County staff raises traffic and environmental concerns about large Lower Paxton sketch plan

Dauphin County planning staff alerted the commission on Sept. 8 to a large residential sketch plan submitted to Lower Paxton Township that staff said could amount to roughly 750 units in phase one and potentially approach 1,200 units overall once later phases are included.

Andrew and Jerry, both county planning staff members, described the submission as a neighborhood-design master plan rather than a formal subdivision application and said the county had received the materials only recently. Staff said the sketch clusters development on buildable areas but also showed extensive environmentally sensitive areas — including wetlands — across the property.

“We have an increased level of concern with this development,” the county’s planning report said, according to staff. The commission heard that a traffic-impact study is underway but in early stages; county staff emphasized prior county studies recommending limited new development along the State Route 39 corridor because roundabouts and existing intersections are already projected to approach capacity.

Staff said the site’s proximity to Langlestown Village and a nearby roundabout raised particular worry that growth could accelerate congestion and cause the roundabout to be replaced by a signalized intersection, changing neighborhood character and travel patterns.

Why it matters: If the project proceeds at the scale shown in the sketch plan, it would add significant housing supply but also drive traffic and infrastructure demands in a corridor county staff previously identified as sensitive. Staff said they will continue to review the traffic study and related materials and will keep the commission informed.

Ending: Staff offered to re-send the sketch materials to commissioners and said they will monitor the traffic analysis as it develops and report back during the formal review process.