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The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to pass a Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) following a public hearing Monday.
The township was previously using the county’s SALDO, but wanted an ordinance customized to North Lebanon.
Engineer Steve Sherk, who wrote the 116-page document, said it provides specificity the county plan does not. He said it is aligned to the township’s zoning, stormwater, improvements standards, and more so that if township code changes, the SALDO will not need to be updated.
A SALDO is primarily intended for engineers working with developers, describing regulations on land development plans, the process and requirements for submission of a plan, design requirements and more.
Solicitor Amy Leonard responded to an audience question clarifying that the SALDO does not in any way affect zoning.
The planning commission recommended the ordinance’s adoption, and no members of the public voiced opposition to it during the public hearing.
Supervisors also unanimously agreed to approve the preliminary/final subdivision plan (PDF) for Flexo-Pack’s 109,000-square-foot industrial plant.
The three-phase development on a 21.67-acre property will create around 50 jobs (though a press release by Gov. Shapiro cited this stat at 64), a Flexo-Pack representative said Monday. The company creates food-safe packaging for brands such as Bell & Evans, which the representative said was part of the appeal of Lebanon County when finding a site.
This is Greek company Flexo-Pack’s first site in the U.S., which received a $500,000 investment from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Read More: Shapiro administration injects $500,000 into Flexopack’s Lebanon County plant
There will be a 30-foot access all around the building, and developers will fix up and maintain an emergency access along the railroad track, a Flexo-Pack representative said Monday.
He also said that materials will primarily be brought in via rail car, with most product leaving in flatbed trailers. While the plant will technically be in operation 24-7, machines will be idle overnight, with a short shift of employees.
The board unanimously approved five waivers for the project concerning a joint preliminary/final plan, map scale, map display of easements, sidewalks (as the owners do not want pedestrians near truck loading for safety reasons) and detention basins.
The latter waiver was granted as the developer will explore surface depressions with a test pit to determine if repairs are necessary prior to construction.
All waivers and approval were recommended by the planning commission.
In other news, the board:
- Swore Tim Houser into the fire police.
- Unanimously agreed to support three grant applications the Regional Police Department is pursuing. These grants would total $233,000 if received, primarily going toward start-up costs for the department including the standardization of equipment and updating uniforms and vehicles.
- Heard that the North Lebanon Township Police Department apprehended in a sting operation perpetrators of a “grandparent theft” attempting to steal tens of thousands of dollars from an elderly woman. The perpetrators were turned over to Homeland Security, chief Tim Knight said, as they were wanted for previous scams.
- Heard public comment from resident Robert Eist, who owns a towing business, enquiring as to the police department’s choices for towing companies used. Eist said that the department favors competitor SLT-based Automan and asked them to give his company a chance. Knight said he would look into it.
- Heard thanks from a resident for the installation of additional signage at the intersection of Narrows and Weavertown.
- Heard a complaint from a resident that road repairs created additional flooding on her property, and was advised by the solicitor for one of them and the township manager to meet with her outside of a public meeting.
- Unanimously agreed to direct the solicitor to draft an amendment to the Strong Waste Ordinance reflecting the Water Authority’s recommendation.
- Unanimously agreed to release $30,000 to Rural Security Fire Company for payment on a vehicle loan.
- Unanimously approved a Glenn Lebanon Fire Company request to participate in a CTC Trunk-or-Treat night Oct. 29.
- Unanimously agreed to approve a resolution accepting the Lebanon County Treasurer’s Office’s rate increase from 50 cents per bill to a dollar per bill. The bill has not changed since 2018.
- Unanimously agreed to accept a plan review extension from Iona Investment group.
- Unanimously agreed to approve minutes for its Sept. 16 meeting and four budget meetings.
North Lebanon Township meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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