of supervisors.

The development plan details the construction of 66 Townhouse units on about 7.7 acres along the intersection of Freedom Road and LaPorte Drive. It calls for nine total three-story units, eight of which would sit just off Freedom Road, and another six two-story units in the interior of the prospective community.

After being met with sharp criticism following an initial presentation at the Sept. 3 planning commission meeting, president of JMS Engineering John Schleicher gave a reworked overview of the plan that included modifications to stormwater management, building height and privacy concerns.

In addition to a couple of new drawings that outlined stormwater swales and other facilities, Schleicher unveiled an animated 3D rendering of what the community would look like when completed.

A number of residents who live along LaPorte Drive, Bucks Road and Greenwood Drive Extension raised concerns regarding privacy and a potential increase in traffic since the community would likely be adding more than 100 new vehicles to the area.

“One of my main concerns is traffic,” said resident Vince Molina. “I would like to see a traffic study done now and maybe one after. There needs to be something done to curb traffic.

“I’m also concerned about privacy. These people are going to be moving right in my backyard. They’re going to be 25 feet from any of us (other residents). Our privacy is going to be gone.”

The plan calls for a row of 6-foot evergreen trees to be planted around the back of the new properties as a privacy buffer for residents.

Chairperson Jim Colella asked Schleicher to reevaluate the planning for those buffer zones after announcing he agreed with several residents that there would be privacy issues.

Schleicher said he would meet with the developer again to go over what could be done.

“We can certainly look into enhancing the buffer plantings and increasing the number of trees and spacing,” he said. “We’ll definitely get our landscape architect involved with that. We can certainly work on that.”

The revised presentation also included clarification that each townhouse would not exceed 35 feet in height and comply with Cranberry Township’s building codes and ordinances.

“I think you mitigated most of what we were all concerned about,” Colella told Schleicher before making a motion to send the development plan into the next step of the process.