JACKSON TWP — More than 160 new houses are due to be erected in the township.

At its Thursday meeting, the Jackson Township board of supervisors approved the first two phases of Seneca Trails, a housing development on 130 acres off Gudekunst Road in the southern part of the township.

In its first phase, Sandy Hill Development will construct 42 single-family homes and 30 townhouses, followed by 90 single-family houses in the second phase. One of the defining features of the development are its eponymous trails, which will connect to the Commodore Perry Regional Trail Network, a system of trails and sidewalks in Adams, Cranberry, Jackson, Marshall and Pine townships named for the 19th-century naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry, best known for his battle flag reading “don't give up the ship” in the War of 1812's Battle of Lake Erie.

Supervisors also approved a development off Route 68 that will connect to the Village at Harmony Junction residential development. Trails at Harmony Junction will, when it is complete, consist of 124 single-family houses and two duplexes.

Due to the increased traffic the township expects the development to generate, a right-turn lane will be added from eastbound Route 68 onto Rylie Drive. Township Manager Chris Rearick said the township will be able to fit the lane into the existing Route 68 right-of-way.

Mixing in concrete

The township also approved a change in non-conforming use to allow a residential concrete fixture company to operate at a former bus garage on Wahl Road.

Natural Concrete Products, which is headquartered in Nebraska, received approval to move into the site. The company is required, as part of the approval, to contribute $11,100 to help improve the road, which currently has a 10-ton weight restriction. The company expects it will have trucks up to 25 tons using the road.

Working together

Supervisors joined the growing number of communities in the southern tier of the county approving the expenditure of funds to study retention rates within its municipal borders.

Supervisors allocated about $10,000 to pay for the study, which will be conducted by engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic. The study is the result of meetings between nine municipalities in the southern area of the county with an interest in solving stormwater issues affecting Adams, Cranberry, Jackson and Lancaster townships, as well as Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields and Zelienople.

The study will also involve HRG engineering three “minor” projects each municipality will take on to stem the tide of the flooding. If one municipality has fewer than three viable projects, another will take on the responsibility. The allocation of funds is contingent upon all municipalities paying their share.

Jackson Township will also join the Seneca Area Emergency Management Agency, a newly-organized EMA responsible for the mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from natural, technological and man-made disasters in Jackson and Lancaster townships and Harmony and Zelienople boroughs. Supervisors approved an ordinance authorizing participation in the program pending review by counsel.