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Somerset County allows ATV use on Hancock Pond Road in Lexington after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing, the Somerset County Commissioners voted 3-0 to allow ATV access on the county portion of Hancock Pond Road in Lexington Township and directed the county administrator to notify the requester and sheriff's office.
The Somerset County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 July 15 to allow ATV access on county-owned portions of Hancock Pond Road in Lexington Township following a public hearing and brief discussion.
Camp owner George Arab told the board he "was the one who made the request to primarily allow ATV use on the road to visit from camp to camp and to get equipment in for maintenance of the local cemetery." Several neighboring property owners, including Mike Kelly, Tom Garbarino, Gene Mott and Carl Seiden, also spoke in favor; no speakers opposed the request. Chair Robert Sezak opened the hearing at 3:05 p.m. and closed it at 3:15 p.m.
Commissioner Donald Skillings said he had reservations about opening a road that did not clearly connect to an established ATV trail and warned against setting a precedent for similar requests. Nonetheless, commissioners reached a consensus to authorize ATV use on the Lexington portion of the road and directed County Administrator Tim Curtis to send notice to George Arab and the Somerset Sheriff's Office. The action was taken under Resolution 26-132 and recorded as carrying 3-0.
The decision applies to the county-owned segments within Lexington Township; commissioners discussed but did not adopt any broader policy changes at the meeting. The county will proceed with notifying local law enforcement and the requester about the change in access policy.
