Letter: Development that is too close to railroad tracks poses danger

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998 | 10:12 a.m.

This situation currently exists in Clark County in Enterprise Township along the Union Pacific Railroad south of Sunset Road. There are several dozen homes built in this "Danger Zone" at present and no zoning and/or regulations to prevent other residential development. This is a blueprint for disaster.

These railroad tracks are heavily traveled daily at all hours by high-speed trains transporting all manner of hazardous, toxic and industrial materials, including concentrations of chemicals, fuels, flammables, solvents, etc. The railroad was here first and these types of cargo are well within the regular business parameters of a heavy transport industry such as a railroad.

It is incumbent upon the administration and the governing bodies of Clark County to do their collective best to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens of Clark County in regard to this matter.

At this time, county planning is beginning the process to design and implement a new land use guide for Enterprise Township which will establish the master zoning plan for the area. A corridor 1,000 feet on each side of the railroad right-of-way should be set aside for commercial or manufacturing of industrial usage as a buffer between residential development, and no further residential development should be allowed in this corridor.

Douglas Noland