West Penn Township could learn of the status on the water provisions for the draft of its water extraction ordinance by June 1.

Ted Rosen, chairman of the West Penn Township Water Resource & Planning Steering Committee, asked supervisors last week what the status is concerning the water provisions.

Township solicitor Paul J. Datte said, “I would only caution that all attorneys are hampered by the stay-at-home order of the governor since legal services other than judicial related are not considered essential, and most attorneys are working remotely and/or without staff.”

Rosen has asked supervisors when the revised Yeager/Datte draft of the water extraction ordinance would be available, how it will be distributed for public comment, and what the timetable is going forward for enacting it.

Datte said that the public will have ample opportunity to comment because it will go in front of the planning commission. There will be a public notice, public hearing and it will go in front of the board of supervisors.

The ordinance includes:

• One lot west of Fort Franklin Road south of Blue Mountain Drive, and another lot east of Fort Franklin Road west of Route 309 should stay conservation.

• Connecting the two areas of rural residential zoning along Mush Dahl Road in the vicinity of Chain Circle, to remain agricultural so that the rural residential zoning is continuous along the road.

• A village center zoning district along Municipal Drive east to Robin Hill Lane remain rural residential along this part of Municipal Drive east of the township building.

• Golf courses permitted by right in all zoning districts, and that a 20-acre minimum lot size apply in conservation, agricultural, agricultural conservation and rural residential districts.

• Customary accessory building allowed without needing a principal building on lot, and that the accessory use definition be added to the definition of accessory building and to change the side and back setback of property line for a fence in highway commercial to 5 feet instead of 15 feet.

Last week, supervisors discussed recommendations from the township planning commission:

• Taking into consideration the petition that resident Todd Deem submitted to change the zoning in the area on the south side of Route 895 east of Bailey’s Building Supply, where there is a campground, the planning commission still recommended that area as Village Center. The planning commission also recommended that the Bailey’s Supply Parcel, and Larry Stival’s Campground, remain commercial even if they sell.

• The commission recommended a 5-foot setback for fence in commercial zoning district.

Supervisors instructed township secretary Katie Orlick to send the recommendations to Charlie Schmehl of Urban Research & Development Corporation.