Bill to protect trail advances - Philadelphia Inquirer

[WhiteBlaze]

<table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/20080604_Bill_to_protect_trail_advances.html&cid=1219037859&ei=3UZGSLvnCZ6q9gSBre2SBA&usg=AFrqEzdEMQct7jOpw2xfyXUJkn_n--w-Zw">Bill to protect <b>trail</b> advances</a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>Philadelphia Inquirer,&nbsp;PA&nbsp;-</font> <nobr>36 minutes ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>By Diane Mastrull A bill that would require Pennsylvania towns along the <b>Appalachian Trail</b> to enact zoning to protect land abutting the historic footpath <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table>

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[WhiteBlaze]

<table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7><tr><td width=80 align=center valign=top><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0i-0&fd=R&url=http://www.pocononews.net/news/June08/05/05Jun08-2.html&cid=0&ei=JblHSOfENJTw8ASSvayZCw&usg=AFrqEzevmNQ1uechmcgydknpycKkpHsXOQ"><img src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=VL2U8jxuhVUJ&imgurl=www.pocononews.net/news/images_places/AppTr_unspec-1.jpg width=80 height=60 alt="" border=1><br><font size=-2>PoconoNews.net</font></a></font></td><td valign=top class=j><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class=lh><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.pocononews.net/news/June08/05/05Jun08-2.html&cid=0&ei=JblHSOfENJTw8ASSvayZCw&usg=AFrqEzf_Bv67YG6vADvMCGxe1ILamjA4Pw">Bill preserves <b>Appalachian Trail</b></a><br><font size=-1><font color=#6f6f6f>PoconoNews.net,&nbsp;New York&nbsp;-</font> <nobr>5 minutes ago</nobr></font><br><font size=-1>HARRISBURG - Legislation requiring municipalities that border the <b>Appalachian Trail</b> to adopt ordinances protecting the <b>trail</b> has been approved and now goes <b>...</b></font></div></font></td></tr></table>

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[EarlyBird2007]

The following is summary of the reasons for proposing it, courtesy of its primary sponsor, Rep. Bob Freeman.

The legislature enacted legislation back in 1978 calling upon municipalities that border the Appalachian Trail to preserve the natural scenic, historic and esthetic values of the trail, but there was no requirement for them to pass land-use ordinances to enforce that,” Rep. Freeman said. “My legislation will have these bordering municipalities put in place zoning and other land-use measures necessary to preserve those values.” Rep. Freeman said the legislation was suggested by Easton environmental attorney Charles “Chot” Elliott. It resulted following the loss of ATC’s appeal to the state appellate court of a lower court ruling in Monroe County where a developer proposed constructing a private automobile racing club, known as the Alpine Rose (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/lookup.asp?c=jkLXJ8MQKtH&b=848461).
Chot worked with law student James Y. Miles at Temple University to discern the weaknesses in the lawsuit brought by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Blue Mountain Preservation Association under the Commonwealth’s 1978 Appalachian Trail Act (P.L. 87 No. 41). In an unpublished J.D. thesis, Miles found that townships have split loyalties between economic development and environmental protection even as the latter is required by the Commonwealth’s constitution. “The question remains regarding whether those entities charged with the public trust have been loyal, or are capable of being loyal, to the express policy of the Trail Act.” The study holds promise for all progressive states with constitutions guaranteeing citizen rights to clean water, air and natural environments. The proposed amendment, underlined at House Bill 1281, will hopefully ensure adequate land-use zoning among the fifty-plus townships crossed by the A.T. in Pennsylvania.



A copy of the Bill itself can be found here. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1281&pn=3767

[ki0eh]

EB07 - Will this bill help the monster warehouses or the White Rocks Ridge?

[EarlyBird2007]

EB07 - Will this bill help the monster warehouses or the White Rocks Ridge?

I think it will help some. The law (assuming the Governor signs the Bill) will require municipalities to pass land use ordinances that will promote the preservation of the Trail itself as well as its viewshed. However, the elected leaders of municipalities are still subject to the wishes of the people who elect them. When we learn of a development, warehouse, etc. that threatens the trail, we need to express our views forcefully.

[Nearly Normal]

As unpopular as this will translate, The federal government should mind it's own business.