JACKSON TWP — Preliminary concepts for phases three and four of Jackson’s Pointe were recommended Wednesday by the township planning commission.

Both phases between Route 19 and Interstate 79 total about 64 acres. Phase three of the project is just south of Lindsay Road. Phase four is just north of Lindsay Road and phase three. A hotel, restaurants and retail businesses are potential ideas for both phases.

“This is a rendition of what might happen,” said Scott Hoffman, representative for Pittsburgh-based company KLH Engineers.

The Buncher Co., the real estate agency that owns the area, will have to present separate plans for approval for each individual complex planned for the area.

“The overall concept is there,” township manager Chris Rearick said.

The township also seeks to connect other nearby developments such as the Park N’ Ride and the FedEx distribution center with a series of walking and biking trails.

“It certainly is nice if we can connect all these places. No one uses it right now because it’s unsafe,” fellow commission member Kurt Fowler said about traveling by the highways.

Planning commission member Bob McGuire suggested building a pedestrian overpass connecting Jackson’s Pointe with Route 528.

“People sometimes don’t pay attention to the lights,” McGuire said. “When the development is finally finished, there’s going to be a lot of foot traffic.”

However planning commission member Dennis Morgan had concerns about building an overpass.

“That’s a lot of bridge for the six people who are going to use it,” he said.

The township is looking at other trail connections that “loosely” link to Jackson’s Pointe.

“We’ve applied for a grant through the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and it came back that we were the top-ranked grant within reach out of the 12 that submitted,” Rearick said. “I think you’d be surprised by the number of people who bicycle from place to place.”

Rearick said the township’s issues with the plans include stormwater drainage. The plans will need to be approved by the township supervisors before the areas can be graded.

“Let it proceed as long as all the engineering is met, the township is happy and it doesn’t mess with I-79,” Morgan said.

Phase one of Jackson’s Pointe includes UPS, Protico, Red Bull and LabChem. Warehouse distribution space also was created with the first phase. Phase two saw the building of a Speedway gas station and convenience store.

Also planned for the area which have already been approved include a Penske Truck Rental facility and a 90,000-square-foot facility, two-thirds of which will house Bard Medical. The other one-third of the facility will be available for other businesses to lease.