Ross Commissioner: Heartland Homes Plan for Highland Country Club is Great News

Count Ross Township Commissioner Gerald R. O'Brien among those who are happy with Heartland Homes' plans for the former Highland Country Club.

"I think it's great," O'Brien said. "It will be good for everyone in the township because it increases the tax base."

O'Brien estimates that the 316 new homes and town-homes will add $90-million in taxable property to the township, resulting in an additional $270,000 a year in tax revenue, once the project is completed in about six years.

Heartland plans to build 120 luxury town-homes, ranging in price from $180,000 to $240,000, along Gass Road.

An additional 132 single-family homes, ranging in price from $350,000 to $500,000 will be built on the remainder of the property.

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Heartland's plans include two entrances along Highland Avenue, two more along Gass Road, and one along Golf Drive.

Commissioner Lana A. Mazur, whose district includes the Highland Country Club property, is taking a wait and see approach.

"I need to talk to the residents, I imagine they will have a lot of questions, as do I," she said. "I haven't seen the plans yet, I'm very curious to see how all of this is going to look."

Mazur said she would be notifying all of her constituents when the issue comes before the Ross Planning commission.

"I want to make sure everyone knows when these plans are submitted," she said. "This is a big development, it's going to change the characteristics of that neighborhood."

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John Schalcosky, President of the Ross Township Historical Society who was present at the meeting when the plans were revealed Monday, said the development includes a generous amount of green space, and even a memorial park, named after the township's founding resident, Casper Reel. 

 near the 18th green of the property, and a grave marker will be relocated to the new park. Schalcosky said it's his belief the plans would change if any human remains are discovered during construction.

"There are plans to relocate the bones of the Reel's IF they are found," he said. "The only problem is that the spot where the marker is now is only a memorial. No one, including me, has 100% proof of the "exact" location unfortunately - it is lost to time."

Do you think the Heartland Homes' plans are good news for Ross Township? Share your thoughts in the comments box below. 

If you see news happening in Ross or West View, e-mail editor Richard Cook: at Richard.Cook@Patch.com