Art Cappella

Art Cappella of the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development said the first section would include 2.1 miles and would start near Wheeler Bottom in Dunbar Township, and connect to the Yough River Trail.
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Cappella said after the contract is signed and the pre-construction bid meeting is held, work will begin as soon as possible.

Regarding future planning, Cappella said a meeting was held Tuesday morning with Fayette Penn Economic Development Council to discuss the next phase of the trail, at Lemont Furnace.

In other business related to the Sheepskin Trail, the commissioners voted to place a motion on Thursday's agenda to renew the 2008 insurance application/insurance coverage with Commercial Insurance for the trail.Cappella estimated the cost would be about $15,000 and the coverage amount is $5 million.

For more information, call Art Cappella, of Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, at 724-430-1210, ext. 208, or Joy Wilhelm, of Mackin Engineering, at 412-788-0472.

Art Cappella, Fayette County's chief community development specialist and West Nile program coordinator, said he learned Monday from the Pennsylvania Department of Health that a pool of mosquitoes trapped near the township shed in Meadowbrook were infected with the virus.

A sharp shinned hawk found dead in Menallen Township also had the virus, he said.

Last week, Cappella learned that a dead blue jay found in South Union in early August and another one found in Washington Township had the disease.

The health department reported Wednesday that 46 counties in the state have found the virus in mosquitoes or dead birds.

Cappella said a Department of Environmental Protection representative will be in Fayette County today to discuss a spraying program and take a look at a swamp off Route 40 in Wharton Township that has been the subject of mosquito complaints.

"The mosquitoes are here.They're breeding," Cappella said."I'd like to remind people the key in all this is prevention.Wear long sleeves and pants and repellant if you can."

The health department also recommends eliminating all standing or stagnant water from around homes because mosquitoes need that water to breed.

Mosquitoes acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds and pass it on to other birds, animals and people.
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Cappella said he and the state health department office, which is in the Fayette County Health Center on New Salem Road, have been busy.People continue to bring in dead birds.Many also call and ask for mosquito traps, information and when they find dead birds.

The mosquito breeding season traditionally ends in October due to lower temperatures and the county's West Nile program is scheduled to end on Oct. 31, Cappella said, noting that "only time will determine that."

©The Herald Standard 2002

Art Cappella of the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development announced Tuesday that applications will be accepted until Tuesday, Feb. 14.

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Currently, there are 931.68 Fayette County acres in the program, which gives landowners the opportunity to permanently conserve agricultural production of the land.Cappella said the average property owners receive is $1,000 per acre, and that amount is based on an appraisal of the property.He said the agricultural board has set the maximum at $1,700 per acre, and the lowest amount has been $850.Once the land is enrolled in the program, it will remain in the program in perpetuity, Cappella said.

The money that is allocated per acre is received from the state, Cappella said.He said a request has been made for the county commissioners to give additional money toward the program, but no action has been taken on the request.

At a recent public hearing to discuss the text of the upcoming countywide zoning, subdivision and land development ordinance, a few farmers complained that the county should kick in additional funds per acre for the program.

Cappella said participation in the program doesn't prevent landowners from opting in to other agricultural-related programs.He said agriculture is the leading industry in the state and the leading industry in the county."Preserving farmland is a wise investment for Fayette and its future food production and green space preservation," Cappella said.

To be eligible to participate in the program, Cappella said property must be located in an agricultural security area.He said an agricultural security area may include non-adjacent farmland parcels of at least 10 acres, but a 50-acre minimum is required for a farmland preservation area.

Cappella said the program is a way to maintain the traditions and culture of the farming industry as well as to enhance Fayette County's community appearance by establishing a common balance between economic development and the agriculture industry.

"An important philosophy to have and strive to maintain is one that minimizes urban sprawl and puts investment where you have infrastructure, so you do not have to go out and build new sewer systems, cut down trees and chew up farms," Cappella said.
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For additional information, contact Cappella at 724-430-1210.