The Adams Township planning commission unanimously voted to indefinitely table discussion on a revision of the township’s slope ordinance, more than two years after the ordinance was first discussed in township meetings.

Discussion has been active since 2019 between the township and various stakeholders, including developers and Adams residents, on the slope ordinance’s draft rules for the management of steep slopes in the township

“We’ve been working on this ordinance for long time, and quite honestly, we haven’t gotten anywhere near where we need to be to approve this ordinance,” Chairman Martin McKinney said.

“What we’ve set out to do and where we’ve gotten to with this draft of an ordinance is diametrically opposed, and I think what we want to do — because we’ve been spending too much time and money on it — is back up and punt,” he explained. “We’re going to table it, we’re going to walk away from it, and try to decide whether what we’re going to do is what we need to do.”

The township’s older, original slope ordinance will remain in place.

McKinney said after years of work, little agreement has been reached on the ordinance. His goal is to go back to business, and “not fix something that is not broke.”

The ordinance had been discussed regularly at monthly planning commission meetings. In recent months, contention among commenters at meetings mostly revolved around item 8G under Application Procedure in the draft ordinance, which specified that in residential zoning districts, slopes steeper than or equal to 3h:1v, created or pre-existing, must be placed in conservation easements as defined by the township.

Some who spoke at the meetings felt the restriction was too limiting to property owners or developers, and others said it served a purpose of protecting slopes.

McKinney praised residents for their patience over the course of the project.

“A few years ago there was a burning ordinance that they worked on for a while, and it didn’t fly, either.” he said. “We’re up here trying to do the best job we can, and I think that right now, our time is probably better served doing some other items. Thank you for your efforts, and information, and whatnot.”