MESA – New Authority Manager
Please welcome Wade Amick, new Authority Manager for MESA. Click here for an article on Wade.
Community
Route 230/Cloverleaf Road Shopping Center Project (Pennmark/E-town Mount Joy Assoc., L.P.)
Elizabethtown Mount Joy Associates, L.P. (Pennmark) is proposing the development of a ~111,350-sf. shopping center including vehicular fueling pumps accessory to a convenience store. The 22.12-acre site is generally located at the northeast corner of the Route 230/Cloverleaf Road intersection.
Next Public Meeting:
Special Exception Hearing – Zoning Hearing Board (July 30, 2024 @ 6:00 p.m.) / Draft Minutes
Hearing closed at the July 30, 2024 ZHB meeting. Decision scheduled to be rendered: September 4th.
Exhibits filed at the July 30, 2024 ZHB meeting:
A-1 – Property Deed
A-2 – Zoning Hearing Application – Cover Letter – Addendum
A-3 – Aerial Photo
A-4 – Site Plan
A-5 – Lighting Plan
A-6 – Landscape Plan
A-7 – Mass Transit Consistency Letter
A-8 – Compliance Details
A-9 – Streetscape Details
A-10 – Architectural Elevation
A-11 – Wawa Elevation
A-12 – Aldi Elevation
A-13 – Letter to Zoning Officer Supplementing Application
A-14 – Settlement Agreement & Stipulated Conditions
A-15 – Traffic Impact Study (rev. March 2023)
A-16 – Todd E. Smeigh P.E., C.V.
A-17 – Gregory E. Creasy P.E., C.V.
A-18 – Sewer Service Agreement
A-19 – Water Service Agreement
A-20 – Lancaster Civil Review Letter
Regional Comprehensive Plan Update
Final version of the Regional Comprehensive Plan (PDF) available for download here.
Public Meeting For the Regional Comprehensive Plan: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the Masonic Conference Center Patton Campus (1244 Bainbridge Road, Elizabethtown). Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
With the help of the Lancaster County Planning Department (LCPD), Mount Joy Township is updating its Comprehensive Plan through a regional planning effort. The 2010 Regional Strategic Plan for Elizabethtown Borough and the Townships of Conoy, Mount Joy, and West Donegal was adopted as our Comprehensive Plan.
The update process was kicked off by rebooting last year’s public opinion survey in early 2023. Redistributing the survey paid off, returning around 360 responses through mid-May as opposed to just 50 received in 2022. You can view the public survey findings summary and survey comments matrix by clicking the links. Notes from the April 12, 2023 Regional Elected Officials Meeting also provide feedback gained from the public at large and elected officials that evening.
LCPD kicked off our region’s process by working with our 2010 Regional Plan and Lancaster County’s Places2040 to create a framework for an implementable comp plan versus an encyclopedic document with an extensive list of tasks to complete. The goal is to identify key strategic issues to explore and develop impactful action items to implement.
2023 Comp Plan Working Documents
- 3-27-23 Plan Working Draft
- March 2023 Issue & Opportunity Maps
- March 2023 Future Land Use & Transportation Map
- 6-29-2023 Plan Appendix
- Appendix Maps (updated)
Mount Joy Township Update Review Committee
A local committee has been created to review the draft plan, provide feedback, and develop strategies to implement the key objectives. The committee meetings are scheduled for 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room on the following dates:
- Tuesday, June 6th
- Wednesday, June 28th
- Monday, July 31st
EAWA – Rain Barrel Sale
The Elizabethtown Area Water Authority is holding their Annual Rain Barrel Sale now through May 2, 2024 for residents in Elizabethtown Borough, Mount Joy Township and West Donegal Township. The cost is $85.00, and MUST be paid at time of order. Details are on their website (www.etown-water.com) under “Special Announcements”. The rain barrel is on display in their lobby.
Penn Waste – Collection Update
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 – Due to inclement weather, all Penn Waste routes will not be operating on February 13. They will be operating on a holiday schedule for the remainder of the week. Tuesday customers’ materials will be collected on Wednesday. Wednesday customers’ materials will be collected on Thursday, and so on through the remainder of the week through Saturday. We apologize for any issues this may cause. Penn Waste, Inc. made this decision for the safety of the public and their crews. Normal operations will resume starting next week.
Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County to Begin Providing 911 EMS Ambulance Service
Publicly funded municipal authority to replace Northwest EMS
After a two-year process of study, public meetings and planning, the Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County (MESA; pronounced māy-sah) on Feb. 4 will begin providing 911 emergency medical ambulances services in Northwest Lancaster County previously provided by Northwest EMS. MESA is a first-of-its-kind regional municipal authority in Pennsylvania formed to address the region’s emergency medical services crisis.
Like so many EMS agencies, Northwest EMS was facing insolvency due to insufficient revenue and rising costs. MESA is a new publicly funded municipal authority formed to replace Northwest EMS and ensure that 911 ambulance service is available to member municipalities on a sustainable basis. MESA’s founding member municipalities are Conoy Township, East Donegal Township, Elizabethtown Borough, Marietta Borough, Mount Joy Township and West Donegal Township.
“Municipalities are responsible for many things including recreation facilities, police services, stormwater management and snow removal to name a few,” said MESA Board Chair Debra Dupler. “In Pennsylvania, municipalities are also required by law to ensure the provision of emergency medical services. In the tradition of Northwest EMS, MESA looks forward to continuing to provide outstanding 911 EMS service and 24/7 readiness to respond to EMS calls in the region.”
Unlike ambulance agencies that generate revenue through voluntary contributions, which leaves them deeply underfunded, MESA will charge property owners and employers in member municipalities a mandatory annual fee to fund its operations and ensure 24/7 readiness to respond to EMS calls. The first annual fee bills to property owners and employers will be arriving by mail in mid-February.
Benefits to residents of MESA member municipalities include: No residual bills for EMS services if the patient’s insurance pays; 50 percent off EMS bills if the patient does not have insurance coverage; and 50 percent off EMS bills if the patient’s payment applies to an insurance deductible.
“Northwest EMS is tremendously grateful for the community’s partnership through the years,” said Scott Kingsboro, authority manager for MESA and formerly executive director of Northwest EMS. “We look forward to serving the community with the same outstanding service for which Northwest EMS is known as we proudly wear a new uniform. And just as it was for Northwest EMS, health and safety education and community outreach events will continue to be an important part of our mission.”
For more information about MESA including frequently asked questions, visit mesalancasterpa.gov.
1/16/2024 – Penn Waste – Working on Holiday Schedule
PENN WASTE IS NOW OPERATING ON A HOLIDAY SCHEDULE!!!
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 – Due to the inclement weather, all Penn Waste operations will be operating on a holiday schedule for the remainder of the week. Tuesday customers will be collected on Wednesday and Wednesday customers will be collected on Thursday, and so on through the Saturday.
We apologize for the inconvenience. The safety of our crews is our priority.
Improvements to Conewago Trail Crossing at Rt. 743 (Hershey Rd.)
Notice: Work planned to be completed at the Conewago Recreation Trail and SR 0743 (Hershey Road) intersection.
In July 2020, PennDOT conducted a public survey in order to gather input from trail users regarding the safety concerns at the SR 0743/Conewago Recreational Trail Crossing.
Approximately 1/3 of trail users responded that when utilizing the trail, they do not continue across SR 0743. More than 75% of these users cited safety concerns as their reason for not continuing through the crossing. Regarding trail access at this location, users indicated that their main concern was a lack of available and safe parking, especially along SR 0743.
A study was then completed by PennDOT in order to identify potential treatment options associated with the SR 0743 / Conewago Recreation Trail crossing. , A study presentation, summary report, and public comment form were posted to the PennDOT District 8-0 project Public Meeting Page following completion of the survey. The documents presented three (3) treatment options, including improved signage, post-mounted flashing beacons, and overhead flashing beacons, to address the concerns identified by survey respondents.
