Zoning Hearing Board: Appeal of Freedom Road Zoning Postponed

Cranberry’s Zoning Hearing Board members will have to wait until next month to hear Freedom Road resident James Wood challenge the validity of the zoning ordinance.

Wood said his lawyer, Ernest Simon, was unable to attend Monday’s meeting because of Passover, which began Monday evening.

Ron Henshaw, Cranberry’s director of community development, said Wood’s property is in a residential-zoned area of Freedom Road where “Traditional Neighborhood Development” also is permitted.

The TND ordinance, which the township adopted in March 2008, allows multi-family buildings and commercial businesses such as banks, hardware and clothing stores to be developed in the area.

Wood declined to comment on the nature of his challenge regarding the property’s zoning. He referred questions to his lawyer.

Henshaw said attorney Neva Stanger would represent the township in the appeal. The next Zoning Hearing Board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. May 16.

Pennwood Commons

The board approved a variance for Pennwood Commons I and Pennwood Commons II owner Greg Black that will allow him to connect the buildings with a 10-by-50-foot enclosed walkway.

The property, which houses oil and gas company Talisman Energy Inc., is in the Thorn Hill Industrial Park. Black explained to the board that his original intent was to develop one large building. He said an archaeological dig on the property interrupted that plan soon after he bought it in 2008.

While the dig was taking place, Black said he developed a smaller building on the side of the property not being used for the dig. The dig, which Black said turned up thousands of American Indian artifacts, was completed in mid-2009. Black said he has since started construction for a second building on that property.

He said Talisman would continue to lease Pennwood Commons I, where the company has conference rooms and a café. The company also plans to lease part of the second building for office space. The walkway would keep the company connected.

“They really need to get from here to that building,” he said.