GIRARD — The Girard Planning Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve plans, with some modifications, for the Maplewood Estates housing development planned for northern Girard.

Developer Jason Altobelli of Altobelli Real Estate in Niles met with the commission to discuss his housing development plans and to hear recommendations from the commission.

Mayor Mark Zuppo, who serves on the commission, said this will be the first major housing development in the city in more than 20 years, with the last being Seneca Woods in 1993.

Altobelli plans to turn a 21-acre lot off U.S. Route 422 in the area of Oak Street and Hickory Trace Drive into the Maplewood Estates neighborhood.

The commission passed a motion giving its approval, but requested that Altobelli make some plan modifications, such as rotating the configuration of a sanitary stormwater pond, an easement on the sanitary line, 50-foot frontage on two lots, and 16-foot side lots in between each house.

Commission member Kurt Schneider said he wants to make sure the project is done right, noting the board has not had to deal with a large development like this.

Zuppo said after Altobelli makes the modifications, he will return plans to the commission and then the project will be submitted for city council’s approval, likely in March.

“As long as he meets these conditions, the project is approved,” Zuppo said.

Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine noted that commission members include engineers who “like to go over plans for any project with a fine-tooth comb.”

“This development will be a tremendous opportunity for the city,” Ragozine said.

During the meeting, the commission and Altobelli discussed sidewalks, waterlines, lot size adjustments, property line adjustments, fencing, buffer zone and a zone change for a small area from general business to residential.

He told the commission the development will have 37 lots available for single-family homes. Altobelli said some lots are more than a quarter acre. Waterlines will need to be installed, which will boost the city’s water department funds.

Altobelli said he hopes to have the neighborhood ready for the market by summer 2026. Members of city council said they are excited for the opportunity to see new housing in the city.

Zuppo also said during the meeting that the city’s zoning department will become a planning department in the near future. He said he wants to modernize the zoning department to encompass more services.