Residents say Stirling Glen pond poses smell, safety issues
BUTLER TWP — A house in Stirling Glen, a neighborhood in the township, costs a median price of $382,625, according to Neighborhoods.com. However, some residents are paying with their patience and, potentially, their health.
A retention pond behind the housing development has been neglected for years, causing a strong odor and safety risks, residents Karen Hunter and Barbara Stoehr told township commissioners during a meeting Monday night, July 21.
“I can’t even sit outside because it makes me cough,” Stoehr said.
Hunter told the board they would understand how severe the smell is if they stood in the neighborhood air for an hour.
“I’m not mad, but something has to be done,” she said.
Hunter also claimed animals could get sick because of harmful buildup and expressed concerns about children who play in the sediment-filled water.
Tom Knights, township manager, said it is the responsibility of the neighborhood’s property owner to care for the pond. However, owner Robert Heaton passed away in 2021. His company, RHGL, still is listed as the proprietor in tax records, according to zoning officer Jesse Hines.
The recipient of Heaton’s estate should then be responsible, Stoehr said. However, she claimed Heaton’s daughter said she cannot do anything about it.
Hines said an engineer reviewed the pond’s infrastructure three years ago and found it up to code, so the township was unable to step in.
Stoehr, who has lived in Stirling Glen for 11 years, said this was the third time issues with the pond have been raised to the commissioners.
One of the times was because a dog became stuck in the pond’s sediment, causing its owner to jump in and get stuck as well, Stoehr’s husband, John, said.
“My question is, does the township have a responsibility for property owners that abandon their property?” Barbara Stoehr asked.
She read to the board Pennsylvania’s nuisance law, which states a property cannot injure or bother neighboring proprietors.
Knights suggested residents begin a homeowners association to combat the problem. Other board members recommended contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections or the Butler County Conservation District.
Hunter expressed appreciation for the resources the township provided.
“I’m sure this issue isn’t going away, because it’s a constant topic of conversation in our neighborhood,” Barbara Stoehr said. “And we’re not the only one.”
