A planned residential development in Jackson Township is slated to connect to nearby roads and municipalities.

A recommendation for final approval of Seneca Trails Phases 1B, a planned neighborhood residential development that will include 47 new townhomes, was passed unanimously at a supervisors’ meeting Thursday, Oct. 17.

The townhomes will be an addition to the existing Seneca Trails Development, which features 30 townhomes located just off Route 19.

A handful of single-family homeowners that reside in that area raised concerns over privacy in the area and how it would affect a portion of their outdoor space.

“The only concerns voiced by the neighboring single-family property owners were buffering and preservation of the riparian buffers along an existing stream behind their properties,” township manager Chris Rearick said.

The developer of the project worked on revisions to make certain there was ample buffering in the form of trees in the backyards of the existing properties that will be affected by the new construction.

“The developer added some additional buffering and ensured that those natural areas would be preserved,” Rearick added.

There already is a trail near the development that will be extended under the framework of the Seneca Trails master plan.

“There’s a trail that runs through the valley that likely will connect various residential developments as they build on the Gudekunst corridor,” Rearick said. “It’s designed to connect to Williams Drive and ultimately to Route 19. Ultimately, it would create a safe pedestrian and bicycle connection to the eastern side of Route 19 into Zelienople’s Main Street.”

Jackson has been working closely with Cranberry, Adams, Marshall, and Pine townships to form the Commodore Perry Regional Trail. The goal of that project is to highlight existing sidewalk and trail networks and connect the missing links that are necessary to create a regional route.

Officials from the township have noted that they are working with developers to make sure the new trail connections are compatible with the overarching Commodore Perry Regional Trail.