Proposed Pipelines Could Raise a Stink

“There have been acquisitions of easements along our border with Union Township along McClelland Road and Churchill Road for a proposed pipeline,” said Peters Township Manager Michael Silvestri at Monday night’s council meeting.

An organization, Silvestri explained, was looking to try and get a pipeline established to connect various Chesapeake drill sites by coming down along and under Railroad Street and Venetia Road, along properties on Churchill Road and across McClelland into Union Township.

“We don’t have anything (in our ordinance) specifically dealing with private pipelines," said Silverstri. “We would look at this as a use not provided for.”

Silvestri recommended that council address the issue at hand, suggesting that they look at the pipelines as a special exception or a conditional use, to make sure that any pipelines constructed on the properties in question are done so safely and at a safe distance from dwellings.

“We currently have a gap in the ordinance,” he said. “If they were to come in here and try to do this, we would have to deny them and direct them to the zoning hearing board to go for a use not provided for.”

After confirming council chairman Robert Atkison’s inquiry as to whether the affected properties were private properties, Silvestri said, “There is a legitimate purpose for the township to make sure that these pipelines are located in a way that they’re safe … as well as so that they do not create a situation that inhibits the development of that property in the future.”

Councilman David Ball said that council needs to put together an ordinance. However, citing the fact that council only gets to do a period of amendment every three years, he said that he is not sure that council should use its limited opportunity in this particular instance.

“What’s being proposed here is close enough that the zoning hearing board can probably take care of it,” said Ball. “But … we do need to get moving on an ordinance if and when this would occur elsewhere.”

In other Marcellus Shale news, Silvestri said that he was contacted by a couple of other communities requesting that Peters Township participate in a meeting with multiple municipalities from Washington, Allegheny and Beaver counties, to meet with legislators to discuss positions on pre-emptive legislation.

The six present council members unanimously backed Silvestri’s request for the township to participate in the meeting, which is slated to occur in December or January.