Developers and opponents of a proposed shopping center along Harrisburg Pike engaged in a bout of water wars Monday during a meeting of the Manheim Township commissioners.

Representatives of High Family Partnership, which wants to develop The Crossings at Conestoga Creek on a former 90-acre farm opposite Long's Park, and William J. Cluck, representing an opposition group called Lancaster for Smart Growth, verbally battled over changes High wants to make to its storm-water runoff plan.

The property is bordered by waterways — Swarr Run to the southeast and Little Conestoga Creek to the west. Much of the area along the Little Conestoga will become a natural wetland storm-water filtration system, seeded with grasses that are designed to filter out oily runoff and salt that wash off large parking areas before the water flows into the Little Conestoga.

The state Department of Environmental Protection "calls this the best wetlands treatment system available," said Gerald McClune, a storm-water engineer representing High.

High wants to reduce the number of storm-water retention basins and flood elevations while enlarging the flood-plain volume and surface areas. High also wants to construct an acre of riparian buffer along the creek for each acre of reduced 100-year flood plain.

McClune said the proposed changes will decrease downstream flooding by better controlling discharge into Little Conestoga.

Commissioner Nancy Keebler asked if High had gotten input from the East Hempfield Township board of supervisors because East Hempfield is next door.

High's attorney, Caroline Hoffer, said East Hempfield is aware of the changes, but that High will not seek its input because the developer feels the changes "will have no adverse effect" on East Hempfield residents.

"You cannot, as a matter of law, approve this special request," he said. "The applicant does not meet the criteria of your flood-plain ordinance. It's that simple."

Instead of trying to meet the ordinance, Cluck said, High has opted to sway the board by giving "the commissioners some goodies" such as riparian buffers and wetlands .

The requested changes, Cluck said, must be made by requesting a variance from the township's zoning hearing board and not by asking the commissioners to issue waivers.

"Instead of meeting the criteria, they fudge the language," Cluck said.

No decision was reached by the commissioners at press time.

High Family Partnership plans to spend $100 million to build a 650,000-square-foot shopping complex that will consisting of 45 commercial lots ranging from 500 square feet to 132,000 square feet in four main buildings.

The project includes a $27.5 million plan to improve traffic flow by reconfiguring the intersection of Harrisburg Pike and Route 30.

The Crossings at Conestoga Creek is expected to generate 459 new daytime car trips and 1,476 new evening trips every day on weekdays and 2,332 new trips on Saturdays.

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com