Peters Twp. to survey residents about drilling
McMURRAY – Before changing the zoning ordinance to accommodate natural gas drilling within its borders, Peters Township officials will survey residents to get their views.
“We need to get some input from the community,” said Michael Silvestri, Peters Township manager, who is charged with developing the survey that should be completed by the end of the month.
Peters Township formed a committee made up of township officials, as well as council and planning commission members, to examine natural gas drilling, its zoning ordinance and to decide whether to make the needed changes to allow gas wells. The committee held its first meeting Thursday.
Because of changes in state law, Peters Township must eliminate its Mineral Extraction Overlay District, which would allow natural gas drilling in 15 areas of the township, all zoned residential. To date, no Marcellus Shale gas wells have been drilled in Peters Township, but some property owners leased their land to gas companies in anticipation of drilling activity.
Peters Township faces a major obstacle when it comes to making necessary changes to allow drilling – it is a built-up municipality with numerous residential developments. It is not clear what section of the township could be rezoned to allow drilling to take place. Plus, if a section of the township is rezoned to allow gas wells, the surrounding parcels must have a similar use. In other words, a heavy industrial district cannot be next to a residential zone, said John Smith, Peters Township solicitor.
“We zone by district,” Smith said. “They have to be compatible.”
The committee agreed to revisit the township’s comprehensive plan to see what could be changed to allow gas drilling. The comprehensive plan, which serves as a framework for future community development, does not specifically identify areas in Peters Township for gas drilling and would need to be revised. Silvestri said the state was clear municipalities have to allow natural gas drilling.
“We need to go through the process,” he said. “We need to look at the plan and the community and see where drilling can occur.”
David Ball, township council chairman and member of the committee, said Peters has been looking at the drilling issue for five years.
“As we go down the trail, we have to come up with an ordinance that applies to all industries,” Ball said. “It has to be able to withstand a rigorous legal scrubbing, so let’s make sure we go through everything.”