Jun 3, 2016 2 min read

South Strabane Township planning commission on Thursday rejected the latest version of an amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance regarding oil and gas requirements.

By a 6-1 vote, members said they were uncomfortable recommending approval to the board of supervisors, specifically citing confusion over a proposed mineral extraction area that was not defined in the document.

“We have no idea what the ME district will entail,” said Chairman Fred Pozzuto.

Pozzuto said members were just given a copy of the ordinance in the past week, which he feels was not enough time to carefully review and seek clarification.

Planning consultant Carolyn Yagle and attorney John Smith, who have been working on the latest draft, were not in attendance.

Solicitor Jack Cambest explained the ME district, which has not yet been identified on a township map, could potentially allow residents with agriculturally zoned land to request a change to an extraction district. The only other districts where deep-well drilling would be permitted are I-1 and I-2 (industrial).

Cambest said the idea is to potentially tie the ME district into zoning changes resulting from the township’s upcoming comprehensive plan update.

“It may seem a little backward … but that is what (officials) will have to do,” he said.

Cambest said the ME districts would not be considered spot zoning because areas – not parcels – of land would be rezoned. If land owners in the agriculture districts applied for a change to ME, “they’ll have a non-conforming use,” he said.

While there is no specific time limit to adopt an ordinance, the law requires it be done within a “reasonable” amount of time.

Joseph Kopko was the only member to vote in favor of the revision.

A May 25 hearing to accept public input was continued to the board of supervisors’ June 28 meeting, when they are scheduled to act.

Cambest said at that meeting, evidence will be presented to show most areas in the township can be accessed by horizontal drilling.