Zoning board denies application for filling station
MATHER – Plans to construct a water filling station on Route 188 near Jefferson for tanker trucks serving the natural gas industry failed to receive approval Tuesday from Jefferson-Morgan Multi-Municipal Zoning Hearing Board.
The board voted down a motion to grant a special exception sought by Bell’s Bridge LLP to develop the station on 2.75 acres on Route 188, just west of Jefferson.
The property is zoned single family residential; however, mineral extraction support services are permitted in that zone with the granting of a special exception.
The board first heard the case in June when it voted to deny the company the special exception. Bell’s Bridge appealed to Greene County Court, which remanded the case back to the board for a new hearing.
The board heard testimony at the new hearing Feb. 24 and continued the hearing until Tuesday, asking the developer for additional information on the highway entrance permit issued for the site from the state Department of Transportation.
An affidavit was presented to the board Tuesday indicating the entrance permit was for low volume traffic under 1,500 vehicles a day. It also stated such permits did not make a distinction among the types of vehicles that would use the highway entrance.
Board members in February wanted to know whether the permit took into account the types of vehicles that would use the site, noting heavy tanker trucks would obviously take a longer time to pull out onto the highway than cars.
The company Tuesday also presented the board with a list of stipulations many of which it proposed at the Feb. 24 hearing, which included leasing the site to only one company, providing only fresh public water for filling tankers and establishing a moratorium on use of the site at the beginning and end of the school day.
The site is about 300 yards west of the entrance to Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Those who have opposed the plan claim the station would place what they believe is an industrial operation in a rural, residential area.
Trucks entering the highway at the site, not far from Jefferson-Morgan High School and in an area where sight distances are limited, also would create a safety hazard for motorists on Route 188, those opposed to it said.
Bell’s Bridge has maintained the station would not increase truck traffic on Route 188 and would actually help reduce the number of tanker trucks now passing through Jefferson.
Drilling companies with well sites east of Jefferson would probably not want to use the site because there are closer existing water filling stations in Dry Tavern and Fredericktown, the company said.
The board Tuesday took testimony only on matters not addressed at the previous hearing.
One person asked whether the highway entrance permit limited trucks to turning only in one direction while leaving the site. He was told it did not have any such restrictions.
Board member Jeff Coneybeer told the board he spoke to a PennDOT official regarding the permit and the official had said revisions would have be made to provide a wider entrance.
Board solicitor Dennis Makel, however, said the information would have to be disregarded as hearsay.
Resident John Riggi, who spoke in favor of the project, said if the decision was appealed, Jefferson Township, not the other municipalities that are part of the joint zoning board, would have to pay the legal costs.
All municipalities are represented on the board. Riggi said he believed it was unfair one township would have to pay “the bill for others neglect.”
Before voting, board member Jill Monas agreed not to participate in the vote after it was noted her husband works for Tim Faddis, one of the partners in Bell’s Bridge. Board member David Knight, who owns property adjoining the Bell’s Bridge property, also did not participate in the hearing.
The board voted 4-1 against approving the special exception. Board members Scott Griedel, Coneybeer, Darlene Maley and chairman Dave Smerezniak voted against the motion; Jamie Foreman voted for it. Lorraine Rush abstained, noting she had not been present at the February hearing.
David Pollock, who is a partner in Bell’s Bridge with Faddis and Gary Filbey, said following the decision that the partners will have to consider again whether to appeal.