East Hempfield planning commission recommends conditional approval of Widler Lane lot add‑on, defers curb/sidewalk work

The East Hempfield Township Planning Commission voted May 13 to recommend conditional approval of a lot add‑on plan for properties at 348 and 462 Widler Lane, subject to staff and engineer comments and a requirement that the applicant dedicate additional right‑of‑way in fee simple.

Jeff Bulby of Primble Surveyors, representing owner Michael Scornovaki, told the commission the application splits a roughly 39‑acre front parcel and a 37.9‑acre back parcel to create a new 12‑acre parcel and a remaining 26.9‑acre tract. Bulby said the plan was reviewed previously in 2018, that the applicant has submitted updated materials and that the submission includes six requested waivers following a May 7, 2026 review letter from DMA.

Commissioners and staff discussed several technical issues raised in the review letter, including whether township decisions on non‑building waivers and deferrals may proceed while state SEO/DEP (referred to in the record as “D” or “DMA”) comment processes continue. An engineer on the record advised that municipalities make SEO decisions about non‑building waivers and that the municipality’s standards control, but cautioned that improper action could risk inconsistency with the municipality’s Act 537 sewage plan.

Members also debated whether deferring roadway improvements and sidewalk/curbing requirements would unfairly devalue property. One commissioner argued that attaching a deferral can impose a substantial future cost on subsequent buyers — citing an illustrative figure of about $60,000 to widen the road and add curb — while others noted nearby parcels are preserved and that the probability improvements would be triggered is low.

On the five more limited modification requests (numbers 1–5 in the DMA letter), the commission followed staff’s recommendation and voted to recommend approval, subject to staff and engineer comments (motion by Mr. Bolley; second not specified in the record). For modification number 6 — which dealt with cartway widening, curbing and sidewalk and included language in DMA’s letter recommending denial of a waiver for additional right‑of‑way and fee‑simple dedication of the Landisville Road right‑of‑way — the commission debated whether to act on the right‑of‑way dedication separately. After discussion, Commissioner Spangler moved to recommend a deferral be granted for the cartway/curbing/sidewalk component of modification #6, subject to staff and engineering comments. The motion passed 4–1, with Mr. Bolton recorded as the lone nay.

Following those votes, the commission moved to recommend approval of the lot add‑on plan (township file 26‑5.01) for 348 and 462 Widler Lane, conditioned on the applicant providing fee‑simple dedication of the additional right‑of‑way and subject to all staff and engineer comments. That recommendation passed unanimously and will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action next Wednesday.

The record shows the primary documents cited were the DMA review letter dated May 7, 2026, and internal township engineering comments, and commissioners referenced township ordinance section 2226.6.B regarding collector‑road width and cartway standards. The commission did not take final land‑development action; it forwarded its recommendation and the staff/engineer conditions to the Board of Supervisors for a decision.

What’s next: the Planning Commission’s recommendation, with the conditions noted above, will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda next Wednesday. The Board will consider the commission’s conditional recommendation and any remaining agency comments before voting on final approval or denial.