South Fayette reinstates oil and gas ordinance revisions
A scene from the July 13 South Fayette Township commissioners meeting
Police Chief John Phoennik, right, speaks on behalf of Officer Markus Buchanan.
South Fayette Township commissioners voted July 13 to reinstate an ordinance limiting the placement of oil and gas wells to industrial properties.
After a public hearing, the board voted 3-2 to adopt revisions to the township’s oil and gas ordinance that originally had been approved in 2015 but were brought back for review after it was determined by a judge that the necessary steps were not taken the first time around.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph M. James said the township initiated the ordinance’s amendment process in April 2015 by sending proposed changes to the township planning commission for review and recommendation. A public hearing was held in May 2015 by the planning commission, which in turn recommended the township commissioners not adopt the proposed ordinance because it was “exclusionary” and wanted officials to re-evaluate the exclusionary nature of the ordinance, according to court documents.
Also at the commissioners’ July 13 meeting:
• Officer Markus Buchanan was sworn in to the South Fayette Police Department. Buchanan recently completed his one-year probationary period and was made an official member of the force.
”He’s going to be a great addition to the department,” Chief John Phoennik said.
Commissioners also voted to approve hiring Patrolman James Jeffery full time after he met his one-year probationary period.
• Plans to relocate the master sign at Newbury Market were approved. The new sign will sit approximately 200 feet south of the location as originally proposed. Representatives of Newbury will have to provide commissioners with financial assurance that an existing 84 Lumber sign will be removed by Oct. 1 before they will approve an extension.