Swatara Township purchases quarter acre tract from Wenger Meetinghouse

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The Swatara Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed on Feb. 12 to purchase an approximately quarter-acre tract from Wenger Meetinghouse for $25,000.

Following a roughly 20-minute executive session after their regular meeting, supervisors reconvened and explained that the Wengers had expressed willingness to sell the tract, west of 48 Supervisors Drive, and pay subdivision fees for a total of $25,000. The tract was previously appraised for $45,000, they said.

The township plans eventually to rebuild the municipal building near the existing house.

“The way the topography of that land is, it’s very steep in front of the house, so any potential driveway is probably going to come in from the church and wind its way up around, and to have that extra lot down there would be beneficial,” said Dean Patches.

“There’s a home here and a home here, we’d like to try to go in between the homes so nobody’s lights are going into the houses, and just come up along the wooded areas, maybe a little bit [of the trees] might have to come out, and then parking here,” said supervisor Joe Motter, gesturing near the current township building on GIS.

Chairman Rick Kreitzer said this construction is far in the future and will require extensive planning and approvals from the board. The land purchase will be taken out of the township’s general fund.

The board also heard a request from Iona Investment Group LP, which is seeking to rezone two parcels behind BG’s Market from general commercial (C1) to medium-density residential (R2). Surrounding lots, Iona representatives explained, are either zoned R2 or, in the case of two lots not owned by the group, zoned GC but already used for residential uses.

Iona representatives presented a map of the area, and pointed out discrepancies like a home placed between three lots in their possession, including GC land. Though plans have not been finalized, Iona hopes to combine lots and build 20 to 30 townhouse-style apartments.

Supervisors expressed approval of the rezoning and directed solicitor Colleen Gallo to begin the process of drafting an ordinance rezoning those C1 lots to R2.

Gallo warned against “spot zoning,” an illegal practice of rezoning a small parcel inconsistently with surrounding use. She advised that if the township goes through with rezoning, it should also rezone the GC lots not owned by Iona.

After being drafted, the ordinance must be advertised for a public hearing prior to adoption. If the land is rezoned, developers will still need to submit a plan for any future development and go through the approval process with the township, though the uses guaranteed by right will change. Parking, stormwater, and design requirements must still be followed.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously agreed to accept a bid of $145,016.55 from Altera Construction for the streambank and Old Jonestown Road bridge project, which received 16 bids and saw a $398,781 max bid. Kreitzer expressed concern with the contractor, as they are Ohio-based with a location near State College and have not worked with the township previously. The township is required to select the lowest responsible bidder.
• Unanimously agreed to authorize the 2026 paving and oil & chip project for bids. The township is considering oil & chip treatment on Pine Meadow Road and Kenbrook Road, oil & chip treatment on part of Greble Road, and base repair on Werner Road.
• Unanimously agreed to advertise an amendment to the township’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, with mostly administrative changes.
• Heard a request from Lebanon County to allow the installation of guiderails along 448 Mountville Drive, with the township opting to wait until they have more information. Patches said he is in support of the guiderail, but is worried about township liability.
• Unanimously agreed to direct the planning commission to continue work on revisions to the residential forest district.

• Heard the 2025 report from the state police, including that Swatara Township generated 848 calls to service, 108 of which were criminal offenses (down from 129 in 2024). There were 50 arrests. There were 120 crashes (up from 106 in 2024) but no fatalities, and 708 total traffic citations (up from 826 in 2024).
• Thanked the road crew for their work during this winter’s snow events.
• Unanimously agreed to withdrawal this year’s request for an LSA grant for a new QRS system and parking lot paving, as the township has received all but $83,000 for the former and a $25,000 grant for the latter from last year’s LSA grants.
• Unanimously approved a field usage request from the North Lebanon Girls Softball Association.
• Unanimously agreed to increase special event application fees from $40 to $100, as the $40 fee does not cover township legal expenses processing the request.
• Unanimously agreed to make a donation of $250 to America250 Lebanon County for the July 3 parade in Jonestown, and waive the special event application fee for the event. Supervisors also unanimously agreed to allow closure of Mill Street if needed for the event.
• Heard from Dustin Bachman concerning mini bike events, which he has planned in the township for the past four years. The first event for 2026 will take place May 16.
• Unanimously approved minutes, reports, and the payment of bills.

Swatara Township Board of Supervisors meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m at 68 Supervisors Drive. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.