After a public hearing Monday, Butler Township Commissioners approved the rezoning of three properties along Litman and Old Plank roads.

The township advertised the rezoning and also directly alerted homeowners within 400 feet of the properties in question about the hearing.

Two parcels — one vacant and owned by Brandywine Agency, and another located at 98 Old Plank Road that formerly was the South Butler Fire Hall — will be rezoned to C-1 General Commercial from residential zoning.

The commissioners received a letter of support from the owner of the Brandywine Agency.

Township residents' key concerns were the potential for development of the land, which serves as a buffer between Litman Road and the community.

“We kind of like our backdoor neighbors, nice and tranquil,” said Rick Schontz, whose home on Autumn Drive borders the Brandywine Agency parcel. “I think that's the big concern.”

Another Autumn Drive resident, Paula Dorsch, said she feared the potential for landslides if the area was developed because there have been issues with the steeply inclined hill in the past.

“I think that hillside is steep enough that it (is) a possibility,” Dorsch said. “I'm concerned about my neighborhood.”

Zarnick said the township has watched the hillside carefully due to past issues. He said there is also a high-pressure gas line that would likely prevent the hillside from being developed further.

“We can't sit here and say nothing is going to go in there, but look at the hillside,” Zarnick said.

Focus then shifted to the parcel containing the former South Butler Fire Hall with inquiries about what could go in the vacated building.

Township Solicitor Rebecca Black clarified the township does not own the property. It is owned by the Butler Fire District, which is a separate entity from the township.

“The township is unaware of anyone who has approached the fire district,” Black said.

Zoning Officer Jesse Hines said there are 34 permitted uses in a C-1 general commercial zone, but it's not possible to build a large factory or things of that nature.

“It is a very broad zoning district,” Hines said. “It is not industrial.”

Any attempt to develop that land would need to be properly applied for by the owner. It would need to meet set standards and then be approved by the commissioners.

A third parcel, listed at 94 Old Plank Road, will be rezoned to single-family residential, a shift from multifamily residential zoning.

David Snyder, owner of that property, said he has lived there for 14 years, even mowing the grass for the fire hall when it was still active.

“It's not super likely they're going to build the whole way back to those property lines (in Grandview community),” Snyder said. “My property line, they will.”

Snyder said he attended the meeting to find out more information, specifically to know who owned the former fire hall property, which borders his to the west.

He said he will call the fire district to inquire about buying a piece of it to act as a buffer between his property and any future businesses that may have interest in the vacant fire hall.

“I have a beautiful piece of property. I love where I am,” Snyder said. “I just thought I bought a single-family home and I was zoned as such.”

Zarnick said rezoning the fire hall property will keep a vacant building from staying unused, and he believes it is likely those parcels are already developed as far as they can go.

“The commissioners have spent some time looking at this,” said Zarnick before the motion was approved.