Planning panel approves Lancaster Land Bank subdivision for four new rental units on South Fifth Street

Columbia Borough Planning Commission members voted on Sept. 16 to clear a Lancaster County Land Bank Authority plan to resubdivide three properties at South Fifth Street, Church Street and Avenue K into four new rental units, approving three requested modifications and recommending borough council negotiate any fee in lieu of parkland dedication.

The commission approved a modification to process the application as a preliminary final plan, a modification to the borough’s monuments requirement, and a recommendation that council consider a fee in lieu of dedicating parkland. The commission then granted conditional approval of the preliminary/final subdivision and land development plan, conditioned on satisfying the borough engineer’s review letter; the commission later recorded a voice vote approving the final plan as presented.

The Lancaster County Land Bank Authority presented the application through consultant Steve (Harbor Engineering) and Sean Crump of the Land Bank. The plan covers three adjacent lots where two previous dwellings were demolished after fire damage; the Land Bank proposes creating four lots with two “twin” (duplex-style)…