Township lawsuit alleges zoning violation over revised use of golf clubhouse
May 10—Penn Township is accusing the owners of an event center and banquet hall of violating local zoning requirements by refusing to allow golfers access to a clubhouse, pro shop and social gathering space built for the links on the same property.
The township, in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, contends The Club at Blackthorne initially was granted approval for use as a clubhouse for the golf course as part of the initial zoning issued in 1993 for the 315-acre housing and recreational development.
Township officials, over the next three decades, approved zoning modifications that allowed the construction of additional homes and a new 34,700-square-foot clubhouse facility that opened in 2019 for use at the golf course.
The clubhouse owners in November refused golfers access to the facility, including its restrooms, and have since operated it solely as a private event space and more recently as a restaurant, according to the lawsuit.
"Operation of a private event venue on the clubhouse property is contrary to the 1993 approval and therefore in violation of the (zoning) approved by the township," according to the lawsuit.
Township officials want a judge to order clubhouse owners to again allow golfers to access the facility or enjoin it from being used solely as an event space.
The banquet facility's owners did not respond to a request for comment.
Without required amenities, such as an accessible clubhouse, the golf course also is in violation of township zoning, the court filing alleges.
"The township became aware the golf course no longer had access to the clubhouse, and the parties have been unable to reach a resolution. So, ultimately, we filed action asking the Court of Common Pleas to intervene," Penn Township solicitor Michael Korns said.
An unidentified woman who answered the phone at the listing for the golf course said a local businessman last year purchased Blackthorne golf course, which has yet to open for the 2023 season. The owner could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, the banquet center's website reported available event dates for 2023 are sold out and the facility is taking reservations for next year.
In March 2022, township commissioners approved what was expected to be the final construction phase of the development that included the building of 77 townhouses, as well as expansion of what for years had been a nine-hole golf course. Plans called for an additional nine holes to be added with a scheduled opening this year.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .
