BUTLER TOWNSHIP — The Butler Township Board of Commissioners changed the zoning of Deshon Woods from residential to commercial Monday after a public hearing at the township municipal building.

Deshon Woods is located at 370 Evans City Road.

The motion passed unanimously. It allows Deshon Woods Development LLC, which bought the 21-acre property at a sheriff’s sale for $1.2 million in March, to sell the property for general commercial use.

“We’re diligently trying to pursue that as quickly as we can,” said Ted Cranmer, who represented Deshon Woods Development. “We have some serious prospects out there and we have some not so serious prospects out there.”

Cranmer went on to say that the group has approvals from the state Department of Transportation in place.

“We’re just kind of in the rolling stages of the motion here,” he said. “We’ve only had it since March. I know it’s September, but we’re working diligently.”

Should the property be sold, township commissioners said land developers would have to meet with them before any further action could take place.

The matter came before the board following a favorable recommendation from the Butler Township Planning Commission on Sept. 6.

Township zoning officer Jesse Hines also spoke favorably of the rezoning.

“It would make sense to zone it commercially,” he said. “I don’t see any obstacles against it.”

No residents raised concerns about the rezoning before the motion passed. However, after the motion passed, one citizen addressed concerns of the dangers of increased traffic and drivers speeding.

Butler Township Police Chief John Hays said anyone with concerns about speeders should contact police and they would respond.

Deshon Woods formerly was set to be the site of VA Butler Healthcare’s new health center, but issues with the initial developer, Westar, led to the federal government voiding the lease agreement and the project being relocated to property in Center Township.