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Rapho planning commission recommends Hess Seeds expansion, removes 1993 delivery cap
Summary
On July 6, 2026 the Rapho Township Planning Commission recommended approval of a conditional-use expansion for Hess Seeds & Services at 432 S. Erisman Road and voted to remove a 1993 delivery limit after the applicant said freight changes increased partial deliveries.
On July 6, 2026 the Rapho Township Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional-use expansion for Hess Seeds & Services and to remove a delivery-limit condition established in 1993.
Melissa Kelly of engineering firm RETTEW told the commission that applicants Jared and Nicole Hess own the ±9.5-acre property at 432 South Erisman Road, which includes an existing ±7,600-square-foot building used for office, warehouse and a loading dock. The applicants propose an additional ±4,800-square-foot building attached by a corridor to the existing structure to support continuation and modest expansion of the agricultural-related business.
The existing conditional-use decision from 1993 included a restriction limiting deliveries to 50 per year. Kelly and the applicant told the commission the business had about 70 deliveries last year and asked that the delivery limit be removed as part of the approval. Jared Hess explained the increase in deliveries was driven by suppliers shifting to contracted freight carriers, producing a larger number of partial deliveries rather than fewer full-truck deliveries.
Commissioner Carrol Ehrhart moved to recommend approval of the conditional-use application and to remove the prior delivery-limit condition, subject to the applicant addressing the comments and complying with the conditions in the RETTEW letter dated June 26, 2026. Dennis Shellenberger seconded the motion; all commissioners voted in favor.
The record shows the commission recommended the conditional use with the stated conditions and the delivery-limit removal; the minutes do not record further mitigation measures or an explicit next-step timeline for final municipal approval.
