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Planning commission recommends Lancaster Sauce Company expansion, wastewater pretreatment on Richardson Drive
Summary
The East Hempfield Planning Commission recommended modifications and forwarded a final plan to the supervisors for Lancaster Sauce Company’s expansion at 501 Richardson Drive, a roughly 9.5‑acre project the applicant described as a $45 million investment that adds production lines, storage silos and an on‑site wastewater pretreatment system.
Attorney Dwight Yoder said Lancaster Sauce Company’s proposal at 501 Richardson Drive would expand processing within an existing 9.5‑acre enterprise lot and add accessory silos and pre‑treatment tanks "to allow this to work," explaining the expansion shifts production now done in Chambersburg, Fort Worth and Toronto to Lancaster. Yoder told the commission the project represents "a $45 million investment" and said the company expects the work to create higher‑paying jobs.
Jason Smith, representing Lancaster Sauce Company, described the operation as a co‑packer and said the facility processed about "7 million pounds" last year and expects "upwards of 75 to 100 million pounds" after the new line, which is why the plan adds silos for bulk liquid deliveries and a biological pretreatment system for wastewater before discharge to the Lancaster Sewer Authority. Smith explained solids and oils will be separated in grease traps, screened and treated in biological processes and the plant will arrange regular hauling of accumulated solids.
Todd Smig, the project civil engineer, walked the commission through the site plan and stormwater approach, noting the parcel was developed in 1975 and lacks modern on‑site stormwater controls. He described two ground‑level silos for ingredient deliveries, treatment tanks for pretreatment, and a shallow stormwater facility in a former fire‑suppression tank area to meet current stormwater ordinance requirements.
Yoder outlined four modification/waiver requests tied to preliminary plan rules, stormwater freeboard requirements, an abbreviated 200‑ft existing‑features survey and deferral of frontage curb, sidewalk and mill/overlay obligations. Township engineers have reviewed staged comment letters (March 24, April 27, May 19 and June 3). Yoder said the applicant would execute a deferral agreement and fee‑in‑lieu for roadway improvements along Richardson Drive.
Commissioners asked technical questions about the wastewater byproducts, solids removal and whether the city could support increased water use. Smith said monitoring (BOD, TSS, pH and temperature) will meet Lancaster Sewer Authority expectations and that the City of Lancaster has indicated it can support the additional water demand.
A motion to recommend approval of modifications 1–3 and conditional approval of modification 4, "subject to staff and engineer comments," passed on the commission’s vote. The commission also moved to recommend approval of the final plan to the Board of Supervisors, again conditioned on staff and engineer comments.
Next steps: the applicants will pursue building permits and finalize required deferral agreements and permitting with the Lancaster Sewer Authority before construction.
