CRANBERRY TWP — The township supervisors Thursday night approved several commercial projects.

Development in the township took center stage at the meeting as the supervisors heard lengthy public comment on several projects, including a proposed private cigar club on Ehrman Road, the restructuring of plans for commercial sites on Cranberry Springs Drive, and the final approval for St. Kilian’s Parish to begin building a new chapel.

The proposed private, member’s only cigar club — called Club Leaf & Bean — is planned for a 1.5 acre lot south of Ehrman Road and west of Interstate 79. The club would be slightly more than 4,000 square feet and be a two-story lodge type of building.

The plans for the club were approved by the supervisors after a presentation by the ownership group’s project planner, David Lucci. A group called JJ & G Capitol is the company building the club.

Ron Henshaw, director of community development for the township, said, “It’s a private membership only club. Being a member allows you to use the facility, have meetings.

“They’ll have a huge humidor in there. You can smoke a cigar if you want, have meetings. It’s not really a bar or a nightclub. It looks very lodgelike.”

The club will feature several lounge rooms, conference rooms, two gourmet kitchens, dining areas, pool tables and other entertainment options. There will be a patio on the ground level as well as a deck off the upper floor.

No alcohol will be sold on site but members will be allowed to bring their own liquor or beer for events.

“They have no intention of getting a liquor license,” Henshaw said.

Restaurant changes

The commercial plans at the UPMC Penguins facility on Cranberry Springs Drive were modified by the supervisors.

The developers of the commercial sites around the facility asked for permission to build a five-story hotel and restructure the number of restaurants.

Plans had originally called for three restaurants on one parcel. But after assessing market conditions, the developers decided to have two restaurants on the same square footage.

There will be a total of four restaurants at the complex.

Additionally, a five-story hotel will be built directly adjacent to the UPMC Penguins facility. The hotel will be a Marriott Towneplace Suites, which is an extended stay type of facility that will have kitchenettes in the rooms.

The outside plans call for a large entertainment area that will include fireplaces, big-screen TVs, and grills.

Church gets OK

The supervisors also approved the joining of two parcels of land owned by the parish and gave the final approval for construction to begin on the new chapel there.

The 29,981-square-foot building will hold hundreds of worshippers.

Also approved was a small maintenance building on the property.