SF commissioners restrict drilling for gas
Alan Rank, of McDonald, brought his granddaughter with him to speak at the South Fayette Township commissioners’ meeting, saying he believes the process of natural gas drilling is safe for his family and others.
Joe Grant, of Lindsay Lane, said he’s for the most restrictive ordinance possible. He said he and his family scraped by through “thick and thin,” and that he moved to South Fayette nearly eight years ago to enjoy life, not invite potential health hazards related to hydraulic fracturing.
Despite the majority of more than 50 speakers asking the South Fayette Township commissioners to vote against restricting natural gas drilling solely to industrial areas, commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday for the plan.
The newly enacted ordinance came after nearly four hours of impassioned testimony and theatrics from residents and nonresidents, coming from as far away as Greene County.
“This is completely unnecessary. We’re enacting a de facto ban on drilling. The ordinance we have now has been restrictive enough. Has there been any drilling in this township? No, there hasn’t,” said Commissioner Jessica Cardillo-Wagenhoffer after casting the lone no vote.
According to the ordinance, drilling would be permitted only in industrial- and industrial park-zoned areas.
They are located on the outskirts of the township, near Oakdale Borough in the north; near Northridge and Dutch Hill Road; and Phillips Industrial Park near the border with Upper St. Clair, off of Mayview Road in the southeast. Then, in the middle of the township, viable drilling areas are located near the volunteer fire department, and a smaller collection of parcels off of Westbridge Drive.
“When it can have negative consequences on others and others’ property, we need to act on behalf of the health and safety of the township,” said Commissioner Lisa Malosh.
Solicitor Jonathan Kamin said the township was compelled to further revise its ordinances after a Supreme Court ruling on Act 13, the state law governing gas drilling, that determined municipalities could dictate areas where drilling could occur so the township could protect itself from lawsuits.
“This is not an exclusionary ordinance. You cannot outright ban it, but it doesn’t mean we have to provide for it everywhere, like adult entertainment, or any other practice or business. The Act 13 ruling (said in part) that this is an industrial practice, so it was my legal opinion that it belongs in industrial-zoned areas,” Kamin said.
But several residents had the opposite legal opinion.
“You’re going to open up yourself to a multitude of lawsuits,” said Mike Cardillo, “and I’m going to be one of them.”
He and others said they are being prevented from exercising their property and mineral rights because they don’t live in industrial areas, but have gas and mineral deposits.
Several others implored the board to vote no because of potential for a windfall of tax revenue and impact fee monies coming from drilling companies who could possibly drill more wells under a more lenient ordinance.
“Our property taxes are out of control. Our township is out of money,” said Joe Lund Jr., of Sygan Road.
Joe Grant, of Lindsay Lane, a Marine Corps veteran, said he wanted as restrictive an ordinance as possible.
“I’m concerned about the health effects that have been laid out. Everybody has money in their eyes. But property values next to fracking go down. I’ve only lived here eight years, and it’s kind of frustrating. I’m in a single-family home, one of these single-acre parcels. I’m sorry I haven’t been here for 50 years, but because I haven’t lived here that long doesn’t mean my vote doesn’t count,” he said.
Keith McDonough, founder of anti-drilling group Friends of South Fayette, said the debate may not be over.
“An election is coming up in November, and a new board could reverse any decision from this board,” he said.
John Kosky, a Democratic nominee in the general election, along with Fred Cardillo, Bill Sray and Terri Kuhn – all Republican candidates – spoke out against the ordinance.