Forward Township considers feasibility of implementing zoning ordinance
FORWARD TWP — Forward Township is assembling a committee to determine the feasibility of adopting a zoning ordinance.
Supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 10, spoke about the plan to introduce zoning at their regular meeting, which followed the announcement of the potential change in the township’s fall newsletter, which was published in late September.
Implementing a zoning ordinance was suggested in a comprehensive plan adopted by Forward Township in November 2022, according to township Manager Tom Hartwig.
Since then, multiple residents have expressed concerns with the idea, he said.
“The majority of the residents who are vocal … do not feel there is a need for zoning and believe a landowner should be able to do whatever they want on their property,” Hartwig said. “These are residents who are very vocal about issues and come forward. There may be others who think it is good, but they do not come forward.”
To determine the feasibility of implementing a zoning ordinance, supervisors are aiming to form a 15-member committee of township residents. This committee will gather input from the public and recommend to the township’s planning commission whether or not to go ahead with the idea.
“That committee will work with the planning commission chairman, the township engineer and myself to examine the feasibility of zoning,” Hartwig said.
Residents will have until the end of October to express interest in sitting on the committee. Forward is hoping to attract a selection of members who, in the words of the announcement, “reflect the entire township, geographically and demographically.”
Once assembled, the committee would go through a series of meetings and public forums before presenting their findings to the planning commission.
During Tuesday’s meeting, township Supervisor Mel Musulin distinguished between what he called “soft zoning,” a limited number of categories of zoning, and “hard zoning,” which is many specific categories of zoning.
For reference, Musulin said Clinton Township would probably be considered as having taken the “soft zoning” approach. It has only seven types of zones, and the vast majority of its land is zoned as “agriculture conservation.”
Musulin said he would greatly prefer the “soft zoning” approach, as the vast majority of land in Forward Township would be considered agricultural or rural.
“We don't foresee this concept of having 14 or 15 categories of zoning. That’s ludicrous,” Musulin said. “If you go into the city of Pittsburgh, it’s like, 68 different categories.”
Musulin, who is not up for reelection and whose term expires at the end of this year, expects a decision to be made on zoning in the “second or third quarter” of 2024.
