South Annville OKs zoning change for mini market

Oct. 17--IONA -- The South Annville Board of Supervisors last week amended their zoning ordinance to allow fuel dispensing for the proposed Rutter's Farm Store.

The Rutter's would be at the relocated Killinger Road at Clear Spring Road and Route 422.

"The zoning ordinance amendment concerns the Rutter's building and the change in the zoning fuel dispensing," Dale Hoover, chairman of the board of supervisors said.

After the hearing was opened, Don Umberger, secretary-treasurer of the board, briefed the public on the reasons behind the proposed amendment to the ordinance.

"We have a large industrial zone on the south side of 422 and the west side of Annville, and we're in the process of relocating Killinger Road through MFS (Investment Management, which is working with PennDOT on the realignment). Killinger Road will align with Clear Spring Road in North Annville, and at that intersection we'll have a traffic light," Umberger said.

"MFS has had an application from Rutter's to construct a store at the intersection in South Annville. At present, our ordinance for the industrial zone does not include fuel dispensing. So what we're going to do is add fuel dispensing to the already established industrial zone," he said.

The construction should take place in early spring, Umberger said.

Resident Rachel Noll who later spoke on the proposed route of a natural-gas pipeline in the township inquired as to the interaction between the fuel dispensing amendment and the pipeline.

"How is that impacted by the pipeline coming through that area?," Noll asked. "I'm not opposed to the Rutter's."

"It will be very close to the lot," Umberger clarified. "The pipeline will flow east of the intersection, and then when it's somewhat south of the lot it will head due east at around Mt. Pleasant Road."

The motion passed three to zero.

After that, Noll spoke during public comment on the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline. She encouraged a township resolution to denounce the pipeline in the township.

"I'm here representing South Annville Township, along with Lebanon Pipeline Awareness to ask that the supervisors propose a resolution in opposition to the impending Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline," Noll said.

The reasons for her opposition were the effect and development of the economy.

"Now that you've just approved the fuel dispensing ordinance, I'm now concerned of a pipeline explosion which would, of course, explode the nearby gas pumps," she said.

Her second reason was problems with the limestone in the region.

"It is prone to sinkholes and underground streams and caves. South Annville was identified as a high-risk area in the Williams' Karst Report," she continued. "This creates an unstable shifting geology and that could shift and cause a pipeline to crack and cause subsequent contamination of our aquifer."

Noll also voiced concerned for preserved lands, wetlands and farmlands throughout the township as well as the health of the residents.

"Williams is documented of having reduced safety measures employed in rural areas," she said.

The sentiments were echoed by five South Annville residents in attendance and members of Lebanon Pipeline Awareness.

Hoover attempted to allay the concerns of the residents by telling them the township had written to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with regards to the pipeline passing through the MFS area.

"We have submitted a letter to FERC concerning it running through the MFS area and entering that area," he told Noll. "We'll act on tonight's comments at next month's meeting," Hoover concluded.

In other news:

It was a trick and treat for Ed Kreider of Kreider's Paving, who offered a bid to renew his contract with the township for the 2016 year.

"The first bid is from Edward Kreider, and that includes a certificate of liability insurance," Hoover said. "And the second bid is 'Happy Halloween.' That was done just to make Ed question the bid."

Kreider's bid was approved.

Trick or treat in South Annville will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.

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