The board denied a request from MarkWest Liberty Midstream to expand its Fulton and Stewart gas compressing stations. The company had made the request to add two engines at each site and expand the steel structures. The company processes gas for Range Resources.
The Fulton site is located on Washington Road with the Stewart site on Caldwell Avenue.
The company had been denied a building permit and hearings on its appeal were held in March. At the time, residents complained about odors, noise and lighting. Attorneys for MarkWest had said the company was entitled to expand under the state's Oil and Gas Act.
Tuesday's decision was announced at the start of the meeting, and company representatives then left the fire hall where the zoning hearing board was meeting.
The decision leaves Bob and Debbie Hanes in limbo. The couple lives 700 feet from the Fulton station and its four compressors. MarkWest had said it would take measures to reduce noise at the station at the same time it is installing the fifth compressor but cannot do so without a building permit. The couple said they hope the township and MarkWest will work together to reduce the noise of the compressors already in use.
The zoning hearing board said there is nothing in the current township zoning ordinance which addresses such gas activities. The township's last zoning ordinance was adopted in 2006, prior to Marcellus Shale gas drilling in Mt. Pleasant. The township is working on an amendment to its ordinance to keep pace with gas activities.
Also at the meeting, the board denied a request from Range Resources to locate temporary bunk houses at its drilling sites. The trailers would house workers who are working at drill sites.
Some residents expressed concern that workers would be housed close to Ft. Cherry schools and the Agape camp. Police Chief Lewis McQuillen said his greatest concern is that there are no 911 addresses at drilling sites in case of an emergency. A company representative said officials are working with the county's 911 system to provide addresses for the sites.
Similar bunk houses are used at drilling sites in other parts of the country, according to Matt Pitzarella, public relations manager for Range Resources, who said "We've successfully established stringent, yet fair ordinances with several local townships for residents to legally develop their mineral rights. Unfortunately, Mt. Pleasant has not shared that willingness to work together."