[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6469068,"mediaKeyId","5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be","parentId",5781278,"title","Commission recommends zoning/text amendment to allow larger, interior-access self storage with conditions","audioSeconds",1518,"startMs",6372000,"endMs",7890000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be&start=6372&end=7890","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be/thumbnail_6372000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6469068/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Commission-recommends-zoningtext-amendment-to-allow-larger-interior-access-self-storage-with-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469068-c0c975c5fd950a0bb5fe051de7ec15e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770731000&Signature=hcV5eZtOrjI2hVq8~6MYpSs5qGs31DVxpJGagAzcl0495Pwbv3Bq7HE4ZxqFPhlDAO3rRo5GGZ2Ck24mIp9Idx9NoKJtdKLyVyP8e3kcK0gqsVMXn~wwwQ9EtLS4BJtKQcU~eX5P8WeoQIwtqcgSMlf4xpLNQbY8DB-eNqyLpCZ4TdAR72cMb4mTg4EP3Y~Vf5w5Ktsg-yiONBuyBINtQ-itcJSIQMbmL25DSeIWy5W4KESC-vH5~n2sz4TzuhzHIP~pqniMxBg1i24wqqwvIex2U4Es-F98V88al10yuaPdch5rt64D~BdVceJBmbbuda7kaUiTkpkfbTKDUcPHOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lancaster, PA","date","2025-09-18T02:21:14.18Z","article","The Lancaster City Planning Commission voted to recommend to City Council a zoning map and text amendment to allow larger, multi-story, primarily interior-access self-storage facilities in portions of the city\u0000industrial/commercial (Centimeters) zoning district, with new conditions intended to limit where the use can be implemented.

The amendment was brought by a development team for a planned three-story, roughly 120,000-square-foot, climate-controlled self-storage facility on a parcel with constrained street access at Dillardville Road (unit B of a planned community). The applicant and design/build partner presented prototype facades and said modern demand favors taller, interior-access buildings rather than single-story, drive-up units.

City staff and planning commissioners said existing zoning did not anticipate this building type (the code previously capped storage buildings at 20,000 square feet) and that an amendment was reasonable only if accompanied by site and design safeguards. Staff and the applicant collaborated on draft standards that require three-story climate-controlled buildings, interior access for the majority of units, separation/screening of garage doors from public streets and minimum parcel sizes for the new form.

Commissioners expressed concern about opening the door to storage across the city and asked for tighter limits. After initial debate and a failed motion to forward the amendment as drafted, the commission approved a motion to recommend the amendment to Council with two clarifications the commission requested: (1) reduce the eligible parcel size band to 3 to 5 acres (down from a staff-proposed 3 to 7 acres) so fewer parcels would qualify; and (2) add language limiting eligibility where the parcel already has direct prime frontage/access to a main public street (i.e., to favor parcels with constrained or limited direct frontage and avoid loss of active frontage in commercial corridors).

City staff told the commission they had reviewed parcel data and estimated the revised thresholds would reduce the number of potentially eligible parcels to a relatively small set (staff had counted roughly two dozen parcels under earlier thresholds, with only a handful of vacant properties). The commission\u0000recommendation is advisory; City Council will have the final vote on the ordinance and any accompanying map change.

Applicant representatives and a storage-operator witness described strong city demand for storage within a short walk/drive time and said modern interior-access facilities can be designed with strong architectural treatments and security measures. Opponents at the meeting urged caution, arguing self-storage can depress street-level activity and property values if allowed in pedestrian-oriented commercial areas.

Next steps: the amendment with the commission\u0000requested edits will go to City Council for public hearing and final action; staff said they would update parcel impact analysis and circulate the revised text to the commission prior to the Council hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Meeting - September 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lancaster City Planning Commission voted to recommend a zoning and zoning-map amendment to allow larger, multi-story interior-access self-storage in parts of the Centimeters (C-3) district, subject to tightened eligibility: a 3\u0000to\u00005-acre parcel band and limits tied to direct street access.","taxTitle","Lancaster City, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania","taxId",3754,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6469073,"Planning commission approves Jones Motorsports expansion with green roof and stormwater measures",676,4230000,4906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be&start=4230&end=4906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be/thumbnail_4230000.jpg","/articles/6469073/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-approves-Jones-Motorsports-expansion-with-green-roof-and-stormwater-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469073-2b6e07eafa862599320c884b8b635a33/orig.mp4?Expires=1770731000&Signature=kC55Z8GHB4shn52OEheKlUdCRjh8qobe8fFsXbzrOtPMb0qMUVI~W7Q7EAgtUFTQA6VJbBE0sUnciZoY2Hc3iliXIRM1Q8USVxjjj-opMJ47Ct8FE78MCwIxPiBDIojnhocLRPy1UuLPlUbPNQO3sdamQMNhbFtGQg0uE~J4ivJtjmq-x4GQ8E1ONefA8v3HxpEIELfWa3RKeJXr6hVy0CJyzw9MbYLy4HrLkj2pA350jIGJuGKIxinBk-zKsB4FKl62xOsujl41hkMjUSG-lC-sgIPKuQ6SmfvAZLrqJ7KPB8~J-hgPBimlUGjRWAiaL0V5h~fCoXjSiCKmDnmCXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lancaster City Planning Commission granted conditional preliminary/final approval for a renovation and expansion at Jones Motorsports (1335 Manheim Pike), including a two-story front addition, a 4,000-square-foot green roof and stormwater improvements.

