BUFFALO TWP — A large residential development may be coming to the township, but a zoning change will have to happen first.

The Allen family of Clinton Township wants to build 270-plus single-family houses on 160 acres in the north central part of the township. The property is between Routes 356 and 228, Hepler Road and Parker Road.

However, most of the land is zoned for uses other than housing.

About 60 acres is zoned for business, 80 to 90 is zoned for agriculture and the rest of the land is zoned residential.

Steven Victor of Victor-Wetzel Associates, a Sewickley firm planning the development, said the family wants to do a planned residential development, but cannot do that in business and agriculture zones.

If the zoning change takes place, Victor said construction can begin by 2017. Development is expected to take place over 10 years.

He said the Allens did a market study and decided that a residential development — specifically with single-family dwellings — was the best choice for the property.

The family is seeking to zone all 160 acres as residential.

Township Supervisor John Haven said a zoning hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the township building.

“There’s probably going to be some traffic concerns,” Haven said, noting that Route 356 can get backed up.

Victor said although a large development will affect traffic on nearby roads, traffic in residential-zoned areas is less than in areas zoned for business.

Victor said he believes this development is going to take place at the start of a growth spurt in the township, noting that recent improvements to Route 28 makes the township a more attractive bedroom community for residents who work in Pittsburgh.

He also said many people are commuting west on Route 228 to Cranberry Township.

Victor said the plan is to build 25 to 30 houses per year. They will be hooked up to municipal sewage and water systems.

“All the utilities are there,” Victor said.

He said he is not sure of the size of the houses. Roughly two miles of new roads will be a part of the development.

Haven said the development is in line with the township’s comprehensive plan. The township has planned for residential development to take place along the Route 365 corridor near Route 228 and Sarver Road.

He said, because the development is planned over 10 years, it will not be overwhelming. He noted that two-thirds of the township still is rural.