Nov 3, 2009 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

FARMINGTON – Several Wharton Township residents said Monday that a proposed comprehensive plan should maintain the township’s rural character and not allow large-scale commercial development The township supervisors said they would forward those comments to the engineering firm preparing the Fayette County Mountain Area Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan, and residents will have another opportunity to comment on the plan at an upcoming planning commission meeting.

The plan would designate areas for commercial development, small businesses, conservation, recreational resorts, agriculture and open space in Wharton, Stewart, Henry Clay, Springfield and Saltlick townships and Ohiopyle and Markleysburg boroughs.

Mackin Engineering of Pittsburgh is preparing the plan.

Jim Means, chairman of the board of supervisors, said the planning commission is holding a meeting to review the plan at 7 p.m. Nov. 10.

He said the supervisors would not vote on adopting the plan until all the municipalities review and hold public meetings on the plan.

Danell Pepson of Fayette Springs Road said a map in the proposed plan designates property adjacent to hers and the Chalk Hill area for commercial development and tourism, but the plan does not fully explain what types of development that designation would allow.

She said she wants the township to keep its country setting and does not want large-scale development.

Sharon Klay, owner of the Christian Klay Winery on Fayette Springs Road, said tourism is needed in the township, but planning efforts should preserve the township’s bucolic atmosphere.

Another resident, Susan Fleming, also of Fayette Springs Road, said she also found the various development designations confusing, but she said the Chalk Hill area should not be commercially developed.

“We don’t want a truck stop in Chalk Hill,” Fleming said.

Supervisor Jack Lewis said Chalk Hill would remain a village in the plan, which provides suggestions for land use.

“They way I look at it, Chalk Hill is developed now,” Means said.

During the regular meeting that followed the comprehensive plan hearing, the supervisors agreed to close a section of Brethren Summit Road for a coal strip mining operation for about six weeks.

Amerikohl Mining is removing coal from under the dirt road and that section of the road has to be closed for safety purposes, Means said.

He said the company will rebuild the road after it is finished mining.

Lewis said both ends of the road will be open for residents who live there, but the middle section will be closed for the mining operation. He said the work should start within two weeks.

Supervisor Joe Henning said Amerikohl should be required to post signs, erect barriers and build turnarounds for traffic.

In other business, the supervisors:

n Approved a request from Texas Keystone Inc. to install a natural gas pipe under Wirsing Road.

n Agreed to buy 100 fence posts for Wharton Park.

n Announced that about 140 children participated in the annual Halloween parade Saturday.