Developer Plans Four-Story Hotel on Former "Pizza Hut" Property

The Ross Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a plan for a 38-unit, four-story chain hotel on the former Pizza Hut property at 4607 McKnight Road.

Bridgeville-based Forza Group is the hotel developer.

The plan calls for a hotel "such as a Comfort Inn or similar chain," according to the application filed April 1 with the Ross Planning Department. It would redevelop a vacant 33,578-square-foot lot formerly home to a Pizza Hut restaurant and nightclub known as the Mirage. Fire and a landslide damaged the original building, which later was torn down.

South Fayette Development Inc. purchased the property in 2008 for $160,000, according to Allegheny County's property assessment records.

The proposed project will include 42 parking spaces, a monument sign and signs mounted to the building. Entrance will be shared with the adjacent .

The approval is the second that Ross officials have given for the project. The plan was first considered and approved for redevelopment in 2009 as a seven-story hotel.

"We believe this four-story design is more practical, and it will cause slightly less disturbance of the steep slope area while still having the planned 38-unit capacity," according to the developer's application.