CRANBERRY TWP — The developer spearheading the new Cranberry Springs project, which includes the under-construction UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, is buying a liquor license from Natili’s in Butler.

The Butler restaurant, which will likely close by the end of the year, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Owner Vince Tavolario on Thursday wouldn’t disclose the price of the liquor license and said the two parties are still engaged in the process.

“It’s in the process of being sold right now; that’s all I can say right now,” he said. “We have to have hearings and have it approved by the (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board).”

However, Tavolario said the price of the license is “substantial.”

Gary Sippel, the developer in charge of the Cranberry Springs development, is seeking to buy the license.

Ron Henshaw, the director of community development, said Thursday five restaurants are planned in the development along with at least one retail building and one hotel.

The centerpiece of the development will be the 185,000-square-foot sports complex, which will serve dually as a practice facility for the Pittsburgh Penguins and as a medical complex.

That facility is under construction and will likely open by the summer of 2015.

Sippel has already gotten one liquor license for one of the restaurants and hopes to add another to his cache by buying the one from Natili’s.

Henshaw said that none of the restaurants currently have tenants and the planning process for those restaurants is dormant, which Henshaw said surprises him, given the rapid construction of the sports complex nearby.

“There haven’t been any ongoing meetings on additional phases going forward,” Henshaw said. “I’m surprised by that given that the sports complex opening is right around the corner and should be done by next summer.”

The township official added the planning process already would have to be well under way for any of those additional developments to open at the same time as the sports complex.

“If someone wanted to build a restaurant there, they should be in the planning process now and anticipating a start date (of construction) in the winter or early spring,” Henshaw said. “I’m surprised that hasn’t come through yet.”

The parcel that includes the sports complex and the restaurants, retail and hotel space is about 25 acres, Henshaw said. It is in between Interstate 79 and Route 228 in Cranberry Township.

The township board of supervisors approved Sippel’s application for the liquor license transfer at a meeting July 31.