Managing growth a focus in Cranberry
CRANBERRY TWP — It's deuces wild for the open Cranberry Township Board of Supervisors seats: Two incumbents, two newcomers; two Democrats, two Republicans, all vying for the two open seats.
Dick Hadley and Mike Manipole, both Republicans, are incumbent supervisors, with the former serving as chairman. Nick Kotik and Karen Schroeder would be first-time supervisors, although Kotik has both elected and municipal management experience, and are running as Democrats.
And for at least three candidates — Schroeder did not respond to phone calls seeking comment — the continued growth of Cranberry, and how to manage it, is a major reason in their choice to run.
Kotik, one of two first-time Cranberry supervisor candidates, said he wants to see the township consider its infrastructure before it considers growth. He said the current road system, with many two-lane local roads, doesn't permit the level of traffic Cranberry already has, let alone what he expects the township to grow into.A pair of new occurrences in Cranberry have exacerbated the issue, he said: The first is the construction of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple on Powell Road, and the other is the passing of the Planned Neighborhood zoning overlay district.“This is going to add more people on a congested road system, and it's just going to be chaotic, in my opinion,” he said.Kotik, who was a state representative from 2003 to 2017, said he doesn't expect to win — “I realize the odds are against me,” he said — but he wants to let the current board know the residents' opinions on issues such as development aren't unanimous.“This is an opportunity, this November, to weigh in on it and let the board know that there are contrary opinions about the future,” he added.
Manipole said he also thinks the continued development of the township needs to be considered Nov. 2, but added the influx of residents depends on demand to live in Cranberry, not township practices.“You can't stop growth,” he said. “It will be nice to see it slow down a little bit and continue with good management practices — making sure everything checks all the boxes before it moves through.”He noted there are current projects intended to calm traffic, and said a large part of Cranberry motorists aren't residents, but rather those who work in the area and those who live along the Route 228 and Freedom Road corridors.Manipole also said he appreciates Kotik running, and thinks he's right: Resident input is a positive aspect of moving forward.“It's nice to see that interaction, whether it's positive or against something,” Manipole said. “That keeps us on the right path. And I encourage people to remain active in our government: volunteer, be a part of one of our boards.”
Hadley, a supervisor since 1995, said the management of growth in the township is important to him. He said he's interested in helping solve Cranberry's growing issues, and is invested in managing township infrastructure, a lot of which — such as electric lines, sewage and water pipes — is invisible. It's the same reason he ran 37 years ago.“Cranberry was faced with a lot of growing issues at that time, and we knew growth was coming,” Hadley said. “The reason I got involved was because I was concerned at that time that we have a managed approach to growth, one that's healthy and sustainable for the long term. It's still pretty much the same.”He said the abstract ideas of growth don't weigh much on his decision-making process; instead, Hadley said, he cares first and foremost about what impact it will have on residents.“It's home to us, it's been a great home to us and I really care about Cranberry,” he said. “Quality of life issues, that goes to the basics of making any decision: Does it make good economic sense, what kind of impact does it have on property values, and how does it increase our quality of life?”Schroeder was endorsed by Women for The Future, a group providing support and guidance “for progressive female candidates who are committed to disrupting the crippling political inertia in Western Pennsylvania and improving the quality of life for all in our region through bold and thoughtful leadership,” according to its website.
