East Hanover Township plans public meeting on agricultural zoning district

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The East Hanover Township Board of Supervisors plans to host a public meeting at Ono Fire Hall at 7 p.m. March 31 to discuss possible changes to the agricultural zoning district.

Under consideration, also discussed at a joint meeting between the planning commission and board of supervisors on Jan. 15, is the possibility of creating a new agricultural conservation district. If adopted, some uses will be moved from the ag district to the conservation district, and other ag uses will be excluded from the new district.

In December, the commission discussed rezoning around 5,000 acres to ag conservation (51 properties), representing 43% of the existing ag zoning district and 68% of properties 50 acres or larger.

Planning commission chairman Marvin Smith explained that, though a draft has been developed, the township is still looking for feedback from residents before advertising the ordinance. No decisions have been made, he said, and the township is looking to answer questions and hear concerns about the changes.

Property owners affected by the plan will be mailed letters with more information about the ordinance and information about the special meeting, Smith said.

Also in zoning, supervisors unanimously agreed to adopt an ordinance modifying development density and minimum lot areas in the high-density residential zoning district following a public hearing. Changes to lot and yard requirements are shown below:

The ordinance also updates language that said existing two-family or multifamily developments can only be enlarged or expanded if at least 3,000 square feet is provided for each dwelling unit. The ordinance now requires at least 7,000 square feet per unit.

The amendment also makes changes to criteria for special exemptions and uses for townhouses and garden apartments.

Minimum lot area per dwelling unit for townhouses has increased from 3,000 to 4,000 square feet, with minimum lot width increasing from 20 feet to 24 feet. Groups of townhomes, previously limited to eight attached units, are now limited to six.

For garden apartments, maximum development density has been halved from 12 dwelling units per gross acre to six. Minimum site size for a garden apartment development has increased from 24,000 square feet (around .55 acres) to one acre.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously agreed to request a $165,000 account for maintenance and ultimate replacement (in around 50 years) of a storm sewer system installed by Kreider Farms as part of a co-applicant agreement. The amount was recommended by the township’s previous engineer.
• Unanimously agreed to fund resident participation in the Lebanon County Conservation District tire collection event April 29, which totaled $1,088 last year.
• Opted not to take a position on an application from the owners of 725 Ono Road for a variance request before the zoning hearing board. The variance concerns a 50-foot rear setback requirement, with neighbors looking to purchase 1.4 acres containing a pond 14 feet from a barn on the current owner’s property. Applicants are asking for a 7.5-foot setback, as both the barn and the pond are already in place.
• Unanimously agreed to move forward with the rezoning of 10350 Jonestown Road from low-density residential to agricultural, at the request of the property owner. Action will be taken in March or April, depending on availability of advertising.
• Unanimously agreed to refer a reported potential building code violation to Light Heigel for further investigation.
• Unanimously approved a 2026 event list from Northern Lebanon Fire and Emergency Services.
• Unanimously authorized the solicitor to send last-chance notices to three delinquent sewer accounts.
• Unanimously approved a resolution fixing the tax rate for 2026, which was not passed in December, with no tax increase.
• Unanimously approved an insurance renewal quote of $54,800.
• Unanimously ratified renewal of the Mount Zion Ministry School CD for 12 months at 3.7%.
• Unanimously approved minutes, the payment of bills, and heard reports.

In recreation concerning H.M. Levitz Memorial Park, supervisors took the following actions:

• Unanimously agreed to make a correction to 2027 rental rates, which were intended to each be raised by $5. There was an error in the calculation of the one-day lodge rate.
• Unanimously approved a request to cancel the third annual egg hunt due to weather concerns.
• Unanimously authorized a revision to a prior approval of the purchase of three couches. While the township planned to purchase one leather and two corduroy couches, only one corduroy couch was available, so the township is purchasing two leather couches instead at an increase of $50.
• Unanimously approved the following item purchases, as budgeted:
  • Bathroom storage cabinet, $163.50 ($150 budgeted)
  • Pesticide/herbicide storage shed, $849 ($900 budgeted)
  • Spray trailer for pesticide/herbicide, $657.47 ($800 budgeted)

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