Murray Bilby
2424 Churchill Road
Tonight I have a short message so I should not need to rush through it.
I am still learning and collecting information about the history and challenges of finding the appropriate development for the former Westinghouse R&D property.
Tonight, I want all the volunteers working within the borough government, and residents, to know that I am soliciting contributions to the Churchill future website related to the Hillwood presentation.
Personally, I think it is inappropriate for the site, but I also want to make available, all the data that can be collected, so that others can come to their own conclusions, with facts. I am known to change my own mind with new facts and data, but I just haven’t seen any yet.
So, I would like anyone who can contribute useful information that may help others better understand different aspects of the proposal, to do so.
I see three primary challenges with the project in no particular order.
First is the overall logistics. The Parkway East is antiquated, having been designed and build prior to the Eisenhower Interstate projects. Yet, it will need to support the 18 wheelers that deliver and haul off, the products during the 24 hours a day operation. Just like the lettuce that only stays a few hours at the Giant Eagle distribution center, before being delivered to stores, the Amazon facility will be a nonstop operation moving goods in and out, quickly. Even if half the functionality is automated and operated by Robots, as proposed, rather than humans; goods will still need to be delivered and shipped out. And 3.5 million sf is a lot of areas to continually fill and empty.
The second challenge is topography where so much of the already unstable earth will need to be moved and used to fill out to the retaining walls of the east, south, and west. That is important as this hilltop, known as Sawmill Run, is one of the headwaters of the Turtle Creek Water Shed. And Sawmill Run is already considered impaired due to sediment.
Third, the effect on the stormwater surges. Storms, as noted by government studies, increasingly have more intense downpours than the earth or drainage can handle, resulting in growing flood threats within the entire state. So, how will the reduction in trees by about 5 acres, which hold back significant amounts of precipitation, and the other open space losses estimated at about 40 acres, have on downstream water quality and flooding?
As a resident only since 2010, I do not know as much of the history of the property as some folks, so you also share that knowledge on the site as well.
To conclude, if you can tribute to the discussion with data, I ask you to please to do so.