ADAMS TWP—The Mandera Subdivision project — nine family homes proposed near the Cranberry municipal line — has been sent back to the planning commission. This happened after environmental concerns were raised by both Adams Township residents and the board of supervisors.

Russel Ford, board of supervisors chairman, said his chief concern was getting all the necessary information before proceeding.

“We’re not folding anyone here, just the process,” Ford said. “The planning commission approved what was in front of them. There’s more information now that the commission didn’t know about (when it approved the project), so we’re sending it back to the commission.”

Preliminary approval of the Mandera Subdivision had been previously tabled at the Oct. 24 meeting. Residents near the site submitted a letter listing concerns about the project’s sewage system, a gravity sewer that flows into a Cranberry Township pumping station. Ford recommended residents, code enforcement, township engineers and Victor Wetzel Associates — the project’s developer — meet before considering the project again.

Steve Victor, a partner with Victor Wetzel Associates, believed the meeting addressed the concerns of local residents.

“We don’t agree with what was said, on a lot of points,” said Adams Township resident Brenda Benek. “And we did bring up a major concern.”

She then introduced Adams Township resident Al Buehler, Jr. to speak.

“I live right next to this property,” said Buehler. “There is an abandoned oil well on this property. It’s known as a legacy well.”

Buehler explained that the legacy well is shown on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection website. It is situated in three of the proposed lots, 20 to 30 yards from a nearby stream.

“Any digging near this well could pollute the stream,” said Buehler. “You can’t build on an old well — it still emits methane. Even if it’s plugged, it still emits methane.”

According to Buehler, the well must legally be reported to the Department of Environmental Protection before proceeding.

“The developer is aware there is an abandoned well," Victor said. "We’re fully aware of the concern of building houses on top of wells. It’s not something we do.”

Victor stated, though, that the developer had not contacted the Department of Environmental Protection.

In an effort to address these concerns, Ford motioned the project be returned to the planning commission. The decision on preliminary approval has been extended until Jan. 23, 2023.

“These concerns will have to be addressed and answered if this goes back to the planning commission,” said Ford, “but there will be a time when these concerns will also have to be dropped.”