Residents of the Willow Village neighborhood in Plum spoke out against a proposed nearby development during a public hearing before borough council on Aug. 1.

According to borough documents, the Patriot Estates Housing Plan calls for 158 single-family homes to be built during three phases on 103.89 acres off Saltsburg Road near its Pennsylvania Turnpike overpass. Plum’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance requires a connection between one of the streets in the planned residential development and Willow Village’s Aspen Drive, currently a cul-de-sac.

“The Allegheny County Department of Economic Development recommends this connection for emergency vehicle access and pedestrian access to public transportation on Saltsburg Road,” a letter from council to Willow Village residents states.

During the council hearing, residents expressed concerns mainly about the connection causing an increase in traffic, which in turn would cause safety considerations and more noise.

“To point out the obvious, it’s going to have a detrimental impact on our value,” resident Paul Donatucci said. “I’d like you to take that into consideration, as well. Everything we’ve heard today points in that direction. It can’t go any other way.”

Residents argued that the road would become a cut-through for vehicles to reach Saltsburg Road and bypass the often heavily-traveled Davidson Road.

The developer, John Spagnolo, spoke at the hearing in an attempt to address concerns. He said that he would work with the community on the road’s configuration and that it could be a through street, cul-de-sac or gated at the emergency access point. He specified that it would be put in to act as another exit in case of an emergency and not to act as an entrance way to the housing plan.

“The cul-de-sac with the emergency access proposed is not for the fire trucks to come in,” said Spagnolo. “But if there was a fire or the original entrance would be blocked off, there’d be another means of egress for people to get out.”

Spagnolo also addressed concerns about a high-pressure gas line under the property to be developed, saying People’s Gas has been notified and that it won’t be an issue during construction.

Patriot Estates homes would be in the $400,000-$500,000, he said.

No action was taken by council during the hearing, which primarily was for public input. Council members will weigh what residents said and continue discussions with the developer before putting the plan to vote at a future action meeting.

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