Planning commission backs American Battlefield Trust park and trail at Crawford Road with conditions on lighting and surfaces

The York County Planning Commission recommended approval of a special‑use permit allowing the American Battlefield Trust to establish a small park and pedestrian loop trail on two parcels at 393 and 401 Crawford Road, forwarding Resolution PC25‑10 to the Board of Supervisors with conditions addressing trail construction, parking surfacing, and lighting.

Staff summary and recommended conditions

Staff described the request as a park and pedestrian loop on two parcels — approximately 0.4 acre at 393 Crawford Road and roughly 3.6 acres at 401 Crawford Road — both zoned RC (resource conservation). Because the trail would cross both parcels, staff proposed a condition requiring vacation of the interior property line between the two parcels.

The applicants proposed a stone‑dust surface for the first 150 feet from the parking area and a mulch surface for the remainder. Staff recommended that the entire trail be constructed with a compacted aggregate (three inches of aggregate with two inches of stone dust as a wearing course) and metal edging to improve durability and accessibility. Staff also recommended the nine‑space parking area (one accessible space) be constructed of a dustless surface rather than gravel to assist wheelchair access and patrol visibility.

On lighting and security, the American Battlefield Trust initially proposed no lighting and three ungated parking entrances; the county sheriff’s office asked staff to require the parking lot to be lit at night for…