Residents of Overlook Heights in Ferguson Township seem pleased with the recent decision by two local developers to change the original location for a proposed bowling alley and motel in their neighborhood.

The original site, on Clinton Avenue in Overlook Heights, came under fire last year when residents there were concerned about losing their park, which was located on the lots which the developers -- Arthur J. DeFluri and Joseph Dzvonyicsak Sr. -- planned to build on.

David Brown, a member of Overlook Plaza Associates, which is negotiating with the developers, said the newly-proposed site for the bowling facility will be on Martin Street. The final decision to accept the proposed site however, is up to the developers, Brown said.

Ferguson Township Manager Mark Kunkle said the new site is in a commercial zone which is not adjacent to a residential area, as it had been on Clinton Avenue. Kunkle said the new site will be more appropriate for a bowling alley business.

Tom Griffiths, president of the Overlook Heights Neighborhood Association, said the residents are pleased with the developer's decision to build elsewhere.

"The developers had every legal right to construct the bowling alley on the original site," he said.

Griffiths said he was happy that the developers were sensitive to the issue and made the effort to find a new site.

"We're not opposed to that type of development, we're opposed to that type of development in our neighborhood," Griffiths said. "Our neighborhood will do whatever we can to promote the business in the new location."

DeFluri said the motel in the original plans will not be built on the new site, but added that all plans are still up in the air.

DeFluri would not disclose the exact location of the site at this time, but said more information would be available within the next 10 days.

Griffiths said residents are happy with the newly proposed site. "We think it's a perfect site."

Burt Tingue, 1313 Curtin St., attributed the neighborhood's opposition to the original site mainly to a possible increase in late-night traffic and concern over the safety of small children.

"We have no street lighting or sidewalks in Overlook Heights," Tingue said. He also said the late-night business hours of the bowling alley also bothered residents. "We're not against businesses down here but we would prefer 9 to 5 businesses," he said.

DeFluri said the $30,000 deposit on the Overlook Heights site will not be lost if the developers obtain another site. DeFluri said the owners of the land are allowing the developers to transfer the deposit money to another site.

DeFluri added that everyone involved is now cooperating with him and Dzvonyicsak. If the new plans go through, "everyone's going to be happy about it," DeFluri said.

Dzvonyicsak would not comment.

DeFluri said the project is "still in the planning stages" and will probably not begin until the end of April.