One-hundred and forty-eight (148) responses were received with respect to the treatment options, with the overhead flashing beacon being the preferred improvement. The three (3) treatment options, along with the results of the study and the survey, were then presented to Lancaster County and Mount Joy Township. PennDOT secured funding through their Multimodal Transportation Fund in order to proceed with the design and construction of the preferred alternative: the overhead flashing beacon.
In 2022, PennDOT began work with the project engineering team to finalize construction plans and obtain project-specific clearances and permits. During the course of the design process, additional traffic data was collected and a signal warrant analysis with more recent information was conducted. The warrant analysis concluded that overhead flashing beacons proposed in the original study were no longer sufficient and that the trail crossing of SR 0743 warrants full traffic signals.
As a result of the additional study and design work, the intersection improvements now include new traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings. The traffic signals will be used to stop oncoming traffic after the signal has been triggered by approaching trail users so that they may cross safely. Trail users will activate the signal via automatic detection sensors or by manually pressing push button activators. Advanced warning signs will be installed along the SR 0743 approaches to alert motorists to the trail crossing. In addition to the signal installation, the trail will be reconstructed and paved with asphalt on both sides of SR 0743 to provide level areas near the roadway.
Work is scheduled to begin in Late Summer 2023 and will be conducted during nighttime hours. The trail will be open for use during regular daytime hours.
The conceptual plans can be viewed at this link.
Feedback on the proposed design can be submitted here: SR743Crossing@RVE.com
Panattoni Warehouse #1 – Zoning Hearing File
ZHB Written Decision (7/13/2023)
Case #230001 Scheduling Letter for 1/17/2023 Hearing – Proof of Publication
Case #230001 Scheduling Letter for 2/15/2023 Hearing – Proof of Publication
Case #230001 Scheduling Letter for 3/9/2023 Hearing – Proof of Publication
Case #230001 Scheduling Letting for 7/13/2023 Meeting – Proof of Publication
Traffic Report / Landscaping & Lighting / Building Rendering / Building Elevations
Applicant’s Exhibits Submitted at 1/17/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-1 Submitted at 2/15/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-2 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-3 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-4 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-5 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-6 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Myers-7 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Bucher-1 Submitted at 2/15/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Sollenberger-1 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Bucher-2 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Thompson-1 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Thompson-2 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Thompson-3 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Thompson-4 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Stevens-1 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Stevens-2 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Stevens-3 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Stevens-4 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Stevens-5 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing
Exhibit Haines-1 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing
Exhibit A-14 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing
Exhibit A-15 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing
Exhibit A-16 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing
Approved Minutes of the 1/17/2023 Hearing
Approved Minutes of the 2/15/2023 Hearing
Approved Minutes of the 3/9/2023 Hearing
Approved Minutes of the 4/18/2023 Hearing
DRAFT Minutes of the 4/27/2023 Hearing
Party Filings After Closure of the Hearing:
Applicant – Findings of Fact
MJT – Findings of Fact / Memorandum of Law
Myers – Findings of Fact
The Mount Joy Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a special public meeting on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 6:00 P.M., prevailing time, at The Young Center For Anabaptist Studies on the Elizabethtown College campus, One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 (GPS Address of the Young Center: 400 Campus Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022), to render a decision on the following application, which follows the close of all testimony and public comment at the Thursday, April 27, 2023 hearing. The public is cordially invited to attend the meeting. No further testimony, argument, or public comment shall take place at this special meeting. Persons with disabilities who require any auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to observe should contact the Township Office at least five days before the above date to discuss how your needs may be best accommodated.
ZHB Case #230001 – Applicant: PDC Northeast LPIV, LLC, 2442 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA 92612 – Landowner: Franklin B. Greiner, Jr., 1650 Steel Way, Mount Joy, PA 17552 – Property Information: Tax Parcel ID #461-89922-0-0000, located at 2843 Mount Pleasant Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552 and within the LI, Light Industrial District – Applicant is seeking approval of the following section of Chapter 135 of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Mount Joy, i.e. the Mount Joy Township Zoning Ordinance of 2012, as amended: special exceptions pursuant to Article XVII, §135-163.B & §135-163.C to permit an industrial use on the subject property. The applicant desires to construct a 1,006,880-sf. warehouse and associated improvements.
