Cranberry Woods Additions: 10,000 Jobs, New Homes

With plans for the final phase of the calling for more than just the typical corporate offices, residents may soon be able to live where they work.

At a meeting Thursday, Cranberry’s board of supervisors unanimously approved a revised master plan for the project that includes housing. Using the township’s Traditional Neighborhood Development zoning guidelines, developers will have the option to add multifamily residences, restaurants, and research and development facilities to the 130-acre parcel of land.

“It allows them to change the plan to allow the new uses to go through,” township Manager Jerry Andree said. “It’s the first step. Now they’ll come forward with the final plan, but this just changes the master plan to allow that. They’re adding more uses.”

Commonly called expands an established zoning classification to permit a mix of residential and commercial uses in an area. It requires the addition of benches, streetlights, sidewalks and other landscaping on the property.

Project developers Trammell Crow Company and Mine Safety Appliances also will partner with the township to improve Route 228, including widening portions of the road to three turning lanes.

The buildings will be the final additions to the last available space left in the park, which also is home to Westinghouse Electric Company headquarters.

“I think it’s going to be a major business hub,” Andree said. “They’ll probably have 10,000-plus jobs there in the next couple of years.”

James Murray-Coleman of Trammell Crow Company has said plans could include a 250-unit apartment complex and a separate 250,000 square foot office building.

He described the proposed garden-style, three-story housing units as upscale yet affordable.

Health Care Costs Rise for Township Employees

Officials also approved a 1-percent increase in the premium paid by Cranberry’s non-uniformed and non-bargaining employees for health care costs. The move affects about 30 administrative workers who do not belong to a union or who are not bound by a collective bargaining agreement.

“Every year the board sets that up,” Andree said. “And each year we raise the percentage that employees contribute.”

Employees will pay for 8 percent of their benefits in 2012, he said.

Wanted: New Parks and Rec Director

The search is underway for a new director of the township’s parks and recreation department.

With the November resignation of director Mike Diehl, officials said they are reevaluating the department. Andree added it could take some time before the township recruits and hires Diehl’s replacement.

“We’re just now talking a look,” he said. “The operation has grown so much over the years.”