JACKSON TWP — More retail developments are on the horizon for the township.

About 42 acres by the new FedEx distribution center by Route 528 were recommended by the township planning commission Wednesday evening to be the site for a hotel, restaurant, a convenience store and office space.

The area, owned by Zelienople-based Plunkett Motor Freight Rentals, is surrounded by FedEx, Interstate 79, and Route 528, which is Lindsay Road.

“We hope this brings growth to the township in a positive fashion,” said PMF Rentals partner Joe Belsterling, who is a lifelong resident of the area.

“Just like home, we want to see this grow and prosper,” Belsterling said. “We would like to see more people come into the area.”

Although the development has received interest from numerous businesses, none have been confirmed.

Six acres near the corner of I-79 and Route 528 will be home for the hotel, a restaurant and a convenience store. Another 12 acres adjacent to the FedEx distribution center will have office and storage space for businesses.

Plans for both areas are preliminary.

PMF Rentals engineer George Haberman said the company needs to get permits to grade the land. Plans also need approval from the township supervisors.

New addition for FedEx

The just built FedEx distribution center now wants to build a 20,000-square-foot addition on its main building, which is slated to open next month.

The addition will be a testing laboratory for FedEx’s operations for its conveyor system and packaging, township manager Chris Rearick said. The addition was not part of the center’s original plans.

“It’s over a parking area, and they have shown there is more than ample parking needs for the facility,” Rearick said. “They did not have the space for it in the current facility.”

Doug Sippel, owner of Sippel Development which leases the site to FedEx, said he is “very positive” about the developments.

“It’s going to definitely be a boon to the local economy,” Sippel said. “With the access to the interstate, we’ll be limiting the amount of traffic that will be generated from these developments.”

Sippel also said a 27,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park is planned to be built by his office. The Get Air Pittsburgh trampoline park does not have a scheduled opening date.

More homes

Housing plans also were voted on Wednesday.

Jackson Crossing, a housing development on Tollgate School Road, will be able to build houses on two more sites.

The sites were originally planned for a retention pond. However, it was discovered there was excess capacity for water storage.

Jackson Crossing will have 107 homes built in three phases. The two homes recommended Wednesday evening will be built for phase one, which is under way.

The planned neighborhood is near Old Hickory Highlands and Dutch Creek Estates. Those two neighborhoods are expected to have 138 homes total.

Traffic impact

Planning Commission Chairman Jay Grinnell said the traffic impact should be limited with the new developments’ location near the interstate.

“They’re coming in on state highways. PennDOT doesn’t seem to have a problem with it,” Grinnell said.

Rearick said market studies indicate easy access to major roads will limit traffic impact.

However if any improvements to roads need to made, the township has a transportation capitol improvements plan with signals, additional lanes and other improvements.

A four-way intersection with traffic signals was built in late April to better move traffic through the development area.

More growth expected

The FedEx addition and the developments by PMF Rentals are just the latest announced plans in the township.

Preliminary concepts for Jackson’s Pointe phases three and four were approved last month by the township supervisors.

These phases are for retail developments such as those planned for PMF Rentals by FedEx.

Phase one off Route 19 already has businesses, including UPS and LabChem and phase two had the opening of a Speedway convenience store and gas station.

A new Penske Truck Rental facility and office space that will house Bard Medical also have been approved and are being constructed.

All of Jackson’s Pointe is being developed by The Buncher Co.

Planning commission members previously discussed sidewalks possibly connecting Jackson’s Pointe, the Park N’ Ride on Route 528, Manheim Auto Auction and other developments on Route 528.

“It’s all going to somehow be interconnected,” commission member Bob McGuire said.

Rearick said retail developments planned for the area were “just a matter of time.”

“I think that the township, through conversation with Buncher and their market studies as well as our own, does expect retail uses on the horizon,” he said. “It’s beneficial from a stand point of employment, but also to provide service to residents.”