BUTLER TWP — Butler Township commissioners heard more about unconventional gas drilling Monday night as they continue to consider a proposal that would limit the scope of drilling in the municipality.

Monday’s presentation by Dan Brockett, an educator with Penn State Extension, focused on drilling pad layouts and resident concerns over how gas trapped in underground shale formations behaves during and after drilling.

But the information also became part of a larger, fact-finding project township officials have been engaged in for some time now.

Township manager Ed Kirkwood said a group of township residents petitioned the commissioners months ago to restrict the areas where unconventional drilling is permissible.

The petitioners want drilling companies barred from operating in areas zoned for residential use.

A proposed ordinance the commissioners have yet to act upon would limit drilling to parcels zoned for industrial and agricultural use and to large residential parcels zoned for things like duplexes, apartment complexes and college campuses.

Zoning officer Jesse Hines called the ordinance, developed with the help of the township’s planning consultant, “a good compromise between accounting for what (access) the law requires and looking out for residents and setbacks.”

Dennis Gaggini of Tudor Drive delivered a petition he said contained 260 signatures supporting the restrictions.

Gaggini was joined at the meeting by four residents who said they also opposed allowing drilling in residential areas.

“The No. 1 question needs to be public health and safety,” said Joseph McMurry of Windsor Drive.

Currently, the township’s ordinance regulating drilling activities allows unconventional drilling “virtually throughout the entire township,” Kirkwood said.

According to online information by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, there are 35 active, unconventional gas wells in the township.

Thirty-four of these wells are grouped into six separate well pad formations. Five of those groupings are in the township’s southern half.

One grouping, known as the Krenitsky well on Krendale Golf Course in the northwest part of the township along state Route 68, has been a flashpoint for Commissioner Dave Zarnick.

Zarnick said he was “leaning toward” barring unconventional drilling from residential areas after being “disappointed” in how the installation of the Krenitsky well site was handled.

Zarnick said township officials asked property owners to move the location of the well, which is 550 feet from the nearest home, but were repeatedly turned down.

He said some neighbors of the Krenitsky well have complained to him about the disturbance created by drilling activities.

“That was their right to refuse, but the township at the time did not anticipate that well pad being so close to residences,” Zarnick said.

State law requires a minimum setback of 500 feet between a well pad and a residence.

Property owner Mark Krenitsky, who attended Monday’s meeting, said the pad’s location was picked to ensure only state roads would be used by drillers during construction.

Krenitsky declined to discuss the matter further.

Commissioner Joe Hasychak said the issue has split the five-member board, with some commissioners in favor of broadly permitting unconventional drilling and others opposed.

Commissioners Sam Zurzolo and Charles Nedz did not return messages left seeking comment.

Hasychak declined to say where he stands on the issue.

“I’m still collecting data,” he said. “We’re not going to vote on this until we get all of the (information).”

Commissioner Joseph Wiest said the same, adding the township was planning on bringing additional experts to future meetings before voting on the proposed ordinance.

Hasychak said that likely includes waiting for a ruling by Butler County Judge S. Michael Yeager, who is presiding over a legal challenge to a drilling site in Middlesex Township.

In that case, two environmental groups and four Middlesex residents are challenging changes supervisors made to the municipality’s zoning ordinance allowing the well to be drilled.

A status hearing in the case is set for Sept. 18.

Laureen Krofft of Foster Drive is also opposed to residential drilling. She told the commissioners Monday she’s grateful for their diligence.

“It just makes me feel good to live in a township with commissioners that take the time to,” consider these issues, she said.