Project team representative Cheryl Love of the LA Group said the proposal adds approximately 7,025 square feet to the front of an existing roughly 5,000-square-foot building, places green-roof coverage on the new roof area, provides underground stormwater storage and meadow/native landscaping in the rear floodplain-area meadow, and restripes and improves sidewalks and parking.

The Shade Tree Commission previously supported a modification request to minimize street-tree placement where driveways and utility conflicts constrain planting, and the planning commission approved that modification at the meeting. City staff and CS Davidson listed a small set of administrative and security-agreement items; the commission approved the plan conditioned on resolving those items and posting required financial guarantees.

The applicant will grant an easement for green-roof maintenance and provide a developer agreement and security as required by city stormwater and land-development rules before final recording.","The commission approved preliminary/final conditional land development for Jones Motorsports, permitting a two-story front addition (about 7,025 sq ft), a 4,000-square-foot green roof and associated stormwater and landscaping work; the Shade Tree Commission and CS Davidson conditions will be satisfied before recordation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6469075,"Commission grants conditional approval for subdivision at 523 Woodward Avenue",439,3600000,4039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be&start=3600&end=4039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6469075/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Commission-grants-conditional-approval-for-subdivision-at-523-Woodward-Avenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469075-69bef53a14622ee6dd4bd7276989e675/orig.mp4?Expires=1770731000&Signature=chQ-tgT-8uEZOtbEXOUe8chr-d~k8McBejgrn3PoOZ4BRnX8OM1lvy8x1-1BcvPHw7YvSYsduUx-7wjBjTJR1gppaYJnRNbZEy71uT6Btxa~Fs5dQxmp0QrMiV~EQndEc4JprETijgal7YdKHvCkeqmh14G-I4YV3487QRoiMm~MRH~tSswAvj3vjaC2-2hOs5BxUhJgjo5-AweiggdtxCmUzBsUaxgm-HxRoZcdPxACfWKkdWisVaAgiVJTp5D4fvW2Qj3knf2Z4MVQjbVAn1GEWDhoZy5EPjQUqkxMglBpS-6lgdJc-mJQ4KhpmE6ycTt~Yeq0MhcEGPUq1m2o7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lancaster City Planning Commission conditionally approved a preliminary/final land-development plan for 523 Woodward Avenue, a subdivision that will divide an existing parcel into three fee-simple lots and add two new residential units attached to an existing end unit.

Town Square Engineering\u0000representative Kyle Postelwaite told the commission the project converts a 0.142-acre lot into three units, adds paved parking spaces accessed from White Owl Alley and installs three new street trees on Woodward Street. The proposal includes on-lot stormwater infiltration trenches and sidewalks on the frontage.

The project previously secured a zoning variance in March 2024 allowing reduced front and lot widths for the end unit and the city and state have accepted the required sewage planning documentation. The commission also approved a requested modification from the Shade Tree Commission related to street-tree spacing and placement.

Commissioners conditioned the plan\u0000approval on outstanding technical and administrative items in the CS Davidson review letter; the applicant must satisfy those items and post any required financial security and agreements before recording.

The commission recorded the approval with standard conditions addressing the plan-review comments and the requirement that final documents be recorded before construction proceeds.","The planning commission granted preliminary/final conditional approval for a three-lot subdivision and two new units at 523 Woodward Ave, subject to CS Davidson technical comments and required agreements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6469076,"Lancaster planning panel rejects Sycamore Ridge tentative plan, cites missing technical details",4807,650000,5457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be&start=650&end=5457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781278-77fe0b1725d0b8d28571d8618bcb49be/thumbnail_650000.jpg","/articles/6469076/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Lancaster-planning-panel-rejects-Sycamore-Ridge-tentative-plan-cites-missing-technical-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469076-70d0a5d9bfcfab276d016a8a15c13004/orig.mp4?Expires=1770731000&Signature=AQcpgUdGPWNlURBmF43fCEo34Ei-Tam5t8g9pPKcqMLv0G2nHyrp4D426pEETFCd06osikF~JRl1iQXskuggRYZmyMU0gCbGoh1lC5k3bNUKW-al0cV8D9JhFRJvw2~EKhnth4gFoIbURBW5zW1Qs9wdo~ZGqdMPBK7W9grhQcWGHDCfgEJuAtw9Qynscak9aule2UoZaz4~T9AE~frQHcWcVRJQGaid87m4TEw78xq4ALFopCgUeFtKH520Q8Cb-QdDq1742Hc-Aeu-OZqJ0I2BeSYZKN-cfLuotam0-omCRKZgZ2GIEVDyXx5nxDP2MqfDbgf17TpJQ1sKmZnjgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lancaster City Planning Commission on a vote rejected without prejudice the Sycamore Ridge tentative-plan submission, a proposed 79-unit flexible residential development on the Sunnyside peninsula.

