Planning commission considers ordinance changes

The Susquehanna County Planning Commission is considering a few changes to the county’s subdivision and land development ordinance.

With no subdivision plans on the July 27 meeting agenda, commission members began discussing possible amendments to the ordinance that will deal with some natural gas drilling issues.

Proposed amendments include adding a section that deals with compressor station setbacks and a section dealing with hydraulic fracturing water treatment facilities.

The compressor station amendment would deal mostly with setbacks, said County Planning Director Bob Templeton, and require a larger setback than the 20-foot one currently in place for commercial properties.

The proposed change would require compressor stations be built 200 feet from the road and 300 feet from any residential structure not located on the project parcel, said Templeton.

The director said the commission also discussed noise requirements as related to the stations.

Templeton said neighboring Wyoming County recently amended its ordinance for compressor stations.

He said he has also looked at existing and proposed ordinances from Fort Worth, Texas and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

According to Templeton, Eaton and Monroe townships have proposed a zoning ordinance change that addresses the hydraulic fracturing water treatment facilities.

The proposed changes will be discussed again at the next planning commission workshop and meeting, Aug. 31, and are working toward making the changes by the end of the year.

The commission is also looking to make a few other changes that would clarify certain parts of the existing ordinance, Templeton said.