Leacock Township to vote next month on updated urban growth area map

Leacock Township supervisors reviewed an update to the township's Urban Growth Area at their April 7 meeting and said they will vote on the plan at the board's next regular session.

Supervisor Mike Sensenig told the board the county asked last year for the update and that his review, with Supervisor Frank Howe, included meetings with affected farmers. He said the draft map removes parcels that landowners asked to exclude and that the update does not change zoning. "This is an update and they will be voting at the next meeting on it," Sensenig said to the board.

Several residents spoke during the discussion. Lester Stoltzfus asked to have his property on the township's east side removed from the Urban Growth Area to preserve his farm. Another resident, Steve Riehl, said he was "strongly against the Board's decision." In response, Supervisor Donald Gentzler said the board believes it is prudent to plan for future needs and added that preservation is effectively permanent once implemented.

The board described the proposed Urban Growth Area as a joint plan with Salsbury Township that will proceed through county review and noted the change would affect only a small portion of Leacock Township. No formal vote was taken on April 7; supervisors indicated a final vote will occur at the next board meeting after the board completes its review and any additional outreach to affected property owners.

Next steps: the draft map will be finalized for the board's vote at the following meeting, and then forwarded to Lancaster County for its review as part of the joint planning process with Salsbury Township.