Adams residents speak against eminent domain usage
ADAMS TWP -- A number of Adams Township residents spoke against an eminent domain acquisition by the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority at the township board of supervisors meeting Monday night.
The authority had previously contacted Adams landowner Frederick “Fritz” Bielo, who owns an 85-acre farm at the intersection of Myoma and Peters roads, to inform him that it would use eminent domain to take a piece of his land measuring 1,200 feet long and 20 feet wide in order to place a sewer line.
According to Tom King, solicitor for the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority, the sewer line, which will service the Franklin Acres development in neighboring Cranberry Township, cannot go around the property due to the geography where the line must be placed.
“Our concern is that Breakneck is taking away part of our property by way of eminent domain,” said Susan Bielo, Fritz’s wife. “We’ve tried to work with them, we’ve offered them some alternatives, but they’ve elected to just take the property.”
Fritz Bielo expressed his frustration to the board of supervisors that the sewer line could not go around his property instead of going through it.
“Why can it not go around my property? What’s so scary? It seems like something is really wrong here that they can’t go around my property,” he said. “They’re cutting my property down to make money. They’re not giving me any of that money — they gave me a pittance for what they are doing to me. They’re damaging my property, damaging my view.”
Susan and Frederick Bielo both asked supervisors to do what they could to stop the taking of the land by eminent domain.
“I know this might be out of your realm, but if there is anything at all that you could do to help not destroy this beautiful landscape and these woodlands, we would appreciate it.” Sue Bielo added. “There’s been so much development in our area. There’s turkey, there’s deer, there’s all kind of animals and birds, and we just hate to see what they’re going to wipe out.”
Adams resident Tim Stack said he felt overdevelopment was the biggest problem facing Adams Township at the moment and compared the use of eminent domain to theft of property.
“If someone takes your car and tells you that they’re going to sell it and that they’ll put the proceeds toward cancer research, that’s still going to be wrong. I hope you know that,” Stack said. “I would like to know what you’re going to do. You just can’t close your eyes — these are your people. These developments don’t benefit the community, and that’s the whole intent of eminent domain.”
Resident Tina Wilson also asked the township to help the Bielos.
“You are our elected officials. We have to have someone, as current residents, to come to, to help us. I’ve been in their position; they need help,” Wilson said. “I know you have no influence on the sewer authority, but we have to protect our residents and their property.”
Township solicitor Michael Gallagher said that the township did not have much power to determine the actions of the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority.
“They are an independent board and they are separate and apart from the township,” he said. “Your control over them is very, very limited. You can always ask, if you want to ask, but you can’t direct them to do anything.”
Resident Jennifer McAfee asked the board whether there would be a liquor license hearing for the planned GetGo at the intersection of Route 228 and Three Degree Road, across the street from Mars Area High School.
The GetGo was previously rejected by supervisors, but was approved at a March meeting after the township reached an agreement with GetGo over traffic safety.
Gallagher said that a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board hearing would not be required because the liquor license transfer would now be coming from the Twelve Oaks Mansion events center, which is within the township. Comments, he said, can be taken directly to the PLCB.
McAfee said that objections have been filed with the PLCB.
“You might as well stand on the corner and sell (alcohol) right outside the front doors, because that’s where the GetGo is at,” she said. “I still would have liked to see the board deny the GetGo. I would have liked the GetGo to just be a no-go, period.”
