Kiski Township supervisors will take more time to consider proposed changes in zoning boundaries, laws

A number of Kiski Township residents remain wary and confused about efforts to change and update township ordinances.

The township’s planning commission held a public hearing on proposed changes Aug. 22, and the township supervisors held another Aug. 29.

Both bodies took testimony from residents, but confusion remained as residents packed the township’s meeting room Wednesday.

Solicitor Timothy Miller said the proposals are subject to an action withing 90 days after the hearings. However, final action requires a legal advertisement when ordinance changes will be voted upon.

If there are any tweaks or other changes to the proposals in zoning districts or any other code changes, more hearings must be held and a new, 90-day cycle begins.

It doesn’t appear any changes would be implemented soon.

“We know major changes need to be made,” said supervisors Chairman Mike Bash of the proposals. “We thank everyone for their comments at the hearings.”

The biggest change the planning commission recommends is to rezone the entire, nine-mile Route 56 corridor through the township to business/commercial.

Officials hope that move will spur commercial development and make sewerage available to new development and the Apollo-Ridge School District campus.

Another change would be near Seven Sisters Road where an area would be rezoned from agricultural/residential to industrial. That’s intended to accommodate present and future machine shops.

Some who commented Wednesday want to keep the township’s rural character.

Resident Tim Zott was concerned about any changes in the Black’s Hollow Road area.

“I’ve lived here 27 years, and I don’t want to ask anyone if I want to buy a pig or build a barn,” Zott said. “That’s why I moved here.”

Another resident, Dawn Costello, was concerned about properties split into two different zoning districts.

The proposed changes would be the first zoning changes for the township since 1988.

The median household income for Kiski Township is $54,532. With 4,604 residents, Kiski Township is now the most populous Armstrong County municipality.