New housing development approved in Hempfield

Hempfield supervisors have OK’d plans to bring 76 new homes to the northern part of the township.

The development, which received conditional approval, will be located at the corner of Blank School Road and Harvey Avenue, across the street from the Hannastown Golf Club.

“It’s a great piece of property to develop,” said George Reese, chairman of the board of supervisors. “It’s in a more rural area of our township. … We’re looking forward to that.”

According to Patrick Karnash, the township’s director of planning and zoning, the property is being developed by AR Building Company. That developer also built Oakridge Estates off South Greengate Road. Initial plans suggest the new development will consist of upper-end patio homes.

“The application states that they are developing 76 residential units, and the site plan shows the units in groups of two to six units,” Karnash said.

He noted during a supervisors meeting this month that two entrances into the development are planned off Harvey Avenue. Officials are waiting on a traffic study from PennDOT.

In addition to receiving a traffic study, the developer must receive sewage and stormwater approvals, several permits and have street names accepted by Westmoreland emergency dispatchers.

Karnash said he expects construction to begin this fall.

The housing development is one of several being considered for the township.

Most recently, supervisors approved a zoning change from agricultural to suburban residential for 100 acres of the former Cherry Creek Golf Course, potentially paving the way for residential development. While site plans for development have not been approved, officials have suggested that 226 lots could be built on the property.

Initial plans show those would include a mix of single-family and duplex homes.

Last year, officials approved a separate zoning change at the former Valley Green Golf & Country Club, which is split between Hempfield and Unity. Hempfield leaders later approved a first phase of development for 63 lots along Valley Green Road. Homes in that development could cost between $350,000 and $400,000, at a minimum.

In addition, plans for 52 duplex lots and one single-family home were approved last year as part of a second phase of development at Grandview Estates.

Homes will be located off Zoe Lane, which connects to Fosterville Road. Homes will be between 1,500- and 1,700-square-feet and will cost around $300,000.

“I don’t think there’s been anything like this in the last 20 years to where we have so much coming our way … for people looking to come to Hempfield,” Reese said.