Supervisor Gonser opposes Township establishing ordinance to minimize impact of oil and gas drilling in Oakland Township

On July 14, 2015, the Oakland Township Board requested the Planning Commission review and develop potential zoning ordinance changes to control gas and oil drilling sites in Oakland Township, similar to what several surrounding communities have done. The Board also put in place a six-month moratorium on new oil and gas drilling sites while the Planning Commission and Board potentially take action.

The Oakland Press published an article on this matter on August 4, 2015. In that article, Supervisor Gonser’s opinion on this issue was stated.

Here is what the Oakland Press wrote:

“Township Supervisor Terry Gonser, who, along with trustee John Giannangeli, was absent from the (July 14th) meeting and did not cast a vote in the matter, said he is not in favor of addressing oil and gas exploration at the township level because of state laws regulating the act.”

It is disappointing that Supervisor Gonser is satisfied relying on the State to ‘regulate’ oil and gas drilling in Oakland Township, when several of our neighboring communities have put in place a limited level of local protection for their communities.

Why would one of our elected officials not try to similarly protect us? The Supervisor’s conservative values concerning individual property rights, big government intervention and regulations appear to also apply to local government regulations, even if those local regulations would protect our residents. The ‘balanced’ approach that Trustee Ferriolo describes in the Oakland Press article is the more appropriate approach to protecting everyone’s individual property rights.

Here is the Oakland Press article:

Oakland Township officials to discuss oil and gas drilling regulations