As a basis for assuring that gas and oil wells and any associated equipment will be of minimum hazard to and compatible with surrounding development, the location, evaluation and approval of a proposed well site and associated production and processing equipment site shall be based upon the following criteria:
(a) Preference will be given to sites proposed in existing industrially zoned areas.
(b) Proposed sites will be considered from the perspective of both existing and future development and should not be located so as to be potentially detrimental to the future use and development of the parcel(s) upon which the well is to be located or of any adjoining parcels.
(c) No gas well shall be located within 100 feet of an electrical power line or transmission line of any public or private utility line.
(d) All future residential buildings to be constructed in the vicinity of a well or production and processing equipment shall be located at least 200 feet from any existing well(s) or associated equipment (excluding transmission lines); proposed residential developments shall be designed so that all future residential dwellings shall be located at least 200 feet from any existing well(s) or production and processing equipment (excluding transmission lines).
(e) No drilling for oil and/or gas wells and no associated production or processing equipment (excluding transmission lines) shall be permitted within 500 feet of any existing school, church, hospital, theater or assembly hall, as these terms are defined by the Ohio Revised Code or this Code, regardless of the zoning district, except as otherwise provided herein.
(f) Sites proposed in non-industrial zoning districts may be considered and may be approved if the proposed well location and associated production and processing site are determined to be in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) Sites shall be selected which will utilize and/or maximize the potential screening and shielding effects of existing topographic, vegetative, and man-made conditions for existing or proposed residential development;
(2) Sites shall not be located inside of, or closer than 500 feet to the property lines of an existing major residential subdivision or neighborhood of 20 or more platted or unplatted lots upon which more than 50 percent of the existing lots have residential dwellings;
(3) Sites shall not be located inside of, or closer than 500 feet to the boundaries of an existing cluster, PUD, PRD or multi-family development approved for 20 or more dwellings of which more than 50 percent are constructed.
(4) Sites shall not be located in areas which will necessitate the use of minor residential streets for well drilling, production and service vehicles, and equipment access during the drilling, fracturing and production of the well; and
(5) Sites shall not be located in areas of unique, unusual, or significant natural characteristics which could be permanently or irreparably damaged or which could have their recreational, open space, natural area use, or aesthetic value significantly reduced.
(g) No site which is to be utilized for the processing of sour gas shall be located within 1,000 feet of an existing residence.
(h) In the case of particular proposals for well locations or sites for the associated production and processing equipment, where strict compliance with the foregoing criteria and requirements may be a handicap or an excessive burden to the use of the property and where no undue hazard will be created, requirements and degrees of compliance may be reduced or modified at the discretion of Council after due consideration of the special conditions by Planning Commission and Council.
(i) Planning Commission and Council shall have the right to consider any and all special features or conditions they may consider important in determining whether or not an undue hazard is created and may require such other additional conditions they may find necessary for the achievement of the objectives of this section or other sections of this Code.
(Ord. 2007-222. Passed 1-10-08.)