Penn Township Rezoning
IMPORTANT DATES
February 12, 2025:
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PT Board of Commissioners to discuss draft text amendment changes recommended by PT Planning Commission
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Location: 2001 Municipal Ct, Harrison City, PA 15636
February 19, 2025:
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PT Board of Commissioners will vote to authorize the amendment changes to be sent to the Westmoreland County Planning Department for approval
April 9, 2025:
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A public hearing will be held for residents to make public comments on the proposed text and map changes
Protect PT encourages residents who live in or near the affected area to attend the above meetings so that they can gain clarity on the issue and share any concerns they may have with the PT Board of Commissioners.
Proposed schedule provided by the Penn Township Planning Commission.
Map for Proposed Rezoning
Do you live at or near Walton Crossing, Frye, Bouquet, Walton, and Dutch Hollow roads? If so, you may be affected by this effort.
In 2015, Penn Township proposed expanding the current industrial zone along Walton and Melon roads, but due to outcry from residents, that proposal was scrapped. Now Penn Township commissioners are attempting to expand this industrial zone again, making way for uses like truck stops, compressor stations, gas processing facilities, warehousing, and other industrial uses. Residents do not want heavy industry disrupting the rural characteristic of their home, decreasing their property values, and potentially causing tax increases across the township.
At the October Planning Commission meeting, the Commission discussed plans to change the zoning of a large area in the township's northeast corner from Rural Resource (RR) to Industrial Commerce (IC). At this meeting we found out that the Board of Commissioners have been working behind closed doors since last year with a consultant company, Strategic Solutions, without telling the residents most affected.
Protect PT worked to quickly inform and mobilize people on this decision, making sure that residents have an input and their concerns are considered. Since then, nearly 100 residents have shown up to oppose this effort.
Protect PT, alongside PT residents, has also been advocating for the Board of Commissioners to include in their amendments changes to the fracking ordinance giving more protections to people who live in the Rural Resource zones. These changes would be similar to actions taken by other municipalities, such as Cecil and Indiana Townships and Oakmont Borough.
Important protective changes that PT residents have asked for include:
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An increase of setbacks to 2,500 feet from protected structures;
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Information about what a gas well operator proposes to do in the Township with the development of a new well, including traffic controls, pollution controls, safety concerns, emergency response concerns, and all other aspects of well development;
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A ten-year plan for future proposed development associated with the gas well at issue;
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Bonding and insurance in a minimum of 25 million dollars in the event of accidents involving people and property;
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Adequate studies and documentation of the proposed plan and its effects;
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Specified fines and penalties for failure to comply with the ordinance, which the current ordinance neglects to address; and
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Appropriate enforcement mechanisms in the event that a well pad operator fails to abide by properly enacted regulations.
How to Take Action
Spread the word!
Most Penn Township residents are unaware of what's going on. Direct them to this webpage to inform them as to what's going on, or print and distribute our informational flyer!
PT Planning Commission Slides 2/4/25
Click to view and download powerpoint.
Map of rezone area with local fracking wells
click to view in new window.
Don't know who your commissioner is?
Check out this ward map to find out!
Click to download.
