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Residents raise traffic, school demolition and water-hookup concerns during township meeting
Summary
Residents told the board that construction at East Market and Mount Zion roads has created unsafe lane restrictions, that plans to demolish East York Elementary worry neighbors, and that mandatory hookups to a York Water main on Druck Valley Road could impose large costs on homeowners; the board said it will follow up with PennDOT and York Water.
Several township residents used the public-comment portion of the Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors meeting to press officials on three separate local concerns.
Warren Weaver, who gave his address for the record, described repeated traffic backups at East Market and Mount Zion roads while Kinsley performs work he believes is related to a gas pipeline or to the Mount Zion Commons project. "The lane restrictions are significant," Weaver said, adding that traffic signals and cones were arranged in ways that blocked routine turns and caused people to move unpredictably when arrows changed. Board members said PennDOT issued the permit for work on Mount Zion Road and that the township does not have jurisdiction over that state roadway; staff said they would again relay residents' safety concerns to PennDOT.
Joe Ante, a neighborhood resident who said East York Elementary sits across the street from his home, urged the board not to support demolition plans he was told were justified by asbestos and plumbing problems. "Asbestos has to be mitigated before you tear it down," Ante said, and he questioned whether plumbing problems couldn’t be repaired instead of replacing the building. Several residents and supervisors asked that the township review formal plans before taking a position at the zoning hearing board, noting concerns about additional parking, traffic and the impacts to a nearby creek, playground and open areas behind the school.
On water-service policy, Jason Shields and Mike Adams described receiving notices about mandatory hookups to a new public water main along Druck Valley Road. Shields said many homes in that area rely on tested private wells and that forcing hookups would impose "thousands of dollars" in costs. Adams added that he received mixed messages—York Water initially described hookups as optional, while the township’s letter stated hookups were mandatory—and he asked what historic agreement or obligation required property owners to pay. Township staff told the board they had met with York Water to clarify a 1985 agreement and the calculation of any connection fees; York Water representatives were reported to be gathering historical documentation and the board expected a follow-up report at the next meeting.
The board said it would not debate the water issue at length at that meeting until York Water produces the requested documentation and the township can present answers to homeowners. The board also agreed to contact PennDOT about the traffic configuration at East Market and Mount Zion roads.