The applicant, developer Joe Magavero of MPLR Holdings, had sought conditional approval to move the project forward but city staff and several commissioners said the filing lacked information necessary for a decision. The commission\u0000\u0000hearing was conducted as a formal zoning-style public hearing with witnesses sworn to give testimony.

City planning bureau chief Betsy Logan told the commission staff had reviewed the package and found the submission incomplete in multiple technical areas. Logan cited missing profiles for roads, water, storm and sewer; unspecified sanitary sewer and water service letters; absence of a completed sewage planning module; incomplete stormwater modeling; requested waivers the city opposes because of steep slopes; and missing homeowners association documents for the proposed mixed-use components, including a self-storage element.

The filing also included three small parcels the developer described as city-owned and potentially part of a land-swap; Logan said the city had informed the applicant in February that it was not pursuing a swap and the properties should not have remained in the application. Magavero said including those parcels was a mistake and that the team would redraw the plan if a swap proved unavailable.

A major technical limit raised repeatedly was sanitary sewer capacity. Planning staff read a city letter saying the system had sufficient capacity for roughly 27,500 gallons per day but not for the larger flow the applicant had requested; the city wrote that any further capacity would require pump-station upgrades at the developer\u0000\u0000expense and state approvals. The city asked the developer for a parcel-level accounting of existing and proposed units and the bedroom-based EDU calculations used to compute demand.

Environmental review also drew close scrutiny. The applicants acknowledged past junkyard uses on parts of the site and said a Phase I assessment is complete, a Phase II remediation is planned and contaminated soil would be removed. Douglas Smith, a certified urban planner and consultant on the project, said the testing showed contamination limited to a small area and that remediation is planned; the applicants agreed to provide city staff the Phase I/II reports and remediation plans.

Neighbors and community groups gave mixed testimony. Sunnyside Mennonite Church officials said the plan as presented would eliminate roughly half of the church\u0000parking on adjacent property and sharply reduce the congregation\u0000legal occupancy tied to existing spaces; the church asked the commission to ensure its current parking supply and occupancy rights were preserved. Several long-time Sunnyside residents raised concerns about traffic on South Duke Street, fire-flow and hydrant capacity, tree loss and the scale and price of housing proposed. Others urged the commission to allow the project to proceed and praised the developer\u0000for attempting long-delayed revitalization of a challenging site.

Magavero and project team members described the concept as a compact, eco-district-inspired pocket-neighborhood of small, energy-efficient homes (floor plans the team said would range roughly 1,200 to 1,800 square feet), many duplexed, and including clubhouse and recreational infrastructure. They said the project would include geothermal systems for heating and cooling, cluster parking, trails and a small amount of self-storage to serve residents and outdoor recreation users.

After more than three hours of testimony and questions, the commission voted to reject the application without prejudice on the grounds listed in the city\u0000staff report; commissioners and the solicitor clarified that a rejection for incompleteness does not adjudicate the merits and that the developer may refile once the missing analyses and documents are provided.

The commission\u0000hearing officer, Attorney Albert, closed the public hearing and returned the matter to the chair to continue regular business. The developer said the project team intends to continue working with city staff and may return with a revised, fully documented application.

What\u0000happens next: the developer may refile an amended application addressing the city\u0000comments, including the sewage planning module, stormwater modeling meeting city criteria (including correct storm events), profiles and cross sections for roads and utilities, HOA/setup documents, architectural elevations for the proposed self-storage buildings and clarified property ownership for parcels shown in the plan.","The Lancaster City Planning Commission rejected without prejudice a developer\u0000proposal for the Sycamore Ridge flexible residential development in Sunnyside, citing incomplete submissions on sewer capacity, stormwater, site profiles and other technical materials; the developer may refile once outstanding information is provided.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission recommends zoning/text amendment to allow larger, interior-access self storage with conditions

Planning commission approves Jones Motorsports expansion with green roof and stormwater measures

Commission grants conditional approval for subdivision at 523 Woodward Avenue

Lancaster planning panel rejects Sycamore Ridge tentative plan, cites missing technical details