Blackthorne Estates was approved as a planned residential development with a clear structure: homes, an 18-hole golf course and a clubhouse designed to support the course — not operate independently.
Today, that structure is at risk of being undone — not by accident, but a failure of Penn Township leadership.
This dispute is not about opposing business or resisting change. Most residents would welcome a successful amenity. The issue is whether the township and its commissioners will enforce the plan that governs this community, or allow exceptions that permanently alter it (“Club at Blackthorne no longer facing legal challenges,” April 14, TribLive).
The township already has acknowledged the clubhouse is an accessory use to the golf course, and the current owners were aware of those limitations when they purchased the property. If a different use is intended, there is a formal process to modify the plan. That process exists to protect residents and ensure transparency.
By failing to enforce it, the township is setting a precedent that invites further exceptions. This is a failure of leadership. It is the responsibility of the commissioners to fix it — now. If change is warranted, it must be done properly, not through exceptions that cannot be undone.
Having moved here 20 years ago, I have seen firsthand how this community has evolved, and why adherence to its governing plan matters. The commissioners must respect and listen to our community.
Janet Hohman Brown
Penn Township, Westmoreland County