Township board denies rezoning of steep Ridge Road parcel after resident objections

The North Huntingdon Township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to deny a proposed rezoning of Tax Parcel 54-10-00-0-172, rejecting a request to change the parcel from R‑4 to R‑2.

Resident Mike Puschock urged the board to retain the R‑4 designation, citing steep topography and Section 765 of the zoning ordinance: “This parcel of land is extremely steep in areas and should remain with the original zoning of R‑4,” he said during public comment. After discussion about the map-amendment process, a motion to deny the rezoning was made and the chair ordered a roll-call vote. Manager Falk called the roll and the board recorded seven votes to deny the change; the motion passed 7–0.

The item had been placed on the agenda so planning staff could begin the formal map-amendment process if the board had approved the rezoning; commissioners and staff clarified that adding the item for consideration did not itself complete a rezoning. The board reviewed that public comment on the proposal had already been received and allowed residents who had spoken to the record to stand for the meeting’s consideration. No amendment or alternative rezoning language was adopted.

The denial preserves the parcel’s current R‑4 zoning, which town planning staff and speakers said reflects the parcel’s steep topography and existing district rules. The board moved on to other land-development and administrative items after the vote.