York County planning commission adopts text amendments tightening recreation and cluster-subdivision standards

The York County Planning Commission on July 9 adopted a zoning text amendment (PC 2520) that raises minimum recreational area in planned residential developments, clarifies what counts as open space, and adjusts design standards for cluster (open-space) subdivisions.

Staff said the revision increases required recreational area in Planned Development Residential (PDR) projects from 10% to 15% of the land area while leaving the open-space requirement at 25%. The staff presentation noted that environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, steep slopes or utility easements may be counted as open space but cannot be counted toward required recreational area because they are not usable for recreation. "25% of the land area in a PDR needs to be reserved as open space," staff said during the presentation.

The amendment also replaces a rigid list of mandatory recreational facilities — historically an Olympic-size pool, a tennis court and a play field — with broader required categories of active and passive recreation. Staff told commissioners these changes are intended to allow amenities…