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The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to approve Ordinance #2-2023 rezoning the Escambia property at 1675 Grace Ave. from rural residential (RR) to residential density one (R1) at Monday’s meeting.
The planning commission recommended approval of the ordinance.
Supervisors held a public hearing for the proposed rezoning in January, at which time a petition with 60 signatures from residents opposing rezoning was presented. Developers have questioned the claims made when collecting signatures.
Read More: North Lebanon Twp. hosts public hearing on Escambia zoning amendment request
Escambia LLC is the equitable owner of the 890,078-square-foot property, which is owned by Bryan Perry. Escambia sought rezoning to pursue a 27-lot housing project on the site.
Escambia attorney Derrick Dissinger said Monday that in response to resident concerns, Escambia is entering a restrictive covenant preventing them from building more than 30 residences on the property.
The ordinance also rezones one acre of 1677 Grace Ave.
Developers are not bound to any specific use, and if the housing development plan falls through, they may pursue a variety of other uses.
RR permitted uses
- Single-family residences
- Soil cultivation and crop production
- Public conservation areas
- Public parks, forest reserves, some other public uses
- Private or public schools or nurseries
- Churches, cemeteries, etc.
- Necessary public utility structures
- Municipal buildings, museums, libraries, etc.
R1 permitted uses
- Single-family residences
- Agricultural use not including animal husbandry or pet kennels
- Public schools or nurseries
- Public parks and playgrounds
- Churches, cemeteries, etc.
- Municipal buildings, museums, libraries, etc.
Some members of the public were present at Monday’s meeting and echoed their comments from the January hearing.
In other news, supervisors:
- Unanimously agreed to award the Halfway Drive Bridge partial superstructure replacement project to DESCO Design and Construction with the low bid of $249,106.20. $250,000 was budgeted for the project.
- Unanimously agreed to advertise ordinances #3-2023, #4-2023, and #5-2023 concerning brake retarder prohibition, chapter 15 truck restriction updates, and chapter 27 zoning, part 2 and part 20 revisions, respectively.
- Agreed to authorize a police regionalization study between North Cornwall and North Lebanon townships. Brensinger opposed, as he was the supervisor for a similar study done in 2005 when ultimately no action was taken.
- Clarified that they only plan to require installation of sidewalks in new developments in response to feedback on ordinance #1-2023, the curb and sidewalk ordinance.
- Unanimously agreed to resolutions #15-2023 and #16-2023, which specify intent to follow the 2008 Municipal Records Manual and authorize record disposal respectively. Resolution #13 of the same purpose had falsely referenced a 1993 records retention manual.
- Unanimously agreed to appoint township resident David Leid to the open position in the planning commission, term expiring December 2024.
- Unanimously authorized the township manager to sign a Greenways, Trails, and Recreation grant application commitment letter and adopted resolution #17-2023 applying for the program.
- Unanimously agreed to authorize the increase of the township’s Lebanon County Conservation District tire collection allocation from $900 to $1,400, as residents have already surpassed the $900 amount.
- Unanimously agreed to approve the North Lebanon Township Storage, phase two, final land development plan, developer’s improvements agreement, $395,600 financial security, and stormwater management BMP operations and maintenance agreement. Phase two of the plan involves two 210- by 30-foot and two 100- by 30-foot self-storage buildings.
- Heard that the Lebanon County Clean Water Alliance is sponsoring the first annual Arbor Day Celebration at South Hills Park April 28 from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Unanimously approved the minor subdivision plan and planning waiver and non-building declaration for the Arnold Estate.
- Unanimously approved a June 3 family fishing event at Lion’s Lake hosted by state Rep. John Schlegel.
- Unanimously approved the use of the Lenni Lenape park for a test 5k for Girls on the Run, with all fees waived.
North Lebanon supervisors meet at the township municipal building the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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