Codorus supervisors send proposed sawmill zoning changes back to Planning Commission after public hearing

The Codorus Township Board of Supervisors recessed its regular meeting on Sept. 4, 2025 to hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to Chapter 250, Article 5 of the township zoning ordinance clarifying the definitions of “mill” and “sawmill” and regulating sawmills in the Agricultural district. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Lamar Glatfelter; the hearing drew residents and staff testimony about small, historically common sawmills on farms.

Residents and several attendees urged the Board to avoid rules that would eliminate small on-farm businesses or devalue farmland, while township staff and the Solicitor emphasized regulatory concerns. As the minutes record, Township Solicitor and the Zoning Officer "clarified that state law considers sawmills an industrial business" and said tighter rules could be needed to protect neighbors from noise, traffic and fire hazards posed by large commercial operations. That distinction framed much of the testimony and the Board's follow-up direction.

After testimony, the Board reached consensus to return the amendment to the Planning Commission for further refinement on key points, including the allowance of sales from sawmills and a clearer definition of "personal-use" sawmills. Supervisor Lamar Glatfelter made the motion to table the amendment and send it back to the Planning Commission, seconded by Brandon Maxwell; the motion carried. The public hearing was adjourned and the ordinance will be redrafted before further consideration.

Next steps: the Planning Commission is expected to receive detailed direction on drafting clearer acreage/usage thresholds and sales allowances and will prepare a revised proposal for future Board consideration. The minutes note that residents raised enforcement concerns and that the Solicitor recommended mechanisms to distinguish preexisting nonconforming sawmills from new operations.