After several years of work, West Penn Township’s new zoning ordinance is in place.

By a unanimous vote, township supervisors Monday morning adopted the ordinance, and in the process put to rest the controversial and laborious topic.

Perhaps Supervisor Tim Houser summed it up best with the lone remark he made on the subject.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Houser said.

Earlier this month, supervisors held a public hearing on the proposed new zoning ordinance, which will regulate the uses of land and structures, with various standards in different zoning districts.

It will also regulate signs, parking, the location and height of structures, and changes to existing structures, lots and uses that do not “conform” to the ordinance.

The ordinance would also include enforcement and penalty provisions.

The proposed ordinance includes the following major components: zoning districts; allowed uses in each district; dimensional requirements for each district; additional requirements for specific uses; environmental protection; off-street parking and loading; signs; general regulations; administration and enforcement; definitions; and a new zoning map.

Following the hearing, supervisors will consider enactment of the ordinance at a public meeting to be held not more than 60 days from the second date of publication of the notice.

In July, township solicitor Paul J. Datte said that he received the last comments and revisions back from Charles Schmehl, consultant with Urban Research and Development Corp.

Datte said he believes the revised zoning map addresses Mill Drive.

Supervisors held a workshop in May before their regular meeting, at which time they heard from residents who had questions and concerns about the proposed ordinance.

Schmehl, who attended the workshop remotely, said that since the last discussions, he had received a letter from resident Daniel Poncavage, who expressed concerns about changing the zoning from “agricultural” to “light industrial” in an area near the village of Andreas. The letter contained signatures from several residents who were also opposed to the change.

The matter was discussed during the workshop, and supervisors directed Schmehl to return the zoning designation to agricultural.

Portions of Mill Drive will also revert to agricultural use.

Schmehl said that “highway commercial” was removed on portions of Mill Drive that do not front on Routes 443 and 309.

The only available areas permitting warehouses would be highway commercial districts, as most of the highway commercial district isn’t deep enough to have a large warehouse, though the township could have some warehouses on Route 309.

Resident Brian McQuillen said at the workshop that he was concerned that people would be allowed to store large quantities of manure on land zoned for industrial use.

He said he wasn’t opposed to farmers using manure, but didn’t want to see businesses truck in the substance, store it for months, and have the odors permeate neighborhoods.

Schmehl said he would add a provision to the ordinance to dictate how the material should be regulated.

Supervisor Tony Prudenti said at that time the board would likely hold another meeting about the ordinance.

He added that the zoning changes aren’t new, as the board began working on the ordinance roughly four years ago.