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Columbia council authorizes MOU allowing Lancaster County planners to review routine submissions

Columbia Borough Council · November 14, 2025

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Summary

Council authorized staff to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Lancaster County Planning Department to permit county planners to review and comment on routine municipal planning submissions without referral to a full planning commission, intended to shorten review timelines.

Columbia Borough Council voted Nov. 13 to authorize staff to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Lancaster County Planning Department that allows county planning staff to review and comment on certain routine planning submissions without referring those matters to the full municipal planning commission.

Council members said signing the MOU would speed review timelines for applications that do not require full planning commission review; if the borough does not sign, items that would otherwise be handled by county staff may instead require a referral to the full commission and a longer review. Councilperson Kaufman made the motion; Councilperson Murphy seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

Council did not adopt additional limits on the scope of delegable reviews at the meeting; members noted that the MOU circulated to all Lancaster County municipalities and that signing would align Columbia with neighboring jurisdictions.