May 30--A hotel and convention center may be coming to Fallowfield Township, and the board of supervisors will attempt to lure in the business by altering its zoning laws.

The board unanimously approved a motion Wednesday to amend the township zoning ordinance to update requirements for usage, both permitted and conditional, and special exceptions.

An unnamed national chain is interested in purchasing property at the Alta Vista Business Park, currently zoned as Industrial-1 or "I-1". The location used to house a slate dump, according to Supervisor Earl Sadler.

Ron Monack, president of the Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association, implored the board to alter its "outdated" regulations to attract more businesses like the hotel. Township zoning laws were last revised in 1992, according to Monack.

Neither Sadler nor Monack would disclose the name of the hotel chain.

"A motel is not permitted in an (Industrial-1) zone ... but it's permitted in an agricultural area, so you figure it out," Monack said. "The time has come to review these ordinances and get them upgraded to reflect the 21st century, so to speak."

Solicitor Keith Melenyzer suggested the board consider a curative amendment which would guarantee the township accommodate the purchaser in a timely manner.

A curative amendment allows a land owner or purchaser to challenge a municipality's zoning ordinance on the basis it does not provide for all uses.

"I'd give them an absolute commitment under the curative amendment for that location, and in the meantime, go ahead and start trying to do your amendment of your entire zoning ordinance," Melenyzer told the board.

"If you're doing a zoning ordinance, you've got a little bit of a haul. I'd say if everyone rolled up their sleeves, so to speak, you could get it done in a 90-day period."

Sadler said he and Supervisors Wilbur Caldwell and Olga Woodward were willing to go along with Melenyzer's suggestion.

"He's trying to tell us how to do it so we can try and get them in if they're interested," Sadler said of the hotel chain.

"This is needed to help Alta Vista grow as fast as possible and give people and executives a place to stay and meet. The way it's zoned right now, it's holding back the growth of the township."

Alta Vista is a Keystone Opportunity Zone and the hotel would receive a 10-year moratorium on taxes if they meet certain employment requirements, Monack confirmed.

"There's an old saying that you don't sacrifice the long term for the short term," he said.

The board and citizens in attendance also heard from three natural gas industry representatives from EQT Corp., Geokinetics and Cougar Land Services. Geokinetics is planning to conduct seismic testing for Marcellus shale formations in the township by the end of August. Cougar Land Services is performing the permitting work.

The 82-square-mile project, titled Bunola 3-D, is owned by EQT and has spread south to Fallowfield Township. It includes parts of Carroll, Union, Forward and Nottingham townships as well.

Doug Garrett of Cougar Land Services approached the board with a map and locations where Geokinetics' vibrating trucks would need to be stationed during testing.

"The next step is to acquire the necessary permits for this township here," Garrett said. "We're not using all the township roads because we're not taking in that much of the township."

Sadler said similar testing had been performed in the township years ago and he was willing to work with the companies and grant the necessary road bonds in case of damage.

In other action, the board:

--Approved a bid by Golden Eagle Construction Co. for the Grange Road overlay project in the amount of $107,835 -- the lowest of seven bids.

--Adopted Caldwell's recommendation that terms for Park and Recreation board members expire Dec. 31 and that new appointments will be made in January.

--Committed to four road paving projects: Wertz Way from Route 481, Florence Drive from Route 481, Cooper Road from Old route 71 to Wisetown Road, and Wisetown Road from Cooper Road. Sadler said the projects will be funded by either the general or liquid fuels fund.

--Adopted an ordinance to post 35 mph speed limit signs on Bentleyville Road.

--Purchased a projection system in the amount of $4,102 for conducting Power Point presentations at future meetings.

Rick Bruni Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at [email protected] or 724-684-2635.

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