Rochester Considering Pre-Emptive Strike Against Fracking

Rochester officials are seeking public comment on a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would allow them to more effectively deal with gas and oil exploration requests.

A Rochester Planning Commission hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Rochester City Hall, 400 Sixth St.

Click the following links for:

• The agenda.
• The information packet.

The amendment, which has been in the works for several months, is a pre-emptive strike designed to quell some of the discord that has taken place in neighboring Rochester Hills in recent months, The Oakland Press reports.

Drilling and oil and gas exploration aren’t currently taking place and there aren’t any pending applications, but “the opportunity is there to control it if it ever happens,” deputy city manager Nik Banda said.

Rochester Mayor Jeffrey Cuthbertson said the city doesn’t necessarily want oil and gas exploration occurring, “but we can’t zone them out of existence,” he said.

If the Planning Commission approves the draft, it will go to the city council for consideration.

In neighboring Rochester Hills, the Don’t Drill the Hills citizen activist group said it would appeal a judge’s decision to toss the group’s lawsuit against the city, which the citizens say approved gas and oil exploration leases in violation of a voter-backed charter amendment.

Gas and oil exploration around the area, including in nearby Shelby Township, propelled the city into action.

“Seeing surface operations take shape in a neighboring community got us thinking we needed an ordinance in the interest of public safety,” Cuthbertson said.

Officials with Jordan Development LLC, the company behind most of the gas and oil exploration activity in the area, approached Rochester officials last year, but scrapped plans after widespread opposition. Cuthbertson said the city wants to be prepared in case the issue comes up again, which he thinks is probable.

“We just want something of good substance on our books now,” Cuthbertson said. “This isn’t going to go away anytime soon.”

Related:

• Don’t Drill the Hills to Appeal Judge’s Decision to Toss Lawsuit
• Judge Dismisses Rochester Hills Fracking Lawsuit
• Don’t Drill the Hills Sues Over Leases for Fracking in City Parks, Cemetery
• Rochester Hills Calls Hasty Session for Moratorium on Fracking
• Does Money Magazine Know About Fracking in Rochester Hills? Letter to the Editor
• Fracking Moratoriums Idle Drilling Equipment - At Least Temporarily
• Fracking: Township Officials Trying to Get Ahead of ‘Fast-Moving Train’

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Patch file photo