PITTSTON — The City of Pittston is looking to annex 23 acres of land from Pittston Twp. — in a neighborly way to build more housing to increase revenue for both.
Officials in both municipalities have been negotiating the land deal and revenue-sharing agreement for about a year and Pittston City voted to approve the deal Wednesday.
Pittston Twp. is set to consider and vote on the matter Monday.
The land deal centers around the Stauffer Pointe development at the border of both municipalities. There are already dozens of high-end properties, mostly townhouses, in the development, roughly the same number in Pittston and Pittston Twp.
Following the land annex agreement, any other properties built would be part of Pittston City with guaranteed revenue to Pittston Twp. under the city’s higher tax rates.
“The total build out of this project could be 120 more homes or more. That would be a sizable amount of revenue for the city and township,” Pittston Mayor Mike Lombardo said.
Pittston Twp. Manager Kyle Rozitski, left, Pittston Twp. Supervisor Joseph Hawk, and Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo, in front of underdeveloped land in the Stauffer Point development that will be part of Pittston City, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Under the agreement, which would be in place for at least 35 years, the city would give Pittston Twp. 35% of all property taxes, earned income taxes from residents, real estate transfer taxes, and permit fees from newly built units. In addition, Pittston City would partner with the township to provide police coverage to the entire development and take care of snow removal. The city also promised to build a park.
Stauffer Pointe’s website describes it as “a luxury maintenance‐free community in Pittston.”
Since 2022, six units have sold in Stauffer Pointe, all going for $280,000 or more, with the latest selling on Aug. 31 for $394,900, according to real estate records. One of its latest listings is being offered for $487,000.
Currently, Pittston’s tax millage rate on properties is 8.1 mills and Pittston Twp.’s is 1.9, so Pittston Twp. would get more than 2.8 mills (35%) from any new properties built in Pittston City borders.
A mill is a measurement to calculate property taxes that’s a $1 tax on every $1,000 in assessed property value.
Lombardo said the “template” for the land annexation came from the city’s annexation of parts of Jenkins Twp. to place the former Pittston Hospital campus entirely in the city’s limits. Following the annexation, the city’s Redevelopment Authority later sold the property to a developer for a housing project.
Pennsylvania’s Act 41 of 2022 overhauled municipal boundary change and annexation procedures by allowing adjacent municipalities to adjust boundaries or settle disputes via ordinance agreements rather than cumbersome referendums, according to the official website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
“When you ask how you hold the line on taxes for 18 years, it’s by doing projects like this,” Lombardo said. “We are always looking for creative ways to grow and strengthen our tax base.”
Kyle Rozitski, manager for Pittston Twp., described the deal as a win-win for both municipalities.
He first wanted to immediately stress that any existing property or any property currently under construction would remain a part of Pittston Twp.
“The terms of this agreement are favorable to us,” Rozitski said. “Financially for the township, it will be great for us.”
The Stauffer Point development, currently in Pittston Twp., on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
He noted all the tax rates of Pittston City are greater than the township’s, which will benefit the township.
The city and township already have a great working relationship and if the proposal is finalized, the residents of Stauffer Pointe will get services from both the city and township, Rozitski said.
“They will kind of be getting both services,” Rozitski said.
If Pittston Twp. signs the agreement, the proposal will move to the state for approval.
“A state panel looks at it. As long as there are no concerns and tweaks on their part, then the agreement kicks in and the territory is transferred,” Lombardo said. “In this case, it’s a forward thinking maneuver on the part of both municipalities.”