Nov 24, 2015 By Suzanne Elliott 2 min read

At the regular meeting Nov. 23, Peters Council approved a request from EQT Inc. to make improvements to Lutes Road in order to accommodate additional truck traffic expected to be generated by a yet-to-be-built gas well in neighboring Nottingham Township.

EQT’s planned well is on Lutes Road – approximately a quarter mile from Peters – just off Venetia Road. EQT plans to construct a well pad and drilling facility that would accommodate 24 wells. EQT owns drilling leases on nearly 68 acres of land on Lutes Road, as well as the contiguous R-1 properties. The company is in the process of obtaining necessary permits so the well project can move forward, PT officials said.

“I am concerned about the proximity to residential communities,” said councilman Frank Arcuri, who cast the lone dissenting vote on the road-improvement request.

“I realize it is not in the township, but it is right next door.”

To date, there are no gas wells in Peters, but there are active wells in neighboring municipalities. Earlier this year, Peters formed a committee of township officials, along with council and planning commission members to explore the possibility of natural gas drilling in the municipality.

In other business, council approved an alternate design strategy for replacement of its amphitheater in Peterswood Park, a project that is expected to cost around $600,000. The 30-year-old amphitheater, while usable, needs repairs, such as the shoring up of the retaining walls. The township has applied for several grants to offset anticipated costs.