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East Hempfield Township on Wednesday became the final municipality to approve an ordinance designed to look at growth issues in the greater Lancaster region.
By a 3-2 vote, the supervisors approved the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee implementation ordinance and agreement, creating a land-use advisory board to look at the development of the regional comprehensive plan Growing Together, adopted in 2006. The board delayed its vote on the ordinance almost a month after 10 LIMC members approved the measure.
Supervisor Brett Miller said he spent several weeks looking at the ordinance to make sure it did not create issues with the township's sovereignty, self-determination, control and accountability.
Miller said after he studied the document he was satisfied the land-use advisory board would not usurp any power from the township and there are provisions allowing municipalities to opt out of "Growing Together" if they feel it is not in their best interest to be a participant or amend the agreement.
"This is an agreement between municipalities and how we engage with one another," Miller said. "It is not a land-use ordinance. That is a key point."
Supervisor Heidi Wheaton voted against the ordinance, saying she felt wording in the document could be used in the future to implement high-density development.
"After years go by and something is adopted, there could be one intention and then people get involved down the road and things change, creating a different intention," she said.
"Without having it spelled out, it is subject to interpretation by other people and could have a lot of unintended consequences."
Along with East Hempfield, LIMC members are Lancaster city, the townships of East Lampeter, Lancaster, Manheim, Manor, West Hempfield and West Lampeter and the boroughs of East Petersburg, Millersville and Mountville.John Ahlfeld, executive director of LIMC, attended the meeting to discuss the ordinance.
He said the lack of local control was the biggest discussion point among the committee, but the recommendations of the land-use advisory board are nonbinding.
Kathy Wasong, chairwoman of the Lancaster Township supervisors and an LIMC supporter, said the ordinance puts a mechanism in place to let surrounding municipalities know what is happening to plan for growth and infrastructure needs accordingly.
Wasong said Lancaster Township is bordered by seven municipalities and has a working relationship with some but not all of them.
"It would be really helpful if there was a sounding board so we can see what's coming down the pike," Wasong said.
E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com
