Hempfield leaders approve rezoning of former Cherry Creek Golf Course

Hempfield supervisors this week granted a zoning change that could pave the way for residential development at the former Cherry Creek Golf Course.

The zoning status will change from agricultural to suburban residential for about 100 acres of the golf course, which closed in 2015.

While site plans for possible future development have not been approved, Greg Hillard, a representative from NVR — the parent company for Ryan Homes, NVHomes and Heartland Homes — suggested 226 lots could be built on the property. Initial plans show those would include a mix of single-family and duplex homes.

“We see this community as more of like a move-down buyer situation where it’s kind of needed in this community from our research,” he said. “We’re not going to age discriminate, but more for the senior living housing, first-floor masters. The clubhouse is going to remain in the community. We’re going to keep some of the existing ponds for walking trails.”

If plans are approved, the developer for the site would be Braddock-based MSD-Cherry Creek, LLC.

Any development plans for the property must first be approved by the township’s planning commission before being presented to supervisors.

While Monday’s vote only rezoned the property, several community members expressed concerns about potential development that could follow.

“My objection is about the traffic and the number of houses being put in,” said Phil Sleber, 39. “You said about access onto Simpson Road, which I live on. It’s barely wide enough for two vehicles, and I don’t see why you would want to increase traffic there when I can’t keep a mailbox for more than two years because of how people drive on it.”

He questioned why development was necessary when supervisors recently approved a similar zoning change at the former Valley Green Golf & Country Club last year. The zoning change from agricultural to suburban residential impacted 144 acres in Hempfield. Unity supervisors made an identical change on the 116-acre section of the course in their township.

Other questions centered around water runoff and how the development could impact the value of homes surrounding the community.

Cherry Creek Golf Course, near the Westmoreland County Community College campus, opened in the mid-1990s and featured the restaurant Birdies Grill and Sports Pub.

The course eventually was renamed Scenic Links of Westmoreland and changed hands in January 2015, when it was purchased by Mark Allison for $1.35 million. The course closed a year later because of significant losses, Allison said at the time. Birdies closed in December 2016.

The land is owned and maintained by A&C Property Holdings LLC, of which Allison is sole member and manager.

A&C Property Holdings last year agreed to sell part of the property, Allison said in February.