Complaints mount against proposed North Huntingdon $30 million complex that would host Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Some North Huntingdon residents are concerned a proposed $30 million sports complex that would be built on township property would bring more traffic, noise and visitors to their neighborhood without guarantees the community will get what the developers are promising.

Multipurpose fields would be constructed that would also be used by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds professional soccer team.

The proposal includes a 93,000-square-foot indoor arena, lighted fields, a concession stand and a splash pad.

It would be constructed along Public Works Drive, in front of the township public works office.

It’s being developed by township residents Josh Zugai and David Ponsonby, who are negotiating a lease with the township for 42 acres for $1 per year.

“How do you evaluate this request for an unrestricted lease? It’s a great idea, but it has no plan. We’re getting $29 and a promise,” said David Martinelli of North Huntingdon.

Township officials need to get more details from the developers before agreeing to the lease, Martinelli said.

He was one of about a dozen residents who told township officials Wednesday they’re concerned about the impact of the project on the neighborhood.

A proposed lease the township accepted in May from the developers’ firm, NHT Investment Partners LP, gave the firm exclusive rights for 120 days to negotiate a lease for the land.

That deadline will expire Sept. 12 — the same day the commissioners hold a workshop meeting.

After this week’s meeting, Commissioner Jason Atwood said there would be additional negotiations on the revised lease that Bruce Dice, township solicitor, presented to the board Aug. 15.

Atwood said the commissioners are getting feedback from the community, and that will be considered in further discussions on the lease.

Atwood said he does not believe the commissioners will be in a position to vote on the ground lease in September.

Dice told the commissioners there were “a good number of changes” made to the initial lease during negotiations with the developers and Christian Stoffan, a Pittsburgh real estate attorney. Dice described the talks as substantially give-and-take, but did not reveal the specifics of any changes in the revised lease.

North Huntingdon denied the Tribune-Review’s Right-to-Know request for a copy of the revised ground lease.

Dice did say some of the language in the lease was driven by the developers’ need to obtain financing.

“This is a $30 million commitment, and this is only baby steps to get there,” Dice said, noting the township would have to approve site plans and traffic plans.

The developers still will bear the costs of site preparation, including earth-moving and moving a natural gas line, according to Ponsonby. He said it also will require 25,000 square feet of a retaining wall.

Zugai said aspects of the initial lease seeking a tax break for the development and the township supporting efforts to obtain a state-financed grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for the project, no longer are requirements.

Commissioner Rich Gray said the lease does not put in writing the benefits to the township residents. Zugai said that would be outlined in a memorandum of understanding.

Commissioner Ron Zona said he liked the structure of the ground lease Dice had negotiated.

“I think this has the chance to benefit the whole community,” Zona said.

The Riverhounds already announced they will lease part of the 42-acre sports complex for a soccer academy, similar to their AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis and in Connellsville.

Riverhounds spokesman Matt Grubba said the Riverhounds are not involved in the negotiations with North Huntingdon.

Among those who spoke last week in favor of the project was resident Shawna Ilagan, who said the sports fields will be accessible to the entire community and will be available at a discount to North Huntingdon residents.

Ilagan is a Norwin School Board member.

Bill Walter said he believes the addition of more facilities for youth sports is important.

“I think this would be great for the kids,” Walter said.

The proximity of the sports complex to an existing neighborhood brought opposition from several residents.

John Puskar, whose property is adjacent to the public works site, said the sports complex’s proposed five fields would be a couple hundred yards from his home, creating a major inconvenience with noise, lights and extra traffic.

“It’s a terrible idea to put all that traffic through there,” Puskar said.

The Riverhounds organization also is in negotiations in Coraopolis to quell complaints from neighbors about noise and the impact the Montour Sports Complex has on their neighborhood.

Grubba declined to comment on that issue.

Public works driver John Hachlinski said he is not opposed to a sports complex but did not want it built on public property near the public works building.

“Why not have them buy a property that’s not being used?” Hachlinski said.

Ken Kienzle questioned why there would be a splash pad and athletic fields in the same area where the tri-axle trucks are traveling to the township’s road maintenance building.

“Are you going to hold them to everything in this design?” Kienzle said, adding the developers do not have experience in creating an athletic complex.

“We need to walk away from this deal” and put up a plan proposed by the township, Kienzle said.

Related:

• Talks set for lease on $30M North Huntingdon sports complex

• North Huntingdon will negotiate further on lease for proposed $30 million sports complex

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds, developers plan $30M sports complex in North Huntingdon