Planning commission grants conditional approval for Tobin subdivision, with permits and utility approvals required

The Murrysville Planning Commission voted Jan. 14 to grant preliminary and final approval to the Tobin subdivision (SP‑6‑24), a minor subdivision and land development that will divide a 10.58‑acre parcel into four lots, subject to conditions requiring third‑party permits and utility approvals.

Commissioners approved the application with conditions that must be satisfied before recording: obtain an NPDES permit from the conservation district, provide formal approval from FTMSA, secure MAWC approvals for water service, provide the gas company's crossing agreement or documentation for the driveway crossing, and submit written requests and documentation for the requested modifications to roadway design standards and the fence requirement for the small stormwater facility.

Applicant representatives and engineers described the project as largely staying out of steep slopes except where a private driveway will be constructed through existing access used by the gas company. Presenter Chris (engineer/applicant representative) said the project "is a 10.58 acre lot ... subdivided into 4 separate lots" and outlined small stormwater measures: each lot will have a rain garden or bioretention facility and a small infiltration trench (approximately 10 by 60 feet) to treat driveway runoff, which will discharge to the existing storm drain that flows down Klein Hollow Road.

The plan proposes a 15‑foot private driveway with a design slope at or slightly under the 15% residential maximum. The applicant presented truck‑turning analyses intended to show emergency vehicles can access homes via the private easement; the applicant also agreed to provide a recorded maintenance agreement for the private road for solicitor review. The applicant said sanitary sewer service will connect to an existing easement to Fair Oaks Drive and that FTMSA provided preliminary comments; formal FTMSA approval awaits a planning module and capacity information.

During discussion commissioners and staff recommended the following conditions, all of which were attached to the motion that passed: NPDES/conservation district approval, FTMSA approval, MAWC approval and formal gas company crossing documentation, and written modification requests for private‑roadway design standards and for the stormwater fence requirement. The commission's motion included the requested modifications and recorded maintenance agreement as conditions; staff stated it has no objection to granting the roadway/fence modifications subject to the listed conditions.

Commissioner Bob (name as recorded in the meeting) made the motion; it was seconded and carried unanimously.

The approval is conditioned on completion of the listed third‑party approvals and submittal of the written modification requests; staff will verify those conditions before recording the subdivision plan.