As residents and officials discuss the idea of creating a Community Development Corporation, several major projects proposed in Penn Hills are progressing.

Council voted, 3-0, with Joseph Palumbo and LaVon Kincaid absent, in favor of an agreement that will allow construction of a traffic signal at the intersection leading to Vocollect's Wilkins site.

The agreement calls for a new signal at Rodi Road and Maple Lane to connect with the next intersection's signal at Purity Road in Penn Hills.

Both signals will be maintained by Wilkins at the cost to developer Joe D'Andrea, who owns the property where Vocollect is located.

The signal's installation will be one less obstacle in Mr. D'Andrea's attempt to rezone the property for a Vocollect expansion.

Since 2001, Mr. D'Andrea has been trying to rezone land near Ridgecrest Drive and Maple Lane for a 60,000-square-foot expansion of the Vocollect headquarters. But he has been denied in part because of traffic concerns on Rodi Road.

With the expansion, Vocollect representatives said they plan to house the company's entire operation group and expect to bring 300 jobs to the area.

Mr. D'Andrea's most recent zoning change application was tabled at his request, but he is expected to resubmit because traffic issues have been resolved.

Meanwhile, Planning Director Howard Davidson said site plans, subdivision plans and highway occupancy permits have been approved for the proposed Walmart Supercenter and Lowe's Home Improvement store at the former East Hills Shopping Center, and developers need only to request a building permit to start work.

Another proposed Walmart, at Saltsburg and Reiter roads, got site approval in 2005, but a highway occupancy permit has not been obtained to start work.

Calls to Wal-Mart and to Petra Ministries, which owns the proposed East Hills Shopping Center site through its developmental arm, Operation Nehemiah, were not immediately returned.

Mr. Davidson said developers of both projects plan to move forward, despite the proximity of the two proposed sites.

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