West Deer supervisors plan another hearing on proposed changes in gas and oil drilling areas

The ongoing battle over the West Deer zoning ordinance regarding gas and oil drilling will rage into September.

On Wednesday, the township supervisors voted to hold yet another public hearing on proposed changes to Ordinance 454 at 6 p.m. Sept. 18.

The action came after another lengthy discussion of the changes opposed by a group of residents who are concerned about the effects of allowing gas wells to exist in residential neighborhoods.

That group, the Concerned Residents of West Deer (CROWD), fears adverse effects on health, quality of life and property values due to drilling and has opposed previous drilling projects.

Residents who have leased their properties to drilling companies for gas exploration and extraction are concerned that restrictions that are too stringent would harm their ability to profit from that activity.

Solicitor Gavin Robb said the hearing is set for September to allow, in the interim, a required review of the changes by the township planning commission and the Allegheny County Planning Department.

“It’s a large draft document that includes a lot of changes from a lot of people,” Robb said.

Among the changes are:

• Making drilling activities a permitted use in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential district in the township;

• Making a minimum setback of 750 feet from nearby residences for well pads and associated equipment such as dehydration stations and interconnects;

• Increasing the minimum lot size for well pads from 8 acres to 10.

Opponents of the ordinance want greater restrictions that include:

• A minimum setback of 1,250 feet;

• Making the setbacks extend from the well site property line instead of the well pad;

• Requiring base line testing of well water for residences within 3,000 feet of the gas well properties;

• Banning gas drilling in the R-2 and R-3 residential districts where the ordinance would make it a permitted rather than a conditional use.

“The oil and gas industry cannot be a permitted use in seven of the 12 (zoning) districts,” Jack Rearick, a CROWD leader, told the supervisors. “Nothing we are recommending stops anybody from earning money off their leases.”

“When looking at ordinances of surrounding communities, it seems that we are seeking fewer protections. Why is that?” said resident Virginia Weaver. “I’m not opposed to shale drilling if it is done safely.”

However, David Harrison, a gas leaseholder, said, “The changes proposed are more constrictive and restrictive than the state regulations.”

Drilling opponents believe the supervisors are not seeking greater restrictions on drilling because they are afraid of being sued by the gas and oil industry and the lease holders.

Township Supervisor Josh Weigand said he opposes some of the changes in the draft ordinance. He prefers keeping the drilling activities as a conditional use rather than a permitted one because that, at least, gives the supervisors some control over the situation.

Weigand also suggested trying to turn some of the large tracts in R-3 zoning, which accommodates large housing developments, into R-1 zones as one way of keeping the drilling out of R-3 zones.

But Supervisor Vern Frey argued such a move could negatively impact people who bought large R-3 tracts specifically to develop housing plans.

“If you put those tracts into R-1, you’re changing the number of lots, the density,” Frey said. “What have you gained?”