This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.
Cornwall Borough’s Planning & Zoning Commission heard a presentation from engineer and zoning officer Jeff Steckbeck addressing claims made by residents about soil testing, the history of mining in the area, and ethics allegations at a meeting Oct. 5.
Given the history of mining operations in Cornwall, residents have questioned whether areas slated for development, like the area around Miners Lake, could be at risk of cave-ins or dangerous chemicals in the soil.
However, submitted plans have not placed new development in identified areas unsafe for development due to mining, or subsidence areas, Steckbeck said. Steckbeck said a map of subsidence areas from Cornwall Mine #4 was prepared in 1992 by Charles Taylor Associates leading up to the development of Iron Valley Estates and the golf club.
“There were three lots that were affected … and the deeds for those properties were sold with the restriction that the property owners were not allowed to construct anything in the subsidence zone,” said Steckbeck of the Iron Valley Estates Phase 1 plan. “That plan was approved. Same thing occurred for Iron Valley Estates Phase 5A. That, I guess, would transfer over; the same subsidence limits would apply to current projects that have been under review such as the Cliffs and the Knoll.”…