The Club at Blackthorne, a private event and wedding center located in a Penn Township housing community, is no longer facing legal challenges. Blackthorne Investors have dropped an appeal of the venue’s occupancy permit.
The 36,000-square-foot site, accompanied by a golf course, is located off of Harrison City-Export Road in the Blackthorne Estates housing community.
Blackthorne Investors, the developer of Blackthorne Estates, in January challenged an occupancy permit issued to the clubhouse by the township about two months prior. Investors argued the clubhouse cannot operate as a private event center without maintaining its ties to the golf course, according to the appeal.
The township issued a zoning violation notice to the clubhouse Feb. 9.
Clubhouse owners Anthony and Leah Cifelli appealed the zoning violation and the challenge by Blackthorne Investors. They also filed a zoning variance application last month, requesting permission to operate without ties to the golf course.
The township Thursday dropped its zoning violation notice. Blackthorne Investors’ legal counsel informed the clubhouse Monday they plan to withdraw the occupancy permit appeal, said Abigail Briggs, an attorney representing the Club at Blackthorne.
“We are very pleased that it has been confirmed that our client has no legal impediments to continue its goal of running the finest wedding venue in the area,” Briggs said in a prepared statement. “From the inception of its ownership, it has perfectly followed all legal requirements and will continue to do so in the future.”
Gary Falatovich, the attorney representing Blackthorne Investors, did not respond to an email and phone call requesting comment.
Tom Easton, member and project manager of Blackthorne Investors, confirmed the appeal will be withdrawn this week. The investors’ appeal was made moot when the township dropped its zoning violation notice, Easton said.
Township Solicitor Gavin Robb declined to comment before the appeal withdrawal is finalized.
The Cifellis, who purchased the Club at Blackthorne for $3.9 million late last year, were relieved to hear about the appeal withdrawal Monday.
“This is an answer to prayer,” said Leah Cifelli, “because we have just been so stressed out over this. We walked into this thinking we just want to do something wonderful … and then this kind of blindsided us.”
More on Blackthorne
• Penn Township withdraws zoning violation notice from Club at Blackthorne, but other legal disputes continue
• Club at Blackthorne requests zoning variance to operate without ties to golf course, Penn Township attorney says
• Penn Township accuses The Club at Blackthorne of violating the municipality’s zoning ordinance
• Ace Bartenders owners purchase The Club at Blackthorne for $3.9M amid zoning dispute
• Blackthorne Estates plans to build new golf facility, open course in spring
• Blackthorne golf course, clubhouse will not close, township states
• Blackthorne clubhouse owner attempts to resolve dispute with golf course, lawsuit states
• Blackthorne Estates residents weigh in on upcoming Penn Township golf course vote
• Township lawsuit alleges zoning violation over revised use of golf clubhouse
Blackthorne HOA: Golf course unlikely to open in 2026
The Club at Blackthorne initially was granted approval for use as a clubhouse for the golf course through a planned residential development designation isssued in 1993. It opened for operations in 2018, Easton said — originally housing a pro shop, storage area for golf carts, locker rooms, office space, a banquet hall, a kitchen and an unfinished restaurant or grill room.
Until 2022, the lower level of the clubhouse was used for golf operations with the understanding that a formal lease agreement would follow, according to the Cifelli’s zoning variance application.
The former owner of the golf course and clubhouse, Robert Lampl, died in February 2022, Easton said, turning the properties over to new owners. Jeannine Schemm took ownership of the clubhouse and Bob Vucelich became the golf course owner.
The variance application accuses the golf course of failing to pay rent, utilities or insurance and causing physical damage to the clubhouse. The golf course also rejected several lease proposals drafted by Schemm, according to the variance application.
Vucelich did not respond to a phone call and email requesting comment. He owns Bedrock Developers, which has built homes in the Blackthorne Estates community.
The clubhouse has operated as a private wedding and events venue since November 2022, according to court records. The golf course did not open for the 2023 season and has remained closed to the public since then.
Ron Allen, resident of Blackthorne Drive, said the Blackthorne Estates homeowners association told residents via email in late March they expect the golf course to remain closed for the 2026 season.
The golf course requested approval from the township in May 2023 to construct its own clubhouse. About a week later, the township filed a lawsuit against the clubhouse, golf course, Blackthorne Investors and Bedrock Developers in Westmoreland County Court.
Four months later, the township commissioners voted 4-1 against construction of a new clubhouse, citing the possibility of increased traffic in a residential area near the proposed site. Blackthorne Investors filed an appeal about two months later, and the township reversed its decision in March 2024.
The new clubhouse has not yet been completed.
The township shortly thereafted ended its lawsuit against the clubhouse, golf course, Blackthorne Investors and Bedrock Developers.
Allen expressed frustration with the development and inoperation of the golf course in recent years.
“Our neighborhood was advertised and sold as a golf course community that was to include a full 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course along with amenities such as a swimming pool,” he said in a statement. “The new golf course owner did not follow the design in finishing the golf course, created a golf course comprised of mostly par 3s and has been closed since 2022.
“The developer has not supplied the amenities. These should be the areas of focus and not frivolous legal actions.”
‘We’d love to have them in there’
The Cifellis created an agreement with the Blackthorne Estates homeowners association in February, allowing them to host their regular HOA meetings in the lower level of the clubhouse free of charge. They plan to offer Blackthorne residents discounts to host private events at the venue, Leah Cifelli said.
The couple also invited Vucelich to visit the clubhouse Jan. 3, according to the variance application. Vucelich expressed interest in purchasing a portion of the lower level of the clubhouse. The Cifellis offered to lease the entire bottom floor to Vucelich and asked him to make an offer in writing.
Vucelich told the Cifellis five days later he would not make a written offer for the space, and golf course ownership has refused an offer by the couple to enter into a joint operational agreement, according to the variance application.
The Cifellis declined to share with TribLive the cost to lease the lower level of the clubhouse.
“We’d love to have (golf course operations) in there,” said Anthony Cifelli. “That would be great for everybody.”
The couple plans to continue hosting weddings and private events on the upper level of the building. They aim to find a tenant to move into the unfinished restaurant space on the bottom floor.
The Cifellis also plan to coordinate with the HOA to host community events for Blackthorne residents.
“It’s a really beautiful community,” Leah Cifelli said, “and they deserve to have fun stuff. There’s so many kids in the community, and they deserve to have a place to … come and gather.”