Warren Planning Commission members should tread lightly on the Warren City Council’s request to examine oil and gas development in preservation zones.

Of particular note was Councilwoman Wendy McCain’s concern about the preservation district’s focus on areas near the city’s waterfront — Washington Park, Beaty Field, the Conewango Creek from Point Park to Wilson Street, Betts Park and Glade Run.

“These areas are really close to our waterways along with our residential areas,” she said. “I’m very concerned about fracking so close to people and our waterways.”

We share her concern.

While we also appreciate council members’ desire to find new sources of revenue to limit future city tax increases, preservation districts seem like an incongruous fit for renewed oil and gas drilling. That’s particularly true when there are so many uncapped oil and gas wells in Warren County already. In our opinion, the Planning Commission should consider not just financial benefits, but the prudence of adding to our future environmental liabilities while the state struggles to pay the bill oil and gas developers have already left unpaid.

Councilman Phil Gilbert said he doesn’t necessarily support oil and gas development in preservation zones, but does want to hear what the Planning Commission finds. That’s a good way to approach this topic. We, and everyone else in Warren, will be interested to hear what the commission finds as well.