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Hampton opens hearing on revised timber-harvesting ordinance after state Attorney General guidance, legal counsel says
Summary
At a June 10 public hearing, Hampton Township’s legal counsel said the draft timber-harvesting ordinance was revised to conform to Attorney General advisory opinions on acreage law and to align with a model ordinance; council opened and then closed the hearing with unanimous votes.
Hampton Township Council opened a public hearing June 10 on revisions to its Timber Harvesting Ordinance that legal counsel said were required after several advisory opinions from the Pennsylvania Attorney General addressing acre-related provisions in the Municipalities Planning Code. Member J. Fritsch moved to open the hearing; Member D. Sciulli seconded and the motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.
Municipal legal counsel M. Cromer told the council the draft ordinance had been revised to comply with the Attorney General’s model ordinance and that certain regulations governed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were redacted from the draft. Cromer also said forestry activities cannot be unreasonably restricted and noted that an informal challenge from a property owner prompted the revisions. Council President Carolynn R. Johnson asked whether the revisions removed protections; Cromer said she did not believe so.
A meeting participant identified in the minutes as Mr. Blackwell characterized the change as essentially a new ordinance. There was no further public testimony recorded. Member A. Midgley moved to close the public hearing on the Timber Harvesting Ordinance; Member D. Sciulli seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The minutes do not record subsequent votes on adopting or rejecting the ordinance.
