770.02 INTENT; AUTHORITY OF PLANNING COMMISSION.

   (a)   It is hereby expressly stated to be the intent of this chapter in addition to prescribing minimum standards, to make drilling as safe as possible within the City and to also cause drilling activities to be carried on within the City in nonindustrial and industrially zoned areas, in accordance with Ohio R. C. Chapter 1509.

   The City is aware of the difficulty in setting rigid rules as to the areas to be included in any one unit. It is the intent of this chapter to have property drilled, when reasonable and expedient in the City's judgment, on one permit encompassing all appropriate and compatible properties and to prevent the withholding of permission by a landowner for the sole purposes of later requesting individual permission to drill on the same lot or area.

   (b)    The Planning Commission is herewith given full authority to make such recom mendations as it shall deem necessary to give full force and effect to the intent as expressed in subsection (a) hereof. Each application for a permit shall rest solely upon its merits and the prudent use of discretion by the Planning Commission.

   (c)    Council is herewith given final authority to impose such conditions as it shall deem necessary to give full force and effect to the intent as expressed in subsection (a) hereof. What is a proper case shall be within the discretion of Council. Each application for a permit shall rest solely upon its merits and the prudent use of discretion by Council.

   All references to oil and/or gas wells shall also include any other well producing hydrocarbon production.

   (d)    Council may grant an exception to the provisions of this chapter upon written request by the applicant and a two-thirds vote of Council.

(Ord. 98-1980. Passed 6-9-80.)