The Lycoming County Planning Commission on Thursday cleared the way for an access road to be built that will alleviate traffic congestion on Route 414 in McHenry Township.
The commission granted two road construction waivers to Pennsylvania General Energy Company LLC so the company can build a staging area for trucks hauling equipment and construction materials to natural gas well sites in the Huntley Mountain area.
The company is using Truman Run Road, but the road is narrow and prohibits two trucks traveling in opposite directions from passing each other.
Because of that, trucks travel in one direction in alternating two-hour shifts. Those waiting to use the road have to wait along Route 414, delaying local traffic and other vehicles using the road.
The commission waived an 8-percent maximum slope requirement for the access road, allowing the slope to be 10.5 percent at its steepest point.
Another waiver was granted for a leveling-off area which is allowed a 5-percent maximum slope but is slightly more than 6 percent, according to Joshua Billing, county subdivision and land development administrator.
According to Billings, the company plans to lengthen the leveling-off area to make up for the steeper slope.
Commission Executive Director Kurt Hausammann Jr. asked Billings if the McHenry Township supervisors and state Department of Transportation were in favor of the staging area.
"Yes," Billings said.
In other business, the commission:
approved land development plans for a natural gas compressor station proposed by Angelina Gathering Co. on property owned by the Laurel Hill Game and Forestry Club in Cogan House Township.
The station, which includes a nearly 35,000 square-foot main building, a smaller mechanical building and equipment, will be located north of Route 184 off of Route 15, according to planning documents.
approved land development plans for a commercial communications tower that will be constructed on the property of Dorothy L. Puderbach in Jordan Township.
re-approved land development plans for a compressor station proposed by Anadarko Marcellus Midstream LLC on state land in McHenry Township. The re-approval was needed because the developer missed the 90-day deadline for recording the plans with the county, Billings said.
re-approved land development plans for a 5,000 square-foot building proposed by Dunlap Business Trust LLC in Porter Township. The developer missed the recording deadline, Billings said.
