Planning commission approves subdivision enabling High Foundation purchase at 750 Greenfield Road

The East Lampeter Township Planning Commission voted to approve a preliminary subdivision plan that will split a roughly 5.88-acre parcel at 750 Greenfield Road so the High Foundation can acquire a new lot, a township presenter said.

An RGS Associates representative told the commission the plan divides the single existing lot into two parcels: a residual lot of about 2.3 acres that would retain the church and a new proposed lot of about 3.6 acres. "What we're proposing is working with the High Foundation which I'm sure you're aware of the charitable organization. They own about a 5.88 acre site along Greenfield Road," the presenter said.

The consultant said the submission is a first step so the foundation can complete an acquisition and later decide whether to pursue any development. "There are no proposed improvements as part of this plan," the presenter added, and both parcels would continue to be served by public utilities.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on immediate traffic and parking impacts. The RGS representative said a traffic impact would arise only when buildings or new trip-generating uses are proposed and that "since we're not proposing any buildings, nothing changes with regard to traffic." Commissioners also asked whether the foundation intended to use the church parking lot prior to additional development; the presenter said that is not the plan at this time.

The plan included two waiver requests discussed at the meeting: a waiver of a separate preliminary-plan filing (on the basis that the final plan would be identical) and a partial relief from an ordinance requirement to show existing features within 200 feet, with the applicant noting stormwater-management easements have been identified on the parcel. The consultant also discussed park-and-recreation applicability and said, given there are no new residences proposed now, the applicant believes certain park-fee considerations were not applicable at this step.

A motion to approve subdivision plan 2025-6 for the High Foundation at 750 Greenfield Road — made to forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors and conditioned on the David Miller review letter dated Aug. 26, 2025 — was put to a voice vote and approved by the commission. The transcript records a voice vote in favor but does not record a roll-call tally.

No members of the public spoke during the commission's public-comment period on this item. Jacob Bowen, the township director of planning and zoning, briefly noted that the plan appears to meet buildability checks and standard subdivision code requirements.

The commission's approval is a procedural step to allow the land transaction and to enable future, site-specific reviews should the High Foundation pursue development. The file will proceed according to the normal review pathway and remain subject to the conditions noted in the engineer’s review letter.