The Changes They've Seen: Officials Honor Cranberry Planning Members for Years of Service

John Morgan can remember a time when Cranberry’s Planning Advisory Commission meetings lasted until 1 a.m. and involved battles between the developers and township officials about future growth for the community.

“There was a lot of push and pull,” he said.

Morgan can speak to that time with authority. A retired director of business development at the University of Pittsburgh, he has served on the township’s planning commission since 1995. His fellow official, Bill Thompson, who works in technical services at Veolia Water, has served on the board since 1994.

At Tuesday’s commission workshop meeting, both men were surprised when the townships board of supervisors recognized them for their years of service.

“It’s a difficult job,” said Supervisor Chairman as he handed Morgan and Thompson plaques thanking them for their time on the commission. “Hopefully it’s a fun job, because there’s a lot going on.”

The planning commission reviews all development plans that builders submit to the township and suggests modifications before recommending approval, or disapproval, of the plans to the board of supervisors. Supervisor Dick Hadley said the commission members guided the course of the township’s booming development and made it easier for supervisors to make decisions on growth.

“You really go beyond the call of duty in everything you’ve done,” he said. “The amount of stuff you do compared to other communities is just mind-boggling.”

Ron Henshaw, Cranberry’s director of community development, said Morgan and Thompson joined the board at a time when there were fewer township growth guidelines and many developers moving into the area.

As the guidelines developed, Henshaw said Morgan and Thompson made sure builders stuck to the township’s requirements, including that trees, sidewalks and other landscaping be added to the emerging properties. At the time, a builder argued with the commission that their requirements would kill development in Cranberry, Henshaw said. That didn’t happen -- and the township still requires landscape enhancements.

‘Those were the battles they fought through,” Henshaw said.

Thompson and Morgan agreed their biggest accomplishment through their years on the commission was their contribution to the township’s long-range comprehensive plan.

There’s still lots to do. Morgan said there’s plenty of growth left in Cranberry. He envisions development spreading north on Route 19.

“It won't be boring,” he said.