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Planning commission rejects Old Hickory comprehensive-plan amendment over services and growth concerns
Summary
The commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of a comprehensive plan amendment that would redesignate about 60 acres along Old Hickory Road from rural to growth area. Commissioners and residents cited strained schools, volunteer fire capacity and rapid development in the Panhandle.
Lancaster County Planning Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to recommend denial of a comprehensive plan amendment that would change roughly 60 acres along Old Hickory Road from “rural” to “growth area.” The commission’s recommendation will go to Lancaster County Council.
Staff described the request as tied to recent infrastructure changes: water and sewer capacity that now reaches parts of the Roseland development, prompting the applicant’s request to reclassify the site so a rezoning could follow. Staff said the request had no formal recommendation because the change conflicted with the comprehensive plan’s rural designation but could be argued for because water and sewer availability had changed since adoption of the plan.
The applicant, Dean Aldridge of G3 Engineering, told commissioners the Roseland work and recent force-main upgrades have made sewer service available to portions of Old Hickory Road and that the proposed subdivision concept includes a pump station that would tie into a Roslyn force main upgraded by the Lancaster County Water and Sewer District.
Residents and civic speakers urged rejection. Barbara Scannell presented a spreadsheet — drawn from county subdivision summaries and school-district information — that estimated roughly 5,200 unbuilt residential units already approved south of Highway 5; she said local schools were at or over capacity and urged denial. Kevin Gribben, summarizing county emergency-services statistics, said volunteer fire and EMS capacity was already strained and that adding new residential development would increase demand beyond current resources.
Commissioners noted competing priorities. Several, including Joakim Cureton and Judiana Tinklenberg, urged caution about overriding the comprehensive plan so soon after its April 2024 adoption. Commissioner Francis Lou said that although new infrastructure can alter the plan’s assumptions, growth should be paired with commitments to public safety, schools and other services.
A motion to approve the amendment was made and seconded; following discussion the commission took a roll-call vote and voted to deny the amendment. The chair declared that the commission’s recommendation to not approve will be forwarded to county council for final consideration.
