Planning commission approves paving and sidewalk waivers for York School District agricultural arena

The York County Planning Commission on May 12 approved two land‑development waivers allowing a proposed York School District agricultural arena near Hickory Grove Road to use gravel and grass for most parking areas and to omit a sidewalk and pedestrian connection to Hickory Grove‑Sharon Elementary.

Staff planner Jeff Kershner presented the request for the York County District Agricultural Arena (project W2503) and said the proposal triggers two waivers from the land development code: Section 154.027 (general parking design standards) and Section 154.121(b) (sidewalk standards). The district anticipates a 1,500‑seat arena that requires 375 parking spaces under the code; Kershner said the plans show roughly 388 spaces of which about 80 will be paved plus a paved apron and paved Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)‑compliant spaces near the arena entrance. The remainder is proposed as gravel and grass overflow parking, used for larger events anticipated fewer than eight times a year.

Kershner said…