Butler Township approves housing development

BUTLER TWP. — Butler Township has approved a plan that will turn the baseball fields at Highfield Park into a major housing development.

The township commissioners gave preliminary approval for the cluster plan of 100 units as well as final approval for phase one of that plan, which is 75 single family homes at the 39-acre Highfield Trails plan on South Duffy and Highfield Roads.

Construction on phase one is expected to begin in July and could continue for two to three years.

However, it’s causing some controversy in the community.

“No doubt people are concerned about them going away,” Butler Township manager Tom Knights said of the baseball fields. “I think they are longstanding baseball fields a lot of memories a lot of rich history in the immediate community and regional area for baseball.”

Knights said the plan has been in the works for months – and believes the housing plan will be beneficial.

“As more and more families see the amenities in the township, housing is certainly going to be addressed with that growing need,” Knights said.

There are a handful of contingencies that are still outstanding including some utility regulations handful of agreements that need to be executed with the township, Knights said. Once contingencies are met he said the developer is authorized to start construction on the homes.es.

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Cox Media Group