Board approves Allen Middle School additions after stormwater waivers and conditions

The Lower Allen Township Board of Commissioners approved a preliminary/final land development plan for Allen Middle School (SLD 2025‑07) after a presentation by Penta Engineering and extended discussion about stormwater controls and several requested waivers.

Mark McGre of Penta Engineering told the board the project would add three building additions, a maintenance building, two multi‑purpose fields, expanded parking and circulation revisions including a 150‑foot left‑turn lane on Gettysburg Road. He said the design includes underground infiltration beds and a managed‑release approach intended to meet state permitting requirements; the applicant also provided a flood study and reported an individual MPDS permit had been obtained.

Commissioners focused the discussion on stormwater: several members pointed out the project increases impervious area and questioned downstream impacts to Cedar Run and the township’s MS4 obligations. Commissioner Brown asked whether the applicant would consider increased MS4 fees or other mitigation to offset higher long‑term stormwater management costs. The project team said the design targets the two‑year storm via managed‑release basins and that other storm events were addressed, but that the township’s specific post‑development rate reduction requirement drove the waiver request.

The board moved through the packet’s waiver requests during the discussion. Motions to waive multiple subdivision and zoning standards (preliminary plan submission technical requirements, additional right‑of‑way and curb requirements along Gettysburg Road, certain sidewalk and street‑tree requirements, additional paving width for some parking, and post‑development peak‑discharge/volume control requirements with a managed‑release solution) were offered, discussed and recorded. Directors and commissioners noted the project’s time sensitivity for the school calendar but stressed that environmental protections needed to be clear in final approvals.

Ultimately the board approved SLD 2025‑07 subject to two explicit conditions: (A) satisfy all remaining comments listed in the township engineer’s letter dated June 1, 2026, and (B) satisfy all remaining comments in the Cumberland County Planning Department letter dated July 16, 2025. The motions passed by voice vote.

Next steps: the applicant must address the outstanding engineer and county comments and return with required documentation demonstrating compliance with the township conditions before final sign‑off. The board recorded the waivers and approvals in the meeting minutes for follow up.