Supervisors deny zoning change
SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock Township supervisors received a round of applause Monday night as they denied a motion to rezone a piece of property that sits near Slippery Rock Creek.
“With hearing the testimony and everybody, I respect them,” said Supervisor John Hines. “My advice would be to deny the rezoning request.”
All three supervisors voted against the motion to rezone a piece of property at 470 Stoughton Road from rural conservation to light industry. The property will remain zoned rural conservation.
Despite a public hearing Aug. 24, the public showed up again Monday for the decision.
It started in the parking lot, where children held signs garnering honks, letting Slippery Rock Township supervisors know that local residents want to protect Slippery Rock Creek.
“We're concerned about the water table levels, the possibility of contaminations and the pollution that could go on there,” said Chris Coleman of Worth Township, who started a Facebook group called Save Slippery Rock Creek.
Slippery Rock Township had been working on rezoning a property after an asphalt plant showed interest in the site. Residents took issue with the proximity of the property and the possible plant to the nearby creek.
A group of more than 60 people gathered in protest and stood outside the Slippery Rock Township municipal building pleading for their voices to be heard.
The crowd stayed for more than an hour and cheered into the night as several members of the group left the meeting to give them the supervisors' decision.Due to COVID-19 regulations, the group voted to select 15 people to voice their concerns to the supervisors.During his time to speak, Coleman said that according to the U.S. Department of Interior, the property in question had a water table drainage level of 14 inches, which would mean a contaminant only had to travel that distance into the ground to reach the water table.Coleman said an asphalt company would drastically affect the section of creek, which is stocked with trout and is home to bald eagles.“It is impossible to contain this product,” he said. “I ask you not to rezone just on that.”Some from environmental organizations and other groups that tend to the creek also attended the meeting.Brian Ringler of Slippery Rock Township said he spoke because local children deserve a clean creek.“I'm all for business, but I'm more for the environment than I am the business,” Ringler said. “Save the creek for the kids.”While many spoke of the dangers of allowing the asphalt company to locate there, Janet Powell of Slippery Rock Township focused on the zoning, which would shift a rural conservation zone to a light industry zone.“After you rezone it, there's no control,” she said. “Whether it's an asphalt plant or whatever it is, please don't rezone that property.”
Mark Lazzari, zoning officer, clarified that the ordinance for rezoning the property does not specify the creation of an asphalt plant. He said the plant would fall under heavy manufacturing, which would be considered a special exception use under the light industry zone.“It's neither a special type of use or an exception to the zoning,” Lazzari said. “Because it's a special exception, the owners or developers of that plant would need to get approval for a special exception.”Lazzari said a heavy manufacturer would need to go through a process of higher review and meet conditions and requirements set by the ordinances and zoning hearing board.“It would be up to the developer to meet the requirements,” he said.A second property has already been rezoned and could be home to the plant or another manufacturer.The manufacturer would have to go through the procedures described by Lazzari.Chairman Paul Dickey said the supervisors would keep the public informed about the proposed plant.“We will post in the paper and on the website when the next meeting or public hearing or anything involved with this plant will happen,” Dickey said.
