Township approves zoning change and water protection

DINGMAN – The Dingman Supervisors last week adopted a zoning change for the U.S. Route 6/Interstate Highway 84 interchange and the Sawkill Storm Water Management Ordinance at their regular meeting this past week. The zoning change from NC (Neighborhood Commercial) to RC (Resort Commercial) allows for expanded use of the area by more businesses. Some area residents have been opposed to this change and have been heard through the voice of environmental activist Vito DiBiasi. DiBiasi has been on a one-man campaign to make sure town officials protect the aquifer in that area. The area springs are a water source for the Borough of Milford in particular. “Although Mr. DiBiasi would like to take credit for this the supervisors have been working on this a long time,” said Tom Mincer, supervisors chairman. Milford Borough officials earlier said short of purchasing the aquifer property, they were dependent on Dingman to protect their interests. “We are the first municipality in Pike to adopt a storm water management ordinance to protect an environmentally sensitive area. We have been working with the Pike County Conservation District and the Borough of Milford to make this happen,” Mincer said. “Although the new ordinance protects the Dingman Township side of Route 6 there are still 46 acres of land under an old ordinance that dates back to 1992 and doesn’t take in to account the standards of today,” said DiBiasi. Looking to the new year, Mincer said the plans for Dingman Township in 2007 are getting started on the new recreation park to be located on Log Tavern Road. “We own all the property now and we are anxious to get the construction started in the spring,” he told the Courier. Pike County continues to grow and still remains the fastest growing county in the state according to the U.S. census Bureau.