Firm files complaints over development

Burns & Scalo Roofing Co. has filed three court complaints over Thornburg's denial of its plans to develop 10 acres of the Crafton Golf Course.

The firm filed two complaints Wednesday with Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, hoping to reverse the borough's denials of subdivision and site plans for the development.

Bob Blumling, an attorney for the company, also on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the borough and its council members in U.S. District Court, alleging civil rights violations.

The roofing company planned to build its headquarters on the golf course land, and eventually to develop several office and warehouse buildings on the 103-year-old golf course along Chartiers Creek.

Thornburg Council last month unanimously rejected the plans, based on Burns & Scalo's lack of conditional use approval to build in what the borough's zoning map designates as a flood-prone zone.

The joint Thornburg-Crafton-Rosslyn Farms planning commission had recommended approval of the company's plan to subdivide the land and build a 78,000-square-foot office/warehouse.

That approval used a planning commission map showing the property zoned light industrial, which would have permitted the development.

Blumling said council 'hired an attorney to oppose the matter before they even heard any evidence on it.'

He said council also adopted a zoning ordinance amendment that would eliminate the possibility of light industrial development on that site, and this is the basis for the civil rights lawsuit.

Burns & Scalo is seeking damages of $3 million, its expected profit from the proposed project, and punitive damages of $6 million - 'double our lost profit,' Blumling said.

Joel Aaronson, Thornburg special counsel, said Friday he is 'not surprised that they filed an appeal in Common Pleas Court - they were required to do so within 30 days.'

He said since he had not seen the federal lawsuit or talked with his clients, he couldn't comment further.