Lancaster Township seal

LANCASTER TWP — Supervisors during a meeting Monday, Aug. 18, agreed to pursue the purchase of a property at 600 Perry Highway, clearing the way for a potential deal in coming months.

The board of supervisors entered into a sales agreement contingent on three conditions: a second appraisal, an environmental impact study with any necessary cleanup covered by the seller and inspections of the buildings that would remain as part of the township’s plan to build out a new municipal campus on the site.

The new property, which totals 12.93 acres, was appraised for $1 million in early June by an independent third party.

Chairman Greg Kessler said the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was already on-site and “inspected the property.” He added that the county has pledged to cover any remediation identified in the phase one environmental impact study, ensuring that would come at no cost to the township.

At least 50 residents packed the community center, with more than a dozen providing their thoughts during the public comment period. There was a clear divide among them on how supervisors should proceed ahead of the vote.

Those in favor said the existing municipal campus located at 113 Kings Alley is not a viable option moving forward.

“The existing facilities are not adequate. They’re not sufficient for the short-term or the long-term,” resident Jerry Stephenson said. “The property enables us to stage growth as we secure funding on our own pace.”

Others emphasized the cost to build out a new campus when the township already owns property at adjacent Four Springs Park is a waste of resources.

“As residents, we want this township building to stay right here, and I don’t see why we can’t keep our meetings right here,” said resident and former township Supervisor John Meyer. “There’s nothing wrong with it, but we could build a new building over there (at Four Springs Park) to house the police and the administration. But we don’t need a four-story, $7 million complex.”

Following a two-hour public comment period, supervisors went into an executive session before returning a short time later. Some residents were quick to share their discontent shortly after the vote.

“You’re scum,” one resident called out to supervisors before marching out of the meeting alongside more than two dozen other residents.

Officials defended the plan to purchase the site, which already includes two structures with room to construct for a new community center, saying it will allow the township to keep up with projected growth.

“The property is an ideal parcel located on (Route) 19,” Kessler told residents at the onset of the meeting while giving answers to written questions. “It expands the footprint of the existing (Four Springs) park. The existing structures, we believe, can be accommodating to what our needs are as the township grows.”

A handful of residents said they would be in favor of supporting the purchase if officials could assure them taxes would not be raised to pay for the property and future renovations.

Kessler also attempted to assuage concerns by saying the site could be utilized without any bump in taxes.

“According to our financial studies, the impact on taxes is going to be zero,” he said.

The approval comes a week after a contentious special meeting, when residents grilled officials over the projected purchase.

Ultimately, supervisors said it was an appropriate time to invest in the township’s future.

“The township of 2015 compared to today is vastly different. The township of 10 years from now is going to be vastly different than it is today,” Vice Chairman Rich Marcotte told residents ahead of the vote. “We are going to build a building that we can acquire and get funds through the appropriate government resources and we’re going to build what’s appropriate.”