EMS wants to build center on residential property

A residential property in O'Hara may become the eastern operations center for Parkview Emergency Medical Services.

The emergency medical services recently bought the property at Fox Chapel Road and South Margery Drive next to the BP gas station, according to township engineer Robert Robinson. A house stands on the lot, which is 200 S. Margery Drive, and the land would need to be rezoned from its residential status.

Parkview wants to build a garage on the site to serve the eastern portion of the township. It would maintain its current location off Midway Drive to serve the western portion.

In addition to conditional use zoning, some zoning variances probably would be required, Mr. Robinson said. Parkview has not submitted a plan nor applied for permits, he said.

In a separate development, Sky Bank plans to open on Freeport Road on the site of the old Peps drive-in restaurant.

Following a public hearing Nov. 3, the bank received preliminary approval to build a two-story brick building at 1300 Freeport Road.

Council granted a variance for a free-standing sign at the front of the property and continued the setback variance so the bank building will be the same distance from the road as the restaurant building.

Plans call for 19 parking spaces, more than required under O'Hara's zoning ordinance. Entrance and exit will be from Freeport Road; there will be no access in the rear from Old Freeport Road.

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc., of Cranberry, engineers for Sky Bank, are submitting plans for storm water and sanitary sewers. Council could vote on final approval for the bank as early as Dec. 13.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.