Updates
August 24, 2011: decision tabled again after two hours discussion.
Original Post
Link here.The Williston Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday to recommend approval of a proposed zone change that would allow an oil company facility to be built near a school.
A proposal was brought forward by Weatherford. The company was asking for a zone change on acreage in the city's one mile extraterritorial area from agricultural and R-5 Mobile Home Court zoning to M-2 Heavy Industrial.
Williston Planning and Zoning Director Kent Jarcik explained that Weatherford was looking to place an office building on 80 acres of a 160-acre site along 133rd Avenue Northwest.
Jarcik added that the proposed site is near Stony Creek Elementary School.I love that last line: it almost sounds as if Weatherford and Ken Jarcik conspired (a very strong word, I know) to not tell the whole story, but then, unable to contain himself, Jarcik "added" that, oh, yes, the proposed site is near an elementary school. A headquarters building near an elementary school is starting to mix commercial with residential, but the story goes on to say that the Weatherford site would also be a place for parking 18-wheelers and storing pipe. So, now we get residential mixed with commercial mixed with industrial.
When I first wrote this, I said "the story is not so important. I post it only to remind folks that Weatherford is located in the Bakken." Maybe I was wrong.
So, several issues here.
Weatherford is not currently fracking in the bakken. They supply a number of other services like wireline, fishing tools, casing, lay down, rack crews. They would be smart to get set up in one location like Baker Hughes is doing. The problem is that their location near Stoney Creek school is a horrible one. When you speak of a city/county commission in over their head...this is a prime example. Why they would push weatherford north of town where granite peak is developing is beyond me. Bruce, we need help. And lots of it. This nice little town could be developed in a great way but instead it's being thrown together by inexperienced people. They are great people (for the most part) but none of them have developed a town that's doubling in population before....
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to comment.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping for clarification on whether Weatherford was fracking; now I know. I hadn't heard of them when talking about fracking, so this confirms it, thanks.
I feel strongly that county and city commissioners are hamstrung by any number of things, but part time jobs and minimum staff at a time when they are being bombarded from all sides is a formula for failure.
When I was in the Air Force, and we were stationed at an overseas assignment that was going to grow significantly, the wing (base) commander hired an outside design team to study the issues and provide a grand scheme. I thought he was wasting money, but over time, and six months later when the plan was presented, it was exactly right and money well spent. I don't get the feeling that there is a grand plan for Williston.