West Penn Township’s controversial zoning ordinance could be a done deal by spring.

Supervisors revisited the hotly-contested zoning ordinance, which is centered around agricultural land use, at Monday morning’s meeting.

Supervisor Tim Houser said he’d like to protect the rural atmosphere of the township, and that he’d rather see businesses develop along routes 309, 895 and 443.

“I realize that changing zoning is a really (difficult) decision (with people) not willing to embrace change,” he said. “A lot of times change is very hard to digest.”

Supervisor Glenn Hummel suggested that the board follow the recommendations of Charles Schmehl, consultant, with Urban Research & Development Corp.

“Follow his suggestions,” Hummel said. “That’s what we (pay) him for.”

After the meeting, township solicitor Paul J. Datte said he believes all of the outstanding issues raised have been addressed by supervisors.

Datte said Schmehl will be contacted, and he will make revisions to the draft proposed ordinance based on the discussions of the past few meetings and the previous public hearing.

“Once that is done, I’m sure the supervisors will want to take one more look at it,” Datte said. “Then the revised draft will go to the township and (Schuylkill) county planning commissions, and there will be a public hearing that will be advertised so both the planning commission and public will have an opportunity to comment on the ordinance.”

Datte said after that, the ordinance will be ready to be adopted or possibly revised after which the supervisors could adopt it.

He said the process could be completed during the first quarter of 2023 or the spring.

In October, resident Brian McQuillen asked the board to keep highway commercial as is, with no change from the original proposal along Mill Drive and Route 443.

McQuillen also asked the board at that time to consider removing agricultural industrial use from the highway commercial district as proposed at the last public hearing.

He added that in the summary of draft ordinance from Schmehl, there are several things that were important to the new ordinance, and that to promote good planning, the several things should be addressed in the new ordinance.

McQuillen said there is no definition of commercial crop storage, and that the existing ordinance definition could be used. He also said it should indicate that this does not include chicken manure storage.

He said there is no definition of chicken manure storage, and that definitions and additional restrictions should be added as uses in the industrial district, as it’s an industrial agricultural business; and there should be requirements on storage similar to septic and sludge composting.

McQuillen also said there is no definition of roasting of soy beans or grains, and that definitions should be added, as well as additional restrictions as uses in the industrial district, and that there should be requirements on storage.