CECIL - Look for the "no toll road" signs to sprout again in Cecil
Township.
More than 100 residents turned out Wednesday
night to organize opposition to any Southern Beltway incursion into Cecil
Township, and a leader of the movement vowed that no state Turnpike Commission
official would enter his property without a court order.
"This is a human disaster they're trying to perpetrate on us," said Peter Cassidy of Gladden Heights. "The minute they tack down one ribbon or put up one stake, these homes will never be able to sell. The people who would be losing their homes are going to be the fortunate ones. Those who live next to the highway will be stuck with the noise, the pollution and easy access for criminals."
What touched off the residents' furor was a letter sent last month to the Cecil Township offices indicating that owners of 175 properties would be receiving a notice of the Turnpike Commission's intent to enter and conduct field investigations connecting Route 22 with Interstate 79.
Documenting field conditions and identifying "potentially sensitive resources," a step in the middle of a 10 step process, is the reason why Turnpike Commission employees might be visiting residents' property.
If a resident receives a letter of intent, Harry Hall, engineering project director for the Turnpike Commission, emphasized that it does not mean the commission eventually will acquire the property or enter it. Athough the letter stated property owners will be notified in a broad area - much broader than the area required for the eventual highway right-of-way and no route has been fmalized - no one who spoke up Wednesday night at the Cecil Township No.3 fire hall was taking a wait-and-see attitude.
"If this road is built in any part of the township, it's too close," said Elizabeth Cowden, who helped spearhead a movement against the Southern Beltway four years ago in the eastern section of the township. "I don't live in Gladden Heights, but I'm opposed to this road."
The words aimed at the Turnpike Commission were statements made at the regular meeting of the Cecil Township supervisors. Because of the large turnout on the Southern Beltway issue, the meeting was moved from the municipal building to the fire hall.
Tim Walker of Reissing Road questioned the township supervisors' commitment to fight the toll road.
Tom Casciola, chairman of the board of supervisors, read a letter he and Supervisors Robert Roberts and Gerald Godfrey wrote Monday to the Turnpike Commission objecting to the road because a proposal would "bisect through the middle of our Gladden Heights area, one of the few bedroom communities we have in our township.
"Our residents are understandably upset. This new study area makes them suspect of the Turnpike Commission's common sense in trying to find less disruptive routes."
After the business meeting, Casciola told residents that they need to lobby the Legislature about the issue because it controls the Turnpike Commission's funding.
Cassidy said the immediate objective of those opposed to the toll road are to set up a telephone network to keep residents informed of any developments on the issue. He said he hopes to see the group eventually hire a lawyer to keep the Turnpike Commission at bay. He also called for people to post "no trespassing signs."
"I think they should have a Web site with all this stuff on it," said John Candee of Reissing Road.
Robert Sowinski, a member of the Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee, said he would vote against a toll road for Cecil Township if the matter came before the committee.
Sowinski said only two types of land are protected by law from governinental condemnation: wetlands and farmland.
The letters of intent to enter will be sent
to residents of Robinson, Cecil and Mt. Pleasant townships and McDonald
in Washington County and residents of North and South Fayette townships
in Allegheny County.