Upper Burrell supervisors to hold hearing on proposed rezoning of former Oak Lake Golf Course

Upper Burrell supervisors will consider an apparently controversial industrial rezoning request at the former Oak Lake Golf Course this week.

Gary Schoepke is requesting the township rezone about 20 acres at the old golf course, 1151 Oak Lake Road, from residential-agricultural to industrial, and the proposal has drawn ire from some neighbors.

The township will have a public hearing on the request at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The township had issued an ordinance violation to the property in September 2023. After a hearing in December, the zoning hearing board denied Schoepke’s appeal.

The property totals 20.81 acres at the golf course, which closed in 2019 and has sat idle since, according to the application to reclassify the parcel. The former golf course property totals about 120 acres. Schoepke is storing trucks and paving equipment at the site.

Both Scheopke and the attorney who helped prepare the rezoning application, Brittany Bloam, declined to comment.

“Rezoning the property will add almost 21 acres (to the industrial) land stock of the township and advance the county’s goals by creating opportunities for economic advancement, supporting small businesses and avoiding unnecessary ‘red tape’ to move projects forward,” the application said. “The applicant, an entrepreneur himself, intends to use a portion of the property for his family-owned paving and excavation business.”

Some who live near the property have raised concerns.

Gloria Butler, who lives across from the property, said the business has devalued her property and impacted how she lives.

“Nobody would want to live next to this,” said Butler, a resident of Oak Lake Road for 47 years.

She said the truck traffic, noise and lights have ruined what “was a nice, rural community.”

“You have to live with ‘beep, beep, beep,’ ” she said. “I get up at 5:30 a.m.”

A hearing for the alleged code enforcement citation has been continued three times and is scheduled July 31 before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec.

The Upper Burrell Planning Commission recommended the proposed ordinance for Scheopke be denied.

Not all neighbors are opposed to the proposed rezoning.

Scott Brouwer, who lives next to the property, said he would be OK with a rezoning.

“It’s his property,” Brouwer said. “It’s going to be tax revenue that will be paid to the township.”

Brouwer said his family sold the property to Schoepke a few years ago. Brouwer said that, despite rumors, his family would not benefit if the property is rezoned.

Brouwer said he has not had issues with the business being next door.

“I don’t see a problem with him wanting to work with the township,” Brouwer said.

Schoepke’s property borders an existing industrial district, and a rezoning “would simply extend the border of the existing, neighboring (industrial district) to include the adjacent property,” the application said.

Mike Conley, township supervisor and a former owner of the golf course property, also declined to comment before the hearing.

Supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III didn’t indicate which way he was leaning on the rezoning request, but he said the supervisors would consider all evidence to make a decision in the best interest of the township.

“The township is going to do the right thing,” he said. “Give us a chance.”