Municipal News
- Last Updated on Friday, 07 June 2013 02:46
By J.R. Brower
A public hearing was held in Peters Township Council Chambers on May 13 to act upon a request by Fiorentino Moscatiello to open a sit-down eating establishment, Fiori’s Restaurant at 3801 Washington Road, the site of the former Parkvale Bank.
A public hearing was held in Peters Township Council Chambers on May 13 to act upon a request by Fiorentino Moscatiello to open a sit-down eating establishment, Fiori’s Restaurant at 3801 Washington Road, the site of the former Parkvale Bank.
Because the property is zoned C-4, transitional commercial, and is next to a neighborhood, only special conditional uses are allowable.
Brian Sepelak, who lives next to the restaurant on Pleasant Avenue, spoke at length to council and submitted a petition signed by 16 residents who opposed approval of the restaurant based upon their concerns about excessive traffic and bright lighting. Also cited was the typical complaint that the restaurant might lower their property values.
Sepelak’s suggestion to council that the existing 18-foot buffer zone between him and restaurant should be increased to the current minimum of 25 feet was countered by Township Planning Director Ed Zuk’s contention that a buffer minimum of only 15 is allowable for the restaurant property, because that was the standard allowable distance when the bank was built. He told Sepelak that the present buffer will be improved with addition of more trees, which will become one of the conditions required of the developer along with a six-foot high privacy fence abutting the border.
Zuk also added that in his entire tenure as planning director he has never received a complaint from residents about the brightness of lighting on the property of the former bank. No enhanced lighting requirements were recommended as well from the Zoning Hearing Board.
Moscatiello told council that this restaurant will be the second of two that he owns. The other one is Fiore’s Pizza off West Liberty Avenue in Dormont, which he has operated for 33 years. He said the Peters Township restaurant will offer pizza as well along with pasta and salads. He added that the new restaurant will have a distinct family atmosphere with no bar or liquor served.
Council approved Moscatiello’s application with additional conditions including sign replacement from pole to monumental-type, dumpster relocation, installation of a grease pit, sewage capacity expansion, modernized smoke detectors, entrance-exit road improvements and the addition of more parking spaces. Also required will be the hours of operation from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Friday and Saturday.
In other business, Peters Township Council:
Approved the Orchard Hill subdivision phase 2 development plan, which includes 12 additional lots. The size of the entire site is 70 acres and includes a 600-foot extension of Cortland Drive.
Awarded a rejuvenator contract to the sole bidder, Pavement Technology, in the amount of $55,407.
Awarded the storm sewer rehabilitation program contract to the lowest bidder, Insight Pipe, in the amount of $136,829. Township Engineer Mark Zemaitis said the award went to a reputable company with whom he has worked before.
Awarded low-bidder G and W Roofing the contract to replace the shingle roof on the municipal building for $30,950. Township Manager Michael Silvestri said the roof was last replaced in 1986 adding, “The project will include additional insulation in the attic area to address energy savings.”
Approved police department requests to allow them to begin using “spike strips”, tire deflation devices used to stop suspected motorists. Police manual policy was also approved to allow for external body armor. Currently, police use only armor beneath clothes.
Brian Sepelak, who lives next to the restaurant on Pleasant Avenue, spoke at length to council and submitted a petition signed by 16 residents who opposed approval of the restaurant based upon their concerns about excessive traffic and bright lighting. Also cited was the typical complaint that the restaurant might lower their property values.
Sepelak’s suggestion to council that the existing 18-foot buffer zone between him and restaurant should be increased to the current minimum of 25 feet was countered by Township Planning Director Ed Zuk’s contention that a buffer minimum of only 15 is allowable for the restaurant property, because that was the standard allowable distance when the bank was built. He told Sepelak that the present buffer will be improved with addition of more trees, which will become one of the conditions required of the developer along with a six-foot high privacy fence abutting the border.
Zuk also added that in his entire tenure as planning director he has never received a complaint from residents about the brightness of lighting on the property of the former bank. No enhanced lighting requirements were recommended as well from the Zoning Hearing Board.
Moscatiello told council that this restaurant will be the second of two that he owns. The other one is Fiore’s Pizza off West Liberty Avenue in Dormont, which he has operated for 33 years. He said the Peters Township restaurant will offer pizza as well along with pasta and salads. He added that the new restaurant will have a distinct family atmosphere with no bar or liquor served.
Council approved Moscatiello’s application with additional conditions including sign replacement from pole to monumental-type, dumpster relocation, installation of a grease pit, sewage capacity expansion, modernized smoke detectors, entrance-exit road improvements and the addition of more parking spaces. Also required will be the hours of operation from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Friday and Saturday.
In other business, Peters Township Council:
Approved the Orchard Hill subdivision phase 2 development plan, which includes 12 additional lots. The size of the entire site is 70 acres and includes a 600-foot extension of Cortland Drive.
Awarded a rejuvenator contract to the sole bidder, Pavement Technology, in the amount of $55,407.
Awarded the storm sewer rehabilitation program contract to the lowest bidder, Insight Pipe, in the amount of $136,829. Township Engineer Mark Zemaitis said the award went to a reputable company with whom he has worked before.
Awarded low-bidder G and W Roofing the contract to replace the shingle roof on the municipal building for $30,950. Township Manager Michael Silvestri said the roof was last replaced in 1986 adding, “The project will include additional insulation in the attic area to address energy savings.”
Approved police department requests to allow them to begin using “spike strips”, tire deflation devices used to stop suspected motorists. Police manual policy was also approved to allow for external body armor. Currently, police use only armor beneath clothes.
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