BUTLER TWP — The investors who bought the Deshon Woods property at a sheriff’s sale earlier this year say they hope to have a plan for the 21-acre parcel by the end of the year, but that no clear way forward has emerged for the property.

Ted Cranmer, who represents Deshon Woods Development LLC, told members of the Butler Township Planning Commission on Tuesday that the group continues to court dozens of possible tenants for the property.

Cranmer said the group, which bought Deshon Woods at auction for $1.2 million in March, had not hired any outside help to market the property, and was instead working on the project itself.

The group is comprised of multiple partners, but thus far Cranmer has taken the lead when speaking publicly about the land’s disposition.

“We’re working on it on our own,” he said. “(But) we really don’t know,” what the result will be.

Cranmer’s comments came as the commission voted Tuesday to recommend Deshon Woods, which is located at 370 Evans City Road, be rezoned from its current status, which allows general residential use, to allow general commercial use.

The commission’s recommendation is the first step in the township’s rezoning process.

Next the municipality will hold a public hearing, scheduled at 7 p.m. Sept. 19, before the township’s board of commissioners.

The hearing will allow the public, as well as the investors, to present evidence, opinions and testimony regarding the rezoning proposal.

Cranmer said there are about “30 people” interested in the property, but that “nobody’s come to the forefront,” and the group continues to explore options.

Township Commissioner Sam Zurzolo, who also sits on the planning commission, said he supports the group’s application to rezone the land for commercial use, and believes it would be a “good fit.”

“The way it sits now, anything would be better,” Zurzolo said.

The site formerly had been tapped to house VA Butler Healthcare’s new health center, but a tumultuous bidding process with the initial developer, Westar, resulted in the federal government voiding the lease agreement and moving the project to property in Center Township.