By John Bojarski

Butler Eagle Staff Writer

BUFFALO TWP — The township supervisors are expected to vote March 9 on a zoning change to allow a large residential development along Route 356.

The Allen family of Clinton Township wants to build 270-plus single-family houses on 160 acres in the north central part of the township. The property is bordered by routes 356 and 228, Hepler Road and Parker Road.

About 60 acres are zoned for business, 80 to 90 acres are zoned for agriculture and the rest of the land is zoned residential. The developer, Victor-Wetzel Associates of Sewickley, wants to change all the zoning to residential.

This zoning change already was discussed at the Feb. 10 zoning hearing, which was attended by 50 to 60 people.

“The people who spoke up (at the meeting), they do not want us to change the zoning to residential,” said township solicitor Larry Lutz.

He said that some of the reasons the residents gave for opposing the change include concerns about changing the agricultural nature of the township, about traffic and population increasing, and about how the development would affect property taxes.

If the zoning change occurs, construction can begin by 2017. Development is expected to take place over 10 years.

The developer’s plan is to build 25 to 30 houses per year.