Council approves incentives and development agreements for three projects; consent items pass unanimously

Lancaster County Council on a series of unanimous votes this meeting approved three economic-development measures — two ordinances and one inducement resolution — that authorize special source revenue credits and a fee-in-lieu structure for incoming companies, and it approved routine consent-agenda items and several board reappointments.

The actions are significant to the county’s economic development strategy because they lock in incentive frameworks for firms that pledged multi-million-dollar investments and new jobs. Council members said the agreements are designed to leverage property tax streams and state grant support to expand the county’s tax base.

On third reading, council approved Ordinance 2025-1951 to authorize a special source revenue credit agreement for Project Block (identified in the meeting as Oldcastle APG South Inc., doing business as Adams Products). The company intends to buy and operate an existing 30,000-square-foot building on a 20-acre site in a multi-county park, invest about $21 million and employ roughly 30 people within five years. The county committed SSRC incentives equal to 25% for five years, which staff estimated at about $319,000 in foregone revenue over that period; staff projected nearly $3 million in property tax receipts over 20 years. The motion to approve was made by Councilmember Jose Luis and seconded by Councilmember McGriff; the vote was unanimous.

Council then approved on third reading a first amendment to the development agreement with Crossland Southeast for The Exchange, a mixed-use project across about 130 acres at 8918 Charlotte Highway in Indian Land. The motion to approve came from McGriff and was seconded by Luis; the vote was unanimous.

Council also adopted Resolution 1293-R-2025, an inducement resolution committing the county to a fee-in-lieu (FELO) framework and SSRCs for Project Janus. According to staff, the company — described as an indirect subsidiary of a large European firm — plans a first-phase investment of about $51 million and 63 jobs in the first five‑year window, with a contractual minimum investment of $41 million and a minimum of 125 employees referenced in related documents. The proposed incentive package includes SSRCs of 50% for the first 10 years and 25% for the following five years, and a 20‑year FELO term with a fixed millage and an assessment ratio in the proposed agreement. The motion to approve the resolution was made by Harper and seconded by Neal; the vote was unanimous.

At first reading council approved Ordinance 2025-1964 to authorize the eventual fee-in-lieu agreement for Project Janus; the vote on first reading was unanimous.

Separately, the council approved the consent agenda (items 7A–7D) unanimously, and it approved reappointments and new appointments to bodies including Keep Lancaster County Beautiful and the Recreation Advisory Board. Public comment earlier in the meeting included appeals on road maintenance and enforcement of truck restrictions on particular county roads.

Council characterized the development agreements as investments that will produce property-tax revenue over time even while providing temporary tax credits; staff said the economic development department supports the projects and that state-level assistance and grant programming have been part of the negotiations. No motions to rescind or amend the agreements were made during discussion.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-1951 (Project Block / Oldcastle APG South Inc.): Motion by Jose Luis; second by McGriff; outcome: approved (unanimous). Key terms: ~$21M planned investment; ~30 jobs; 25% SSRC for five years; estimated $319,000 in SSRCs over five years; county projects ~ $3M net property tax over 20 years (staff estimate). - Ordinance 2025-1961 (Crossland Southeast — The Exchange amendment): Motion by McGriff; second by Luis; outcome: approved (unanimous). Location: ~130 acres at 8918 Charlotte Highway; amendment details pertain to development regulations for a mixed-use project (text in ordinance). - Resolution 1293-R-2025 (Project Janus inducement): Motion by Harper; second by Neal; outcome: approved (unanimous). Key terms cited by staff: first-phase $51M investment, 63 jobs (5-year window); contractual minimums described of $41M and 125 employees in associated agreements; SSRC: 50% for first 10 years, 25% next 5 years; 20-year FELO term; assessment ratio 6% and fixed millage (per staff presentation). - Ordinance 2025-1964 (first reading; FELO for Project Janus): Motion by Lubice; second by Mosteller; outcome: approved on first reading (unanimous). - Consent agenda (7A–7D): motion to approve by council; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Board appointments: Keep Lancaster County Beautiful reappointments (Anne Ferguson, Greg Gregory) and appointment of Claire McConaughey to an unexpired term; Recreation Advisory Board reappointments (Michael Fulkerson, Brent Stogner): motions carried (unanimous).

Council and staff framed these approvals as consistent with prior county practice of using targeted incentives to recruit manufacturing and distribution activity, and staff emphasized that incentive structures include clawback/termination provisions if investment or job commitments are not met. The economic development department recommended affirmative votes for the items it presented.

The council moved on after the votes to other agenda items including a detailed update on airport terminal construction, a discussion and direction on a local road project (Ryze Lane), a transportation-sales-tax referendum process and a comprehensive-plan implementation update.