Planning commission reviews revised "Conservation by Design" zoning rules

Township Engineer John Affriol presented a revised Conservation by Design section for the zoning ordinance during the Lower Windsor Township Planning Commission meeting on July 24, 2025. The meeting was unofficial due to lack of a quorum; present were Commission members Marzena Wolnikowski and Becky Pfeiffer, Zoning Officer Monica Love, Zoning Assistant Andrea Hodge, and Supervisor Barry Strayer. The draft raises the threshold that would trigger mandatory Conservation by Design to developments of 10 lots or more, up from five lots in the existing ordinance.

Members discussed how on‑lot septic versus public sewer availability affects lot-size requirements and potential yields under the new approaches. The draft retains two options for applying density: Neutral Density, which allows the number of lots as noted in the underlying zone, and a Hamlets and Villages option rather than an Enhanced Density approach. Zoning Officer Monica Love identified areas of the township that could be developed under Conservation by Design, and commissioners requested visual aids to better understand how the two options would appear on the ground. Mr. Affriol said he would try to supply those visuals; the minutes state the full Board will review the draft in August.

The meeting began at 6:30 p.m. and adjourned at 7:09 p.m. The minutes are recorded as unofficial because there was not a quorum. No formal vote on the ordinance language was recorded at this meeting.