LANCASTER TWP. — Lancaster Township supervisors denied Josh Inman's conditional use application to build a dirt track in his home's front yard.

But Inman and his adolescent daughter will continue to ride it, as the township also lifted its cease-and-desist order.

In a conditional use decision approved by the board of supervisors on Sept. 29, the township denied Inman's application on technical grounds, namely that a property can have only one permitted use, and in Inman's case a single-family home already exists on his property.

“This means that the applicant (Inman) cannot have a 'motocross track' on his property as it is a principal use,” the decision states. “Further, the board finds that there is insufficient evidence that what is occurring on applicant's property is, in fact, a 'motocross track.'”

The decision adds that a motocross track “should be at least 400 feet in length with 5-20 foot lanes and a start area.”

“The dirt area in applicant's front yard falls far short of these dimensions, but credible and specific information about what constitutes a motocross track is not on the record,” the decision states. “This decision should not be interpreted beyond the limits described here.”

Inman agrees with at least that part of Lancaster Township's decision.

“It's not a motocross track,” he said. “It's my front yard. The township made the right decision.”

Supervisors also lifted the cease-and-desist order sent to Inman last October, effectively ending the nearly yearlong standoff over the dirt track. But that didn't end the standoff between Inman and his neighbors.

“We rode it once already,” Inman said Thursday. “And there was an anonymous phone call to the police about someone trespassing. On my own property.”

The township's decision to lift the cease-and-desist isn't a green light for Inman's track, however.

“Again, and for emphasis, if the applicant resumes the use of his property in a way that violates any ordinance or law, the interested parties, including the township, may take appropriate action at that time,” the decision states. “It would be preferable that the applicant use his property in a way that does not cause negative impact to his neighbors, such as is clearly depicted in the photos from the summer and fall of 2020.”

Chief among the negative impacts were lighting, noise and dust. Inman testified he has addressed those concerns, moving the lights around, limiting the size of bikes — and thereby the noise — on the track and wetting the dirt to prevent dust from flying.

“It's not like we use it every day,” he added.