North Buffalo Resolves Part of Subdivision Quarrel

 

by Jonathan Weaver

A North Buffalo Township zoning issue caught the attention of Armstrong County Commissioners and encouraged them to follow-up with local supervisors publicly.

Supervisors David Wolfe and Clark Whiteman met with commissioners and Planning and Development Executive Director Rich Palilla the morning of April 26 regarding local subdivision planning ordinances because of questionable procedures.

While Supervisor David Wolfe acknowledged that North Buffalo Township was found to be using outdated subdivision ordinance handbook, he wondered why County Planning and Development officials disputed reported totals local residents had to pay for subdivision and why some land owners have to subdivide at all.

“I can see if it’s outside the family, but if I want to give my kid some property, why? They’re going to build a house on it, they’re going to get taxed on it – everybody’s going to get some money on it,” Wolfe said.

County Commissioners Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai all attended the beginning of last night’s meeting and addressed some of the subdivision questions with County Planning and Development Project Manager Tom Swisher.

Commissioner Chair Pat Fabian said the goal is not to restrict local taxpayers from subdividing their property and said North Buffalo’s zoning ordinance is actually more restrictive in comparison.

“Our subdivision (ordinance) even though you adopted it, means nothing, because your zoning ordinance supersedes that – that’s probably what (supervisors) are going to need to look at,” Fabian said.

According to various lot setback restrictions Swisher read, North Buffalo setbacks are more restrictive and said that County subdivision ordinances are “more friendly” for new businesses and land developments.

Supervisor Wolfe acknowledged that and said supervisors want to reform the ordinance so that it makes it easier for local residents to build.

Swisher said there were more than 130 subdivision plans approved last year. He said in 90 percent of those cases, landowners paid $30.

North Buffalo residents said surveying costs ranged from $4-8,000 before subdivision, but Swisher said, in talking with local surveyors, they should be paying no more than $1,000 depending on sewage testing.

A list of surveyors is available on the County website as well.

A local resident who listened to the presentation asked the process to be more streamlined.

Supervisor Wolfe said commissioners asked to be on the agenda a few weeks ago to address the subdivision questions.

Township supervisors also asked county commissioners for assistance on future proposed road projects – such as a pipe replacement project along Sportsman Road that might cost about $83,000 just for one of the three pipes to be replaced.

“We’re willing to put money toward this, but we need help. We need it, because that road is going to collapse,” Supervisor Wolfe said. “And we can’t afford it.”

North Buffalo applied for $15,000 in liquid fuels funding for the project, but was not funded.

Commissioner Jason Renshaw said commissioners are considering reforming their distribution process to acknowledge emergency situations.

Supervisors have also met with State Representative Jeff Pyle and State Senator Don White.

Other road projects this Summer include core drilling along Bunker Hill Road, milling Gameland Road and paving a portion of Dutch Hollow Road.