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Dauphin County Planning Commission approves 13 subdivision and land‑development reviews, ratifies staff comments
Summary
The commission accepted staff reviews and approved 13 municipal plan referrals, including a preliminary review of a large Smith warehouse project and a Charter Academy campus redevelopment at 20 Fifth Street in Harrisburg; staff will transmit the county’s official comments to municipalities.
The Dauphin County Planning Commission voted to accept staff comments and approve 13 subdivision and land‑development referrals at its meeting.
Commissioner Gary Lanker moved to accept all 13 plans with staff comments; Joe Robinson seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. The commission’s action ratifies staff reviews prepared under the county’s local planning assistance program and constitutes the county’s official comment to the affected municipalities.
Key items discussed: staff highlighted a Millersburg Borough request relating to a school campus accessory use (scoreboard and stands) that staff determined did not constitute a land development and would be handled by staff action rather than a commission‑level land‑development decision. The commission also discussed a preliminary plan for a large Smith plan development comprising more than one million square feet of warehousing; staff noted the project had been the subject of a “long, formal contentious lawsuit” at the township level and that truck‑traffic and access studies would be relevant as the plan moves forward.
Charter Academy (20 Fifth Street, City of Harrisburg): staff described a plan to redevelop the school campus with new construction on the left side of the site while retaining existing gym and auditorium space. Commissioners asked about parking and pedestrian connectivity; staff noted the applicant had previously sought variances and that any voluntary parking agreements with neighboring properties would not be preserved automatically if the zoning district is changed.
Other actions: the commission took a separate, single‑item action to accept a Williamstown Borough lot consolidation (described as a “reverse subdivision”) and approved an update to tree/rights‑of‑way procedures for a Hummelstown (Huddlestown) borough matter. The meeting packet showed $5,346 in subdivision fees received for the period under review.
What the commission’s approval means: approvals at tonight’s meeting formally transmit county staff comments to the municipalities; municipalities retain final approval authority under the Municipalities Planning Code. In most cases the commission’s vote ratified staff recommendations rather than substituting new county policy.
Ending: Staff will send the standard review letters and any commission‑level supplemental letters for items where commissioners asked for additional comments.
