Developer asks Rostraver officials to build duplex-carriage homes at former golf course site

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

While Rostraver Township’s comprehensive plan calls for town homes to be developed in the community, a builder explained Wednesday that the market is actually better suited to duplex-carriage homes.
During a public hearing, Ryan Klousnitzer of NVR Ryan Homes, said his company’s market research shows that while fewer than 10 town homes could be sold each year, the market is ripe for carriage home sales.
The developer is seeking a special exception to substitute the duplex carriage homes for the town homes specified in the township ordinance. The 72-acre former golf course site will be developed into 68 single-family homes and 86 duplex units if the plans are approved.
“We see people moving out of their older homes for maintenance-free living,” Klousnitzer said.
Klousnitzer said his research shows the median age in the community is 54, the median income at $88,000 and approximately 154 homes were bought by empty nesters in the community each year. About half of those are new homes and Klousnitzer said he believes the proposed Willowbrook planned residential development can capture 40 to 45 of those buyers a year.
Klousnitzer said he could probably only sell about 16 town homes a year to young professionals in the housing market. He said Maronda Homes’ Marian Woodlands development in Rostraver has been selling about 10 townhouses a year.
“There’s not room for us to come in and compete with that,” Klousnitzer said.
Commissioner President John Lorenzo said the township recently completed a new comprehensive plan and found the median age to be 43 and the income higher than $88,000. Lorenzo said it is likely that the zip codes which Klousnitzer used for Rostraver included surrounding areas which are older and have lower-median incomes.
“This township constantly updates its comprehensive plan and the comprehensive plan calls for town homes,” said Commissioner Devin DeRienzo.

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