York City Council approves RV park and apartment permits, facade grants, tower contract recommendation and annual vendor fee

The City of York Council on June 19 approved multiple land‑use permits, facade grant awards and an ordinance change that adds an annual fee option for vendors, after brief public hearings and routine votes.

City Administrator Dr. Crawford told the council that outreach for the York Comprehensive Plan update had drawn “more than a thousand people” and over 200 high‑school responses to an online survey, and that a consultant summary was posted on the city website. The council then took up several permit and grant items.

In a public hearing the council approved a special‑use permit for FWorks LLC to develop a 20‑site RV park on tract 2436113. Applicant Lynn Wagner described the project as serving local workers and said the sites would have “full sewer [and] water” and would be set back from the road; she added the project would not target interstate travelers. Resident Willard Peterson spoke in favor, saying, “People need places to live in York County.” The Planning Commission had recommended approval; the council voted to approve the permit by roll call.

The council also approved a special‑use permit for Brandon Skelton to restore a basement apartment in a previously nonconforming commercial building (tract 527102). Planning staff said the downstairs had been renovated and a prospective resident is available; the Planning Commission recommended approval and no public opposition was present.

On economic development, the council approved three final awards from the Downtown Redevelopment (DTR) façade improvement program that would exhaust the current round of funds: York Dance Center (415 North Plat Avenue) awarded $22,160 (total project listed as $29,54746), Cobburn Consulting & Project Management awarded $86,5989 (total project $137,839), and First National Company/Heritage (111 East 6th Street) awarded $735 (total project $9,740). Staff said the projects required coordination with the State Historic Preservation review and communication with property owners.

For public safety infrastructure, the council voted to proceed with the recommended bidder for the new fire‑station communications tower. The fire chief said the city received five submittals, conducted a detailed evaluation and checks of references, and recommended Saber (the record alternately references Saber Communication Corporation and Saber Manufacturing) because it best met RFP requirements even though it was not the cheapest option. The council approved moving forward with the selection.

The council confirmed an appointment to the Anna Beimis Palmer Museum Advisory Board, thanking outgoing member Chad Maddox and approving Jared Pac for a term ending July 15, 2028.

On regulatory policy the council held second reading of Ordinance 2396 to amend Chapter 28, Article 2 (pedalers) to add an annual fee option for vendors (discussed amounts included a $400 or $100 annual option in the record). A motion to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance passed by roll call, and the ordinance was adopted.

Votes at a glance

- Special‑use permit, FWorks LLC (RV park, 20 full‑hookup sites, tract 2436113): approved (unanimous roll call). - Special‑use permit, Brandon Skelton (basement apartment, tract 527102): approved (unanimous roll call). - DTR façade improvement — York Dance Center (415 N Plat Ave): grant approved (unanimous roll call). - DTR façade improvement — Cobburn Consulting & Project Management (207 E 6th St): grant approved (unanimous roll call). - DTR façade improvement — First National/Heritage (111 E 6th St): grant approved (unanimous roll call). - Bid selection recommendation for fire‑station communications tower (Saber — record references both Saber Communication Corporation and Saber Manufacturing): approved to proceed (unanimous roll call). - Appointment — Jared Pac to the Anna Beimis Palmer Museum Advisory Board (term to July 15, 2028): approved (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance 2396 (Chapter 28, Article 2 — pedalers fees; adds annual fee option): suspended rules and passed (unanimous roll call).

What council members said

Lynn Wagner, the RV‑park applicant, said the 20 sites are intended for people working in the area and that the “sites will be full sewer [and] water” and sit well off the road. Fire Chief (unnamed in the record) defended the Saber recommendation: “They weren’t the cheapest, but they’re the ones that followed the RFP all the way through.” Willard Peterson, a resident speaking during public comment, said the community needs more housing: “People need places to live in York County.”

What happens next

Approved permits and grants may proceed to implementation subject to any standard permitting or historic‑preservation conditions noted by staff. The adopted Ordinance 2396 provides an annual fee option for pedalers/vendors as described in the ordinance text adopted by the council. Council members remained scheduled to take a short break after adjournment for a post‑meeting computer update session.

(All votes and actions described above are taken from the council transcript of the June 19, 2025 meeting.)