Sewickley Herald

              Serving:
Aleono
Kes
Edgeworth Gleiifieid Haysvie Leet Township Leetsdale Osborne Sewiddey Sewidiley Heights Sewiddey His
Vol. 85 No. 3r
The Sewickley
Herald
Wednesday, August. 3, 1988
OLMM.ITV AUOlTUsC
rag.
Cy >MTEGWTY *
18 Gateway Publications
SUSUKSAM mrSSUMGH'S LARGEST CmCULATKMI
50*
On your mark, get set...
Church picnics are a quintessential part of summer — right up there with beaches, shoeless feet and the sound of cicadas. Triumph Baptist Church held its annual picnic in Sewicltley’s War Memorial Park — complete with food and games, incliidihg a sack race. Awaiting the word “Go!” from deacon Edward Hollins are these contestants, from left: Pastor Craig L Giles; Arthur Hoston, chairman of the board of trustees; deacon Gary Jackson; and the Rev. Walter McMullen. Behind the starting line is U.S. Army Capt. ciaude Vann, also a trustee of the church.
I	(Photo	by	James	Addison)
Inside
2
Vietnamese family answers complaints
4
White ribbons belie darker meaning
5
Summer school artsy at Sweetwater
11
French students say 'au revoir'
20
Ethel Chubb hangs up her tack for good
23
QV's Jeff Gaca is Keystone kid
In the nick of time — Osborne okays new zoning
Council approves ordinance
By Ed Stankowski Jr.
Osborne Borough has a new zoning ordinance — one that includes the creation of a controversial. R-3 district, but in an area more palatable to residents.
After weeks of public hearings and debate, Osborne Council reached a unanimous decision last Thursday to adopt the new ordinance — which overturns a July 23 recommendation by the planning commission to create the R-3 zone along Beaver Road and Ohio River Boulevard, a spot unpopular with a number of residents.
Instead, the final R-3 zone l— which allows multifamily uses, including townhouses — now has been sited in an area that includes the large property owned by Daniel Evans, which borders Aleppo Township. This area has been favored all along for R-3 by a ma-ority of residents attending the hearings. They have teen adamantly opposed to the district’s being placed in the area bounded by ORB, Beaver Road, the Haysville light and Osborne School.
Council President William Boswell said the “issue is not if (a R-3 zone is to be established) — but where.”
Pennsylvania state law requires any zoning ordinance to make provisions for multiple-unit dwellings.
Last week’s ratification of the new ordinance came just in time for the borough to avoid being in violation of state law. The old ordinance, established in 1954, expired the day of the hearing. State law also requires municipalities to have a working zoning ordinance.
Furttiermore, without such an ordinance, the borou^ would be open to whatever an owner might chose to do with his property.
— including an R-3 area — same night old ordinance expires
Last week’s council meeting was preceeded by a Amato was unavailable for comment. However, a
Kvr riMA 4-krkM RA /^oK/\**nA flio v\Tonninrr /*mvkmicci/\n mAAfinrt lio	orroinci
Last week’s council meeting was preceeded by a public hearing attended by more than 50 Osborne residents. Residents continued to voice strong opposition to the planning commission’s earlier decision to create an R-3 district in the triangle-shaped area bounded by ORB and Beaver Road.
Jack Wick, a Beaver Road resident, questioned the intentions of council and the planning commission. “Are we looking out for the good of Oslwrne or the good of developers?” Wick asked. His statements elicited applause from the audience.
During the meeting that followed the public hearing, council acknowledged the public opposition and chose instead to create an R-3 district on the Evans property.
Boswell expressed concern over that location, which is steep and hilly, noting the courts require “reasonable space” for an R-3 zone. He suggested creating a reduced R-3 zone in the ORB/Beaver Road location as a “certain degree of insurance.”
However, Solicitor William Colbert said “the hillside is defensible” should a potential developer elect to challenge the ordinance in court.	,
Colbert added that the new R-3 district comprises one sucth of Osborne’s total area — a percentage he said tinat is well within state requirements.
Robert Susko, an Osborne resident and potential developer in the borough, did not attend last week’s hearing or meeting. When later informed of council’s decision, he commented, “I have no feelings one way or the other. We’ve got other investments going,” Susko and his partner^ James Amato, had said they were interested in developing a tract in the ORB/Beaver Road area.
Amato was unavailable for comment. However, at the planning commission meeting, he warned against giving “lip service” to R-3 zoning. When asked by a resident if he would take the borough to court to press his claim, he replied, “Probably.”
At last week’s meeting, Osborne residents applaud-
-	ed council’s decision. Richard and Mary Ann Wagner of Beaver Road said they were “delighted.” “Justice has been served,” Richard Wagner said.
John Wick of Beaver Road said he had “mixed reactions,” but was “basically pleased” with council’s action. “The new ordinance meets the needs of the community with the least amount of disruption to the residents.”
Sycamore Road resident John O’Neill expresed similar sentiments. “I’m not pleased; I’m not angry. The ordinance had to be passed. The decisions are sufficient and good enough.”
The majority of residents present at the hearing also appeared to be pleased by council’s decision to reduce the number of units per lot from five, recommended by the planning commission, to four.
Some argued five-unit lots would lead to less attractive development and, in turn, cheaper housing. Boswell said he favored four-unit lots “to retain a certain level of flexibility.” j In addition, council established the minimum setback at 40 feet.	r
In a letter to Boswell read aloud before the council session. Mayor Maximilian Schoetz said he “favors quality development” in the borough,
In another letter, former Mayor Ray Hess expressed his opposition to an R-3 zone in the ORB/Beaver Road area. He said he favors development on the hill.
J
^IMSSUNBIRD^
eiMi uvm
L«8488
FULL
DEL.
rnecE
WORID'S LARGEST PONTIAC DEALER » HAS THE DEAL FOR YOU
F	Wf Jtll MORt MRS AND TRUCKS THAN ANY
L OtAllRSHIP OF ANY MAKf IN THE TRI-JTAT( ARtA
^ ■MNOmW IfMMMD JM ^
ONLY ^9388
FULL DEL. PRICE *
#0SI4*
OVER BSP
NEW PONTIACS Al/AIWBIE TO CHOOSE FRO
★ ■■UWBNIWIfNWMIIIIWUI^
|^S..*13,488h^.
MOTOR TNIND CAK OP *l9W6MmMIX* „„»! 1,488
FUU
DEI.
PMCC
1 COCHRAN HAS . COMBINED
REBAris WitH GMC* CASH BACK PROGRAM TO OFFER TO YOU‘1050 IN FACTORY INCENTIVES
^1fttS.15nCKUP^ —MMDinW—
LOOK RH THESE OTHER EXAMPLES
~4MNDNiW—
'^14,988
FULL
DEL.
PRICE
AS
tow
AS
$
6388
FULL
DEL.
PRICE
#CI992
^ 198t SIERRAS CLASSIC
TOP OF THE LINE
AS
LOW
AS
$9888
FULL
DEL.
PRICE
#Ca05it
^I9S8 CONVERSIONS VIUIS THEULTIIM1E IN LUXURY VANS
OVER 27
ro CHOOSE noM INAIRCOND.COMfORT
OUR UStD CAR BUSIMESS IS ALSO r»NtASTIC WHICH MEANS TOP DOlUR fOR YOUR tftADE
373-3333	247*1600
ALL PRjrCCS INCLUDE RGBATCS