East Hanover Township passes 2026 budget, speed limit ordinance

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The East Hanover Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to pass the drafted budget for 2026, with no tax increases, at its monthly meeting Monday.

The budget anticipates total revenues of $1,238,240 and total expenditures of $1,124,490, with $113,750 in unappropriated funds.

The largest source of revenue for the township is in general funds, followed by gaming and state funds.

The highest expense category is public works, at $509,325, including plans to oil & chip and drain tiles. No paving is planned for 2026 as paving was done this and last year, but the township is setting aside $200,000 from the state to go toward paving Bullfrog Road in 2027.

Supervisors also unanimously agreed to pass an ordinance setting speed limits on Appalachian and Log Cabin drives, Mount Laurel Lane, and Zion Church Road, which previously did not have set speed limits.

Zion Church Road’s new limit is 35 mph. The other roads’ limits were set at 25 mph.

Township manager Erik Harmon explained that townships cannot freely change speed limits and must select limits based on safe speed studies, in this case conducted by township employees. These studies analyze the speed of drivers through the area and recommend a speed limit based on the speed traveled by the 85th percentile of drivers.

The ordinance was approved following an opportunity for the public to comment, though there was no comment Monday.

In business related to the planning commission, supervisors:

• Heard that the planning commission has been discussing ideas for the agricultural zoning district and agreed to a joint meeting with the commission Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss further.
• Unanimously agreed to move forward with a zoning map amendment for 806 Ono Road, which property owners have requested be rezoned from low-density residential to agricultural. The amendment still needs to be drafted, after which it will come before the board to act on following a public hearing and advertisement. 12G Real Estate LLC, which owns the 1.59-acre property, hopes to establish an “agriculturally oriented commercial establishment,” Marvin Smith of the planning commission said.
• Heard that the owners of 10866 Jonestown Road have submitted an application to the zoning hearing board to request a special exception to allow livestock use in low-density residential. Property owners currently have 4.5 animal units (representing 1,000 pounds of livestock) and are requesting up to 13.5 animal units, the maximum allowed in the around-14-acre lot.
• Heard that the owners of 10669 Jonestown Road have submitted a zoning hearing board application to allow the demolition and reconstruction (with a slightly larger footprint) of an existing structure, nonconforming to township code. Noncompliant uses are only allowed increased by up to 50%, so planners recommended the township ask the applicant to document existing dwelling units and area for comparison.
• Unanimously agreed to reaffirm approval of a minor subdivision plan at 61 Bullfrog Road, which was approved in March but required reaffirmation due to amount of time passed.
• Unanimously approved the reduction of the 10630 Allentown Blvd. financial security by $20,140, leaving $8,350.
• Unanimously approved the reduction of the 19 Mount Laurel Lane financial security by $17,144, leaving $57,968.

In other news, supervisors:

• Heard from a resident concerning the recent sale of 1866 Blacks Bridge Road, which may be used for poultry farming in the future (though the township has not received any plans for the property). The property was transferred from Zachary Alger to Larry and Karen Martin for $1,250,000 in December.
• Heard that the DCED regional fire study is underway, gathering information from 2019 to present, and is expected to be completed in six to nine months.
• Unanimously approved right-of-way easements and agreements for the Kreider Farms project. The township must sign the documents as PennDOT requires a municipality to be a co-applicant alongside a developer.
• Unanimously agreed to authorize the solicitor to reach out to Cohen Law Group concerning the possible establishment of a new cable franchise agreement.
• Unanimously authorized the sending of a letter to a delinquent sewer account.
• Unanimously authorized application for a Marcellus Shale Grant of $6,000 on a $12,000 project to replace the roof of a pavilion at H.M. Levitz Memorial Park, restain timber, and add a concrete pad.
• Unanimously agreed to waive a fine for noncompliance of septic pumping requirements for a property owner at Harmon’s recommendation. The property was septic pumped, he said, but the contractor did not submit documentation, and the requester did not receive letters from the township as she is maintaining the property for a relative but does not live there. Supervisors recommended Harmon contact the contractor, who also did not send the township documentation for several other septic pumping jobs performed in the township.
• Unanimously agreed to send notice of violation to a property owner in violation of property maintenance standards.
• Unanimously approved meeting dates for 2026.
• Unanimously approved minutes and the payment of the bills.

The East Hanover Township Board of Supervisors meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.