Cranberry Twp. officials approve development of Powell Farm master plan
Cranberry Township officials are continuing to take steps toward preserving and improving what they hope will develop into a historic landmark for the township.
During their final board meeting of the year on Thursday, Dec. 11, supervisors approved a $28,750 contract with engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic to assist in developing a Powell Farm master plan that will guide decision making at the 71-acre property off Goehring Road.
Township manager Dan Santoro said the plan is being developed by Noah Petronic, farm manager and program supervisor, in coordination with HRG, which will be responsible for documenting the plan and creating supporting maps and visuals.
“It’s really for them to capture that plan on paper and in written form so that we have a document that we can do a couple of things with,” Santoro said. “We’ll submit it to the Butler County Preservation Board and we’ll also use it as a tool to go after grant funding.”
Longtime resident Denton Powell owned the farm until his death in 2021. His lifelong friend and executor, Andy Hack, later gifted the property to the township as a way to honor Powell’s memory.
The township officially acquired the property in early March 2023. Officials then began devising ways in which the land can be of use for both historical, practical and educational purposes.
“What a legacy that Denton has left for our community,” Chairman Bruce Hezlep said at the time. “For our people to learn and for our younger people at some point to learn about our heritage here in Cranberry.”
While some parts of that vision are already in motion, Santoro said the master plan will provide more detailed direction for how the farm will be used; including identifying areas for orchards, vegetable fields and other educational programming for local schools.
“It takes that vision plan we published about a year or more ago and takes it down into a more granular level,” he said.
The township received a $30,000 grant from the Arconic Foundation that will allow it to plant apple trees in a designated section of the property.
Earlier this year, Petronic said he will plant 1,700 apple trees, 500 peach trees of 10 to 12 varieties and strawberry fields beginning in April.
Officials also received a grant from Giant Eagle for more general support of the actions and activities being planned.
Santoro noted the Powell Farm Advisory Committee, a 10-person group established in late 2023 to help manage the educational side of the farm, will also provide strategic input.
The plan is expected to be completed early next year with the hope that it will further push along the work that’s already happening.
“It should be done no later than this spring for sure,” Santoro said.
