Plum Council Notebook: July Voting Meeting

Here's a roundup of items discussed at the July 11 voting meeting.

Date Set for Unified Development Ordinance Hearing

A public hearing regarding an amendment to the borough’s Unified Development Ordinance will be held August 22 at 7 p.m.

The amendment would allow senior housing to go up in two residential zoning areas, those zoned R-1, suburban residential, and R-2, neighborhood residential.

Council members voted in favor of advertising the ordinance and setting a date for the hearing, with the exception of councilman Keith Nowalk, who abstained.

Nowalk said he didn’t vote because he owns a piece of property that would be affected by the proposed change.

At its June meeting, the planning commission recommended that council approve the amendment.

Council could vote on the amendment as early as September, but that’s a decision to be made at members' discretion, assistant borough manager Greg Bachy said.

“If they decide not to make it an agenda item in the future, that’s their prerogative,” he said.

Colonial Pointe Subdivision

Council gave final site plan approval for Grasinger Homes Colonial Pointe Subdivision. The 36-lot community is slated to be built on about 20 acres at a site off Elicker Road near Plum Borough High School.

Repp Road Repairs

All council members gave the go-ahead, albeit retroactively, to emergency repairs on Repp Road. Due to dangerous conditions—the road’s surface was too smooth and became slippery when it rained—PennDOT authorized the borough to move ahead quickly with the repairs.

Several accidents have occurred due to the slick conditions, according to officials.

5K Race

Council approved the fourth annual 5K Race for Sunny Carney, to be held September 17 on Ross Hollow Road. Borough staff will work with race organizers to map out a route, according to borough manager Michael Thomas.

Sunny Carney is a local woman battling carcinoid cancer syndrome, a rare endocrine disorder.

More information on Carney and fundraising efforts is available at www.sunnycarneycarcinoidcancerfund.blogspot.com.

Road Paving Project Bid Rejected

Officials rejected the single bid for the borough’s 2011 road paving project because it was in excess of what Plum had budgeted. The borough will put out a call for bids again. 

CDBG Grant for Storm Sewers

Council approved a resolution to include a Beech Road storm sewer project on a Community Development Block Grant application with the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments (TCVCOG).

Plum Community Festival

The Rotary Club needs volunteers to help with the Plum Community Festival to be held July 28 and 29. The festival will be held at Larry Mills Park on O’Block Road.

Information on the festival is available at www.plumcommunityfestival.com.

Mayor Issues Proclamations

Mayor Richard Hrivnak named the week of July 16 “Stamp Out Leukemia Week”, the week beginning July 17 as “Plum EMS week”, and recognized long-time borough resident Ron Gancas for his efforts as president and chief executive officer of Pittsburgh’s Soldiers and Sailors museum.

Gancas retired from his position at Soldiers and Sailors July 1.