Municipal Monday, Issue 22. A weekly digest of regulatory and development activity from 38 Central Pennsylvania municipalities. In this issue, some September minutes caught up, and October agendas are full.
THE PATTERN: Eleven municipalities in four counties have adopted data center ordinances this year, February 11 to September 16: Londonderry in Dauphin County, South Londonderry, Franklin in York County, Hampden, Lower Allen, Windsor, West Hanover, South Middleton, Swatara, East Hanover and East Pennsboro. None was added after our October 5 issue. East Pennsboro’s September 16 minutes, posted October 8, record a unanimous vote. Newberry holds its hearing on draft Ordinance 442 on October 13. Upper Allen’s October 7 agenda listed authorization to advertise a hearing, outcome not yet posted. South Middleton is revising its July ordinance, with a staff goal of adoption in late January.
ON THE BOARDS: Fourteen plans carry a board or commission action across eight municipalities, on agendas dated October 7 to 22. Six are new to our tracking. Lower Swatara’s Planning Commission lists four for October 22, including The Pond II, a preliminary plan for 169 townhouse units, and a plan for an egg-cracking facility of about 122,652 square feet. Upper Allen listed Autumn Chase Phase VIII and 391 Cumberland Parkway. South Hanover lists two plans for October 13, and Lower Paxton’s Planning Commission listed a medical marijuana dispensary conditional use and a subdivision. Swatara, South Middleton and Carlisle listed one each, and Middlesex in Cumberland County lists one for October 12. Confirmed: East Pennsboro approved the Central Penn Super Suites subdivision September 16, separating 34 existing student housing units for sale.
LONG HORIZON: Six municipalities have a rezoning, zoning amendment or plan rewrite in motion. Lower Swatara’s Planning Commission recommended moving 3.5 acres on Eisenhower Boulevard from Industrial to Commercial Highway, and a November 4 hearing was listed for scheduling. Londonderry in Dauphin County sent a 3.71-acre rezoning petition to its Planning Commission. Swatara listed a map amendment application, and East Hanover’s agritourism and short-term rental amendment is pending. New Cumberland discusses its draft comprehensive plan October 14, and Hampden listed a comprehensive plan steering committee.
COST TO WATCH: Minutes posted since Issue 21 confirm $546,635 in financial security reductions and releases. Dillsburg reduced Winfield Phase 1 by $470,201 on August 11, before our coverage there began. East Pennsboro cut American Legion Post 751’s letter of credit by $57,970, unanimously. Hampden released $18,464 and denied a release for The Oaks Phase II, with work incomplete. Silver Spring’s $3.15 million from September 23 had no posted outcome as of October 12.
As of publication on October 12, the adoptions, votes and approvals above are confirmed from minutes or signed or codified records. Everything else is an agenda item, a draft or a notice.
If a draft ordinance or a plan on these agendas touches ground you hold, we can tell you what it means for the specifics.
Municipal Monday runs weekly. Next issue: 10/19.