Planning commission conditionally approves Midpen Bank main branch in Millersburg with waivers; one abstention

The Dauphin County Planning Commission on July 13 voted to conditionally approve a land‑development plan that will consolidate Midpen Bank’s fragmented Millersburg buildings into a single‑story, 4,700‑square‑foot main branch. The commission granted six requested waivers and attached two conditions from staff before final sign‑off.

Chase, an applicant representative, told the commission the project will “greatly reduc[e] the amount of impervious” surface by adding landscaped edges along Cherry Street and the property’s western boundary, and that the bank will not change access onto Union Street. He said the project team could not locate HOP (highway occupancy permit) numbers in time and requested a waiver to provide those permit numbers later.

County staff recommended approval of the six waivers and of the plan subject to two conditions outlined in the staff review letter. Commissioner discussion was brief; the chair called for a motion and the commission approved the recommendation by voice vote. Commissioner Mary Dasty recorded an abstention on the final vote.

The applicant said construction of a separate facilities building on a northern lot — previously approved and now under construction — will allow the bank to move operations temporarily and then demolish the old mixed‑use structure to make way for the consolidated main branch. Chase said the existing buildings total “upwards of 10 to 11,000 square feet” and contain multiple additions; the new design will be a single‑story structure intended to simplify access and layout.

Next steps: the conditional approval requires the applicant to satisfy the staff conditions in the review letter before receiving final plan signatures and permits.