Apologies for not pushing this out sooner. The Holidays and other commitments pulled me away from this over the last month.
The below is an email from Township Manager Aaron Siko in response to my email requesting clarifying comments and more information following the township meeting on December 22, 2025.
The below link is an article regarding the Hempfield supervisors to vote on design firm for the fire station. The vote on this meeting will take place tonight at 7pm.
https://etrib.triblive.com/?publink=14d1df4b1_1351f42
A township meeting will be held tonight January 26, 2026 at 7 PM, 1132 Woodward Dr
Greensburg, PA 15601. I called and verified it hasn’t been canceled due to weather or road conditions.
I will not be able to attend tonight due to work.
Email from Mr. Siko:
“Hello Andrew,
The Township has made the siting analysis and relevant materials supporting these decisions available to the public online. That information can be found here:https://www.hempfieldtwp.com/418/HFD-Station-502
I have tried to summarize the answers to your questions below as best as possible.
Primary entrance/exit:
The fire station will be accessed from Arona Road. This is intended to be the primary, and likely the only, entrance and exit. The driveway location and design will be reviewed and approved through PennDOT’s Highway Occupancy Permit process.
Social hall or non-emergency use:
No. The proposed facility is an emergency services fire station. It does not include a social hall, banquet space, or community event rental use. Any non-emergency space would be limited to operational or training-related functions.
Stormwater management:
Stormwater will be managed on-site using engineered detention and infiltration facilities before being discharged to the existing Arona Road drainage system. The design will specifically account for downhill flow and will be reviewed through the Township’s land development and stormwater management approval process.
Mine subsidence and environmental review:
The site has a known history of mining activity. The Township’s plan includes completing a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and a geotechnical investigation with soil sampling to evaluate ground conditions, foundation suitability, and any subsidence-related risks. These studies are intended to identify and manage potential risks and costs before construction. A completed subsidence study or environmental impact report is not yet available.
Arona Road / Harry Long Road intersection safety:
The site layout intentionally preserves space to allow future roadway or intersection improvements if they are determined to be necessary. Final traffic engineering, including sight distance, turning movements, and potential improvements, will be evaluated during the permitting and design phase.
Road weight limits and truck traffic:
There is no proposal to increase posted weight limits on Arona Road as part of this project. Fire apparatus is permitted to operate regardless of posted state law limits. Any change to posted weight limits would require a separate roadway decision and is not tied to the construction of the fire station.
Noise and traffic mitigation:
Specific mitigation measures such as siren protocols, lighting controls, buffering, or traffic calming have not yet been finalized. These elements will be addressed during detailed design, PennDOT driveway permitting, and land development review, which typically establish requirements for access design, lighting, signage, and buffering.
Purpose of the station and community engagement:
The proposed station is intended to replace service coverage in the Adamsburg area and to better position fire resources within the Township’s long-term coverage plan. The next steps include formal public Board actions and the land development process, both of which provide opportunities for public review and comment.
Consideration of alternative sites:
Alternative locations were evaluated using response time and service area mapping, including locations closer to Adamsburg. The Arona Road site was identified as better meeting coverage and operational needs. This information is included in the study.
Relationship to the DCED-funded fire services study:
The proposed station aligns with broader fire service planning and future deployment modeling. The ongoing DCED-funded study is targeted to the more southeastern portion of the township and will help inform long-term fire service organization and funding decisions, but does not, by itself, dictate this specific site selection.
Sewer and utility extensions:
A sanitary sewer extension is anticipated to serve the fire station. The concept allows the extension to be sized to accommodate future connections, if approved. Any future opportunities for nearby properties to connect would depend on the final engineering design, capacity, easements, and applicable authority and Township policies.
I hope this information helps guide your communications with your neighbors. We look forward to establishing a modern facility that will serve the western side of the Township for decades to come. Feel free to let me know if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely”