After Pittsburgh Riverhounds project stalls, North Huntingdon to consider setting rules for leasing township land

North Huntingdon is considering a new set of rules for anyone who wants to lease township-owned land.

The township commissioners are expected to vote Wednesday to advertise a new ordinance that aims to prevent the kind of controversy that arose last year when officials considered leasing land for a $30 million sports complex.

When they met last week, none of the commissioners proposed any more revisions to the draft of the ordinance created by Harry Faulk, township manager. A second vote on the ordinance could take place in October.

The proposed ordinance is designed to ensure that any leased land is used for community development, enjoyment and economic growth.

Developing this ordinance was a direct result of the dispute over a proposed indoor soccer facility and multi-purpose outdoor fields by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team. This controversy began in May 2024 and continued until February.

Last year, North Huntingdon residents Josh Zugai and David Ponsonby presented a proposal to rent a 42-acre site at the public works property.

They sought a 29-year lease with three 29-year options, which would have given their company control of the property for 116 years.

Initially, they offered to pay just $1 a year to use the land, but later raised the offer to $10,000 annually, for a potential total of $1.16 million over the 116 years.

In February, commissioners voted 4-3 to end discussions on the lease after continued opposition from neighbors living near the property.

The proposal from Zugai and Ponsonby followed a separate one in December 2023 from Shane Larkin, owner of the Westmoreland N Zone franchise.

Larkin had proposed a $10 million indoor-outdoor sports complex with a dek hockey rink and an indoor track on about 15 acres of the 77-acre public works property. He also sought a lease longer than 25 years, but commissioners never voted on his proposal.

Commissioner Richard Gray, a strong critic of the process followed for the sports complex lease, had pushed for clear requirements for leasing township land. Gray noted that the developers had presented a plan before the township had even considered leasing the land.

“Providing developers with an option for a 116-year lease was essentially selling the property to them,” said Commissioner Zach Haigis of the deal with NHT Investment Partners, the for-profit company that would have overseen the development.

The new ordinance requires anyone wanting to lease township land to submit a business plan, proof of financing, letters of support, and conceptual drawings of the project.

After a 60-day review period, commissioners would vote on whether to consider the proposal.

If approved, a 90-day public comment period would follow, including public hearings for resident input. If another proposal is presented, it would be evaluated as well. If a proposal is ultimately approved, a six-month period would be set aside for negotiating a lease. Either party could opt out or seek an extension during this time.