Our Natural Heritage In the News

The Pennsylvania Senate today voted 48-2 to approve legislation that would require towns along the Appalachian Trail to enact zoning that would "conserve and maintain" abutting land.

The House passed a similar bill in December, and now must approve amendments added to the Senate version.

The changes would allow municipalities to determine which land to zone and give them a year to do so. Another amendment would exempt Cooke Township, Cumberland County, population 117, whose portion of the trail is surrounded by state-owned forest, parkland and a private game preserve, said the bill's sponsor, State Rep. Robert Freeman (D., Northampton).

"I'm very pleased with the overwhelming support," from both chambers Freeman said today, adding he expects the House to approve the changes when it convenes the first week of June.

He said he also expects Gov. Rendell to sign it into law. Given the Senate amendments "we need time to review" before deciding whether to support it, said Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo.

The Senate's action was applauded by PennEnvironment, a Philadelphia-based advocacy group that has been lobbying for the bill's passage.

Its "overwhelming bi-partisan support" sends "a strong message about the importance of the trail," said David Masur, the group's director. "Clearly, this is an important part of our natural heritage that's worth protecting."

Freeman proposed the bill in response to a track for high-performance cars proposed for construction less than a half-mile from the trail on the north face of Blue Mountain in Eldred Township, Monroe County. The project, first proposed in 2002, is awaiting stormwater management permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

At the time it was proposed and approved by township officials, Eldred had no zoning. It does now, but it comes too late to apply to the $30-million Alpine Motorsports Club, forecast to open next summer.

Of the 55 communities along Pennsylvania's 229 miles of trail, nine have no zoning, according to PennEnvironment.

Contact staff writer Diane Mastrull at 610-313-8095 or dmastrull@phillynews.com.