Mars Township will officially exist on January 1, 2028, after voters in Mars Borough and Adams Township approved the merger with nearly 72% of the combined vote. Nelson Kitchen & Bath works out of a showroom in Mars, so we have followed the story from the start. The results came in during early November 2026 and clear the way for a single municipality. Below, we walk through what voters approved, what local leaders say will change, and how our team will serve homeowners across the new township.
What Voters Approved for Mars Township
The merger needed a majority in each municipality, and it got one in both. According to CBS Pittsburgh, local leaders put combined support at nearly 72%. That result turns two separate governments into Mars Township, and it ends a year of planning by officials on both sides.
Russ Ford, chairman of the Adams Township Board, and Mike Fleming, president of Mars Borough Council, worked with other supervisors for twelve months to build the proposal before it reached the ballot. Officials say much of the groundwork is already underway. Their hope is that by January 2028 the last step is the formal name change to Mars Township.
Why the Two Communities Chose to Merge
The Mars area public library carried a big share of the argument. Both communities have used it for years, yet Mars wanted the library to stay inside the borough, and asking Adams Township taxpayers to help pay for an expansion or rebuild was not realistic. One township removes that obstacle and lets residents plan the library as a single community project.
Space was the other driver. Mars Borough has limited room to grow, and borough leaders say that limit has cost it opportunities. Joining Adams Township gives the borough access to more resources, a lower tax rate, and a better shot at grant funding. Those are the leaders’ own projections, and the results will take time to show up in budgets and projects.
What Residents Can Expect From Mars Township
Officials have described several changes for the combined township.
- Expanded full-time staffing in public works, parks and recreation, and code and zoning
- 24/7 police coverage
- A lower tax rate than Mars Borough residents pay now
- More opportunities to secure grant funding
Leaders also said no current employees are expected to lose their jobs because of the merger, so the people residents already deal with at the municipal level should still be there in 2028.
The code and zoning line deserves a second look from anyone planning a renovation. Code and zoning staff review the permit applications that larger projects can require, such as a layout change or structural work, so a bigger department matters to homeowners. How the new office will handle applications is something Mars Township residents will learn as 2028 gets closer.
What Adams Township Gains From Becoming Mars Township
Adams Township residents come out of the merger with additional municipal buildings and properties, more police and public works equipment, and the ability to add staff. Ford named one benefit above the rest. He said the township will “pick up a downtown corridor that we have not had in the past.”
Fleming looks at the same change from the borough side. He expects the merger to help local businesses and residents, and he expects the energy in the area to build from here. Mike Macri of Macri Floral also supports the plan and calls it a good idea for both the borough and Adams.
What the Mars Township Merger Means for Home Projects
Nobody can say yet how the merger will affect property values or remodeling demand, and we will not guess. The practical side is easier to map. The merger takes effect January 1, 2028, so a kitchen or bathroom project that starts in 2026 or 2027 will begin under the governments that exist today. Permit questions for those projects should keep going to your current municipal office.
A project that stretches into 2028 deserves one extra call. Ask your municipality early which office will handle the application, and get that answer in writing if you can. Homeowners who expect to stay in the area for years have a long runway here. A remodel planned now leaves time to review designs, request revisions, and choose materials without rushing, and it lets you settle the budget and schedule well before the township changes its name.
How Nelson Kitchen & Bath Supports Mars Township
Our showroom is at 637 Route 228 in Mars, and both Mars and Adams Township are already part of our service area. Mars Township will draw its residents from two communities we already serve, and we plan to keep working with both. Our service area also includes Cranberry Township, Seven Fields, Gibsonia, Pine Township, Zelienople, Evans City, and Butler. We design and build custom kitchens and bathrooms, and the merger gives us a new name for a community we already know.
Our kitchen remodeling services cover everything from small updates to full renovations. A project can include planning and design, 3D scanning and renderings, demolition and debris removal, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, lighting planned with an electrician, painting, appliance installation, and plumbing for sinks, faucets, and fixtures. We also remodel bathrooms, using the same design process and the same team.
The team approach is a big part of why homeowners choose a full-service remodeler. One crew handles plumbing, cabinets, flooring, countertops, tile, and the coordination of fixtures, appliances, and electrical and lighting work. Homeowners do not have to hire and schedule separate trades. When a layout changes significantly, we prepare permit drawings, which keeps the paperwork moving once you have chosen a design.
Our design and build approach starts with a conversation about how you live, cook, and entertain, and what frustrates you about your current space. From there we build a plan around your household and review flooring, cabinetry, lighting, fixtures, color, tile, and appliances with you. You receive hand-drawn and drafted elevations, full-color computer renderings, and floor plans, and you can request revisions until the design fits. We will never ask you to approve work based on a vague sketch or a verbal description.
Materials are part of that conversation. We work with names such as Cambria countertops, Mirage hardwood flooring, and Delta faucets, and we go through each choice with you while the renderings of your own space are in front of you. Reviewing a countertop or a floor against a drawing of your actual kitchen is a better test than a catalog page, and it surfaces problems before demolition starts.
Ray Nelson and Terri are the people you meet at the showroom. Our team is based in Mars itself, which puts us a short drive from homeowners on both sides of the old municipal line, and anyone planning a project can stop by during open hours to talk it through in person.
Every project ends with a final walkthrough. We aim to finish within a predetermined budget and on schedule, and we are honest about timelines and budgets from the first meeting.
Planning a Remodel Before Mars Township Takes Shape
A merger gives homeowners a natural moment to take stock of the house. If a dated kitchen or a cramped bathroom has been on your list, the next year is a reasonable time to start, and these steps keep the project organized. Households weighing a kitchen against a bathroom can start with the room that gets the most daily use and plan the second project afterward, which spreads out the cost and the disruption.
- Write down what bothers you about the space and how your household uses it.
- Schedule a consultation so measurements, layout review, and 3D design previews can begin.
- Ask your current municipality whether your project needs a permit, and which office issues it.
- Review the renderings, request changes, and approve a design you understand.
- Choose materials with our team and confirm the schedule.
Until January 1, 2028, Mars Borough and Adams Township are still separate municipalities, so the office that applies to you depends on which side of the line your house sits. A quick call to your township or borough settles it before the design is finished. Our consultation covers measurements, layout review, and 3D design previews, and permit drawings follow when the layout changes significantly, so the paperwork question usually comes up early in the process anyway.
Talk With Nelson Kitchen & Bath About Your Mars Township Project
Mars and Adams Township are about to share a government and a downtown. If your kitchen or bathroom is next on the list, we would like to hear what you have in mind. You can start your consultation online, call (724) 513-0350, or email ray@nelsonkitchenandbath.com. The showroom at 637 Route 228 in Mars is open Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday by appointment.
