Sep 9, 2015 1 min read

South Strabane Township supervisors voted Tuesday to cancel a public hearing continuation scheduled for Sept. 22 on a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance.

According to John Stickle, township manager, supervisors directed solicitor Thomas Lonich to prepare a municipal curative amendment, declaring the township’s current gas and oil well zoning ordinance invalid. The amendment gives the township 180 days to investigate and prepare an amended gas and oil well ordinance.

The current ordinance allows drilling as a conditional use in all districts. By a 4-3 vote, the planning commission recommended during its May 7 meeting to allow residential drilling.

During a public hearing Aug. 25, the board of supervisors opted to extend testimony for a second time after comment from 18 residents, most of whom opposed oil and gas drilling in the residential R-2 zone.

Supervisors are scheduled to vote on the curative amendment at the Sept. 22 meeting.