Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/03/2016

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January 25, 2016 1 Volume 10 1 Issue 2 Zoning Bulletin Zoning News from Around the Nation PENNSYLVANIA A Pennsylvania judge "has upheld a local zoning ordinance that allows natural gas drilling in residential/agricultural districts, rejecting a challenge from residents and environmental groups that argued the areas [were] not suitable for such development." In the case, two organizations—the Dela- ware Riverkeeper Network and the Clean Air Council joined with some Middlesex Township residents to oppose Rex Energy Corp.'s plans to drill less than a mile from the local school district's property. They had filed a challenge against the township's zoning board for modifying an ordinance that allows oil and gas companies to drill in residential -agricultural zones. The zoning board ruled against the challenge and upheld its ordinance. The organizations appealed and the judge dismissed the appeal, saying the township "clearly and thoroughly balanced the considerations of the vari- ously zoned districts," and added that he found "no error of law or abuse of discretion" in the township's decision to uphold its ordinance Source: NGI's Shale Daily; www.naturalgasintel.com NEW JERSEY. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) recently voted "to waive local municipal land use requirements that would otherwise apply to South Jersey Gas' proposed 22 -mile natural gas pipeline to the B.L. England power plant in Beesleys Point." The project will now go to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission for final review. "Without BPU approval to waive local zoning laws, South Jersey Gas would have needed planning and zon- ing approvals in Maurice River Township and Upper Township. State law allows projects deemed `reasonably necessary for the service, convenience, or welfare of the public' to instead receive a waiver from local site plan reviews and other land use regulations." Source: Shore News Today; www.shorenewstoday.com WISCONSIN Pending in the State Legislature, Assembly Bill 563 would "allow towns to opt -out of county zoning ordinance and county development planning." The bill would reportedly only apply to "the state's largest counties with populations over 485,000 (Dane and Milwaukee)." Some towns reportedly support the bill, saying "it would give them a bigger say in zoning issues." Other townships, as well as county officials purportedly oppose the bill "saying it could end collaborative efforts between cities, villages, and towns designed to benefit the common good." Source: The Star; www.hngnews.com 12 © 2016 Thomson Reuters