Lancaster Township adopts new zoning rules for townhouses, could allow future development
Lancaster Township supervisors during a meeting on Monday, Dec. 15 adopted a zoning ordinance amendment following a public hearing at their final meeting of the year, ending a months-long review tied to a proposed 124-unit townhouse development along Route 19.
The adoption of the ordinance does not approve the proposed townhouse development, but does establish revised zoning standards that could allow such projects to move forward in the future.
The move stems from a curative amendment petition filed by Wrigley 19 on behalf of property owner Harold Wrigley, whose legal representatives argued the township’s zoning regulations effectively prevented townhouses from being built on his 38-acre property.
Township officials previously agreed that several provisions of the ordinance were either unreasonable or exclusionary and moved forward with an alternative amendment crafted by the township.
The adopted ordinance modifies three key standards cited in the petition, including minimum lot size requirements for townhouses, a 15-foot side-yard setback and a 40-foot front-yard setback.
Under the revised ordinance, the side-yard setback requirement for shared townhouse walls is eliminated, while the front-yard setback is reduced to 25 feet. Officials noted last month the changes were intended to address concerns that outdated standards had made townhouse construction nearly impossible.
Supervisors, however, declined to approve the higher density sought by the applicant.
While earlier discussions included varying recommendations from the township’s planning commission, the adopted ordinance limits townhouse development at 3.25 dwelling units per acre.
The ordinance was adopted following review by both the Lancaster Township Planning Commission and the Butler County Planning Commission, as required under state law, and after the public was given one final chance to comment during Monday’s hearing.
Township solicitor Michele Cromer previously noted that the township was required to follow specific legal procedures when responding to a curative amendment petition, limiting how changes could be made.
To be in accordance with the changes, developers for Wrigley 19 will need to go before the planning commission again to move forward with the project, township manager Mary Hess said.
