08/14/2026
Keep the momentum going
Last night there were sighs of relief and shouts of joy in our Townhall. These are not the usual sounds heard on nights when the Indiana Township Board of Supervisors votes on a Planned Residential Development (PRD). But last night our Board voted 5-0 to DENY the application of the Cove Run PRD, the monstrous 172-unit development that every member of our community spoke out against during the Public Hearing.
The supposed purpose of PRDs is to promote innovation in residential housing while preserving our environmental resources. There was nothing innovative about the Cove Run PRD - it is typical cramped, cookie-cutter mass development. The Cove Run PRD did not preserve but endangered some of Indiana Township’s greatest natural assets like Deer Creek, Emmerling Park and the newly created gamelands. The people of Indiana Township made the right decision in passionately speaking out against the Cove Run PRD. The Board of Supervisors made the right decision in listening to the wisdom of the people.
The only question now is whether our PRD law is strong enough to support and protect what was obviously the right decision for our community. The developer now has the right to challenge this decision in court. If our PRD law fails and the developer wins a legal challenge, the Cove Run PRD can proceed according to plan. As long as Indiana Township has a PRD article in its zoning code our open spaces are not safe from mass development and our budget is not safe from legal costs inflicted by aggressive developers with deep pockets and deep connections within the halls of power.
We must act as quickly as possible to remove the PRD article from Indiana Township’s zoning code. Unfortunately, last night, the Board majority voted down my motion (seconded by Sarah Hertweck, Township Supervisor) to begin the process of banning future PRDs. To make matters worse, Supervisor Jorgensen’s long monologue minimizing citizen concerns about PRDs suggests that the Board Majority will continue to cram reckless mass development into the sections of the Township with less influence on their 2027 reelection prospects. While voting down the Cove Run PRD is a fragile win worth celebrating, last night was also a missed opportunity to bring a sense of security and peace of mind to the vast majority of Indiana Township residents who fear overdevelopment. If you don’t think those fears are justified take a drive down Dorseyville Road and make a left at Fox Chapel Road. You will see the hideous devastation and relentless nuisance caused by the Indiana Trails PRD. If that abomination doesn’t fit your vision of Indiana Township’s future, please contact your local Supervisor and tell them to move as quickly as possible to pause PRD construction in Indiana Township. As always, if you have any questions or thoughts don’t hesitate to reach out.
