CRANBERRY TWP – Two new development projects in Cranberry – a 790-unit residential development and a day care that could serve up to 200 children – were given the go-ahead by Cranberry Township supervisors Thursday evening.

The Crescent development, a proposed residential and commercial complex near the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, was approved unanimously at the meeting, as was the Creative World School day care facility, which would be located at 9112 Marshall Road.

Crescent, which is being developed by Charter Homes, will take up 114.4 acres off Coolsprings Drive. Phase 1 of the development, which was approved at the meeting, will consist of 46 single family residential lots, 103 townhouse units and 288 apartment units. Approximately 9,300 square feet of the development is designated for non-residential use.

At a previous public hearing last week, several residents asked questions about the plans for the development. At Thursday’s meeting, resident Thomas Walsh asked if there would be a secondary entrance added to Crescent through the adjacent Cranberry Springs development.

Township manager Dan Santoro said only one access point in that area through Cranberry Springs is currently planned.

“We have made a lot of comments about the watershed off of that development, but there’s been a lot of people concerned about the traffic, too,” said Walsh. “Another access point would alleviate some of that.”

The Creative World School day care facility was granted preliminary and final land development and conditional use approval for a one-story, 14,552-square-foot facility to be located on 3.1 acres of land.

Members of the Community Leadership Institute of Cranberry also celebrated the completion of the group’s inaugural program at the meeting.

The Cranberry Township Community Chest created the Community Leadership Institute of Cranberry (CLIC) program this year.

Described as a “citizen’s academy,” according to the Cranberry Township website, CLIC seeks to “foster community engagement, growth and understanding by offering an in-depth look at how local government works and how it improves the quality of life for Township residents.”

Participants in the program attended eight sessions during spring, and met with different Cranberry Township leaders and staff members across a number of municipal departments. The goal, according to the Cranberry Township Community Chest website, was to offer an “in-depth look at how local government works for residents every single day.”

“They took the time out of their personal lives and away from their families to come and attend seminars with all of our township employees and all of our departments,” said township supervisor Mike Manipole. “It was a great opportunity for us as a township, also, because we have a chance to see another perspective that these people brought to us.”

Santoro said the township plans to continue the program each year. This year’s program had 14 participants.

“It’s a way of helping folks understand what it is we do, and how in-depth and detailed things that go on (can be),” he said. “Unless you get behind the scenes, it’s hard to really know.”