Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget Development Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lancaster County Council approves library, road and development funding, amends Redwood agreement and removes library trustee
Summary
Lancaster County Council voted on a series of budget and land‑use items during its meeting, approving a budget amendment to account for additional state library aid and capital‑sales‑tax funds for two road projects, adopting several zoning and ordinance changes, confirming appointments to a newly created code board and removing a member from the county library board.
Lancaster County Council voted on a series of budget and land‑use items during its meeting, approving a budget amendment to account for additional state library aid and capital‑sales‑tax funds for two road projects, adopting several zoning and ordinance changes, confirming appointments to a newly created International Code Board of Appeals and removing a member from the Lancaster County Library Board.
The council unanimously approved the second reading of an amendment to the county budget to recognize state library aid and to appropriate capital sales tax funds for two road projects. County staff told council the county’s per‑capita state library allocation for this year is $264,689.10, which exceeded the budgeted estimate of $247,806; the amendment appropriated the roughly $16,883 difference to support personnel costs for two existing library positions. Staff also said the county had just over $1,800,000 in available capital‑sales‑tax funds and moved that sum toward two approved road projects, Cleveland Street and Ryze Lane.
The council took a separate vote on an amendment to a development agreement affecting a Redwood Indian Land/Barberville property, approving the change 4–3. Planning staff described the request as multiple amendments: aligning allowed uses with professional zoning, replacing the conceptual site plan to reflect changed dwelling types (from triplexes/quadruplexes to primarily duplexes and single‑family homes with some amenity centers), updating the development schedule and adding a requested five‑year extension to the agreement. The amendment package also corrected ordinance references staff identified as clerical errors. Council member Miss McGriff moved the amendment; Mr. Neil seconded it. After discussion, the council approved the amendment 4–3.
On a separate zoning and ordinance action, the council approved amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to define “large scale grocery store” and “regional hospital facility” and to provide additional wall signage allowances; that item passed unanimously. The council also approved on first reading a rezoning to reclassify roughly 0.5 acres adjacent to 454 Fox Lane from low‑density residential to medium‑density residential; planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval and the motion passed 7–0.
Council confirmed initial appointments to the new International Code Board of Appeals. Staff explained the board will have five members and two alternates with specific technical qualifications; initial terms were staggered per the ordinance. The appointments passed unanimously.
Council reported it met in executive session on two privileged matters: receipt of legal advice concerning the Lancaster County Library Board and a personnel matter related to the county administrator’s evaluation. After returning to open session, the council voted to remove Britney Gungorner Smith from the Lancaster County Library Board of Trustees effective immediately; the motion to remove was made by Miss McGriff, seconded by Mr. Mosteller, and passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2025‑1983 (second reading): budget amendment — APPROVED, vote 7–0; motion by Mr. Harper, second by Mr. McGriff. - Ordinance 2025‑1984 (second reading): amendment to development agreement with Redwood Indian Land/Barberville (includes site plan replacement and five‑year extension) — APPROVED, vote 4–3; motion by Miss McGriff, second by Mr. Neil. - Ordinance 2025‑1985 (second reading): UDO definitions/signage for large grocery and regional hospital — APPROVED, vote 7–0; motion by Mr. Luis, second by Mr. Mosteller. - Ordinance 2025‑1986 (first reading/public hearing): rezoning of ~0.5 acres adjacent to 454 Fox Lane from LDR to MDR — APPROVED (first reading/public hearing), vote 7–0; motion by Miss McGriff, second by Mr. Mosteller. - Appointments to International Code Board of Appeals — APPROVED, unanimous. - Removal of Britney Gungorner Smith from Lancaster County Library Board of Trustees — APPROVED, unanimous; motion effective immediately.
Council members and staff who spoke on or moved items included Miss Harris (budget presentation), Miss Williams (planning presentation on the Redwood amendment), Miss Hardy (planning presentation on signage/UDO amendments), Miss Simpson (clerk/staff reading public comments and appointments), and Miss Burke DuPont (staff reporting on executive session). Several council members recorded motions or seconds, including Mr. Harper, Miss McGriff, Mr. McGriff, Mr. Neil, Mr. Luis and Mr. Mosteller.
Council chair and staff indicated planning staff will continue monitoring ongoing development issues that were raised during public comment and that project amendments will proceed under the terms the council approved.
