Franklin Estates Residents Association

Meeting on Phase II of FE & Other News - 7/23/2002

Jul 29, 2002

Hello Neighbors,

On Tuesday, July 23rd at 7:30pm in the Murrysville Municipal Building Board room, Fahringer, McCarty, & Grey (IDC's landscape architectural firm) will present the proposal for the next Franklin Estates development phase. Tuesday's meeting is open to the public, so anyone interested is welcome. As many of you know, IDC (the FE developer under the leadership of Steve Parker) owns an additional large tract of land between Jefferson & Lexington and behind Mt. Vernon to Rt. 22. We do want to add our input so the plans don't compromise our property values or quality of life.
Since the early 1960's, IDC always intended to develop these areas, as fully as possible. The slopes and mine subsidence issues make some of the land difficult to develop, so IDC has in the past proposed cluster home concepts. Also, those of us on Lexington & Jefferson were told by Howard Hanna that IDC would never build on the land between these streets, because the land was S-1 parkland - which wasn't true. Now that the Murrysville Comprehensive Plan is complete and the Rt. 22 expansion plans are complete, it will be interesting to see what IDC hopes to do with the remainder of the FE land.

OTHER NEWS

FERA WEBSITE
Thank Monica Diacopoulos, FE secretary, for establishing the FERA website! She did a great job! The site will provide history, newsletter/announcements, event & party & garage sale info, safety news, a chat area, and more. It gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and meet neighbors. It also links to community government sites, clubs, foundations, recreational and activity sites, etc... Log on regularly to discover what's new and give your opinion. www.neighborhoodlink.com./mville/fera

Garage Sale???
Several people have expressed an interest in a garage sale. We usually have one every other year. If you want to participate, call me at 724-327-1866. Thanks!

Detention Basin and Access Roads
Fred Wilder, Murrysville Planner, said his people would do some maintenance work on the detention basins next week as that is one Municipal duty. The access roads to the basins, however, are to be maintained by IDC, our developer, which hasn't been done. So, Fred plans to send IDC a citation. He also said I could complain in writing about the roads to Rick Inghram, Director of Public Works, at 4100 Sardis Rd., Murrysville, PA 15668. I plan to send a letter, which will then keep the Murrysville council members on notice of the problem. I contacted the mayor as well.

Entrance Maintenance
The neighbors whose property includes the entrance area on Harrison St./Export Rd. have been maintaining at their own expense the landscaping for years. The new neighbors at the School Rd entrance were not informed by IDC that the entrance was their responsibility once the lots in this phase were sold, which they are. Fred Wilder said that usually the lots are sold with the entrance as a separate space, thus requiring a homeowners association to maintain the area. Because the lots include the entrance, we have no such duty. However, if anyone wants to discuss the entrances' maintenance, let me know.

Harrison City/Export Rd. Entrance Damage
I learned recently that the damage (missing sign/broken wall) to the old entrance was caused by an A.J. Meyers school bus. Before I contact the company (in an official FE capacity) to repair the damage, I'd like to hear from neighbors who know more about the accident. The damage was done about a year ago, the repair is long overdue. Thanks for your help!

Sewer Repair
Please thank Betty Male for her persistent efforts that finally moved the sewer authority to make long needed pipe replacements along Mt. Vernon.

Welcome!
Welcome New Neighbors and new Babies! Pink and Blue balloons have heralded the arrival of new residents. Good luck and don't forget we have many teens eager to babysit listed in the directory.

Please Drive Slowly - Kids are Playing!
Have a Happy Summer!

Best Wishes,

Solveig Peters,
President FERA