Residents warn against permissive overlay change proposed by Central Penn College; board to advertise amendment for April 15

Several East Pennsboro residents told the Board of Commissioners on March 11 they were alarmed at a proposed text amendment from Central Penn College that would alter the township’s college overlay district and could allow non‑college development if enacted.

Sharon Stemple of West Fairview said the proposed change, which the board directed its solicitor to advertise for possible action on April 15, would convert a restrictive overlay that applies only to college‑owned parcels into a permissive overlay for all owners in the district. "They want to change in one fell swoop...so that it doesn't have to be for the benefit of the college anymore," she said, and criticized the public notice for not including mapped boundaries of the areas affected.

Other residents asked whether the township’s role is to protect the college financially and who would benefit if the overlay became permissive; one public commenter urged the board to "follow the money." Residents requested a clearer presentation from Central Penn College on which parcels would be affected and whether proposed uses—such as a community dental clinic or athletic‑facility expansion—would be part of a public demonstration at a future meeting.

Township staff said the solicitor will advertise the proposed text amendment and that the board will consider action on April 15; they did not commit to a presentation by the college at that meeting. The board and staff did not take final action on the amendment at the March 11 meeting.

Public commenters pressed the board to provide more detail publicly before any vote, and several speakers asked that the college present a fuller proposal with maps identifying the properties in question.