Planning commission splits sign rules, denies major Stock Lane mixed‑use plan and acts on multiple subdivisions

Lancaster County Planning Commission members on Aug. 19 took several policy and land‑use votes affecting new commercial signage rules and multiple development proposals across the county.

The commission split a sign‑code text amendment requested by two applicants that would change maximum wall signage allowances for large‑scale hospital facilities and large grocery stores. Commissioners voted to treat the hospital and grocery portions separately. The commission recommended the hospital signage language as presented and approved a smaller laundry of grocery signage after discussion and an amendment to limit total wall signage for a large grocery to 200 square feet (as amended). County staff said lighting rules in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) remain unchanged; applicants said they will comply with dark‑sky and other existing standards.

The panel unanimously denied MXU 20231492, a mixed‑use master plan (the “Stock Lane/RMX” project) brought by SRAM1 LLC and others. Commissioners cited recurring public comments about traffic congestion on Highway 160 and surrounding roads, school capacity, emergency response capacity and outstanding Technical Review Committee (TRC) comments. Staff had recommended denial because the TRC had issued a “not approved” letter and unresolved engineering and access easement questions remained. The denial was unanimous.

The commission also acted on several subdivision and zoning items: it denied the preliminary plat for Riverside Manor (a single‑family subdivision on Riverside Road) following public concern about roads, schools and emergency services and a majority commission vote to deny; it approved…