Union Township supervisors hear updates on draft ordinances

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The Union Township Board of Supervisors heard an update from township staff during the March 11 meeting about the planning commission tabling of draft ordinances.

The ordinances up for discussion include short-term rentals; non-commercial keeping of livestock and domestic fowl; fences, walls, and hedges; parking and storage of unlicensed vehicles; and retail sales for home goods and homemade goods in the agricultural district.

At a planning commission meeting on March 4, residents attended to share their thoughts on the proposed ordinances, after which the planning commission tabled the discussion until April 1.

The planning commission is an advisory board, making recommendations to township supervisors, who can then vote.

Township manager Brent McFeaters told supervisors that about 50 residents attended the meeting, and they had a respectful discussion where they shared their opinions and asked questions.

“The opinion that I’m getting from [the planning commission] is that they understand why it’s being done, and it probably needs to be done,” he said. “The way they’re drafted right now, there might be some changes to that, but again, I think they’re all looking to work together to get the best product for the township.”

Ordinance debates started in February, when supervisor Stephen Lum said he wasn’t in favor of the ordinances, calling them unnecessary and costly regulations. The other supervisors gave their permission for township staff to continue drafting ordinances at the previous meeting.

McFeaters said many of the ordinance updates are an attempt to eliminate ambiguity. The livestock ordinance, he said, is meant to regulate ownership in residential areas rather than agricultural-zoned regions.

The ordinances are still in the drafting phase and can be adapted to meet township needs. If supervisors move forward with a completed draft, they would need to advertise updated or new ordinances for public notice, hold a public hearing, and then hold a final vote at a public meeting.

For the home goods and homemade sales in the agriculture district ordinance, solicitor Paul Bametzreider said a township resident had a different — but possibly legitimate — interpretation of the regulation, so an update could get rid of ambiguity. He said they could allow the sale of off-premise products, and they’re looking at how much should be permitted.

Bametzreider said engineer Stephen Sherk’s draft is “relatively legitimate regarding limitations,” including being so many feet off the right-of-way, having parking available, the type of goods for sale, and limiting sales to farm-related goods. He said there isn’t anything in the draft about selling meat, which might need to be added.

The short-term rental ordinance, if adopted, would be a new one for the township’s books.

Bametzreider also mentioned codification. He said the township’s book of ordinances has fallen out of date for the past 15 years and should be overhauled to make the ordinances more accessible for township residents. The entire process could cost about $30,000 to $50,000, Bametzreider said.

In other business, supervisors:

• Accepted a 90-day time extension for an 81-room hotel proposed at 3068 and 3078 State Route 72. They also approved five waivers or modifications for the project, including the requirement of a separate preliminary plan, the maximum project scale, sidewalk width, and an environmental impact report.
• Approved the hotel’s highway occupancy permit agreement, dependent on the developer paying any outstanding invoices before releasing the paperwork.
• Approved ordinance 196, which will put a new handicapped parking space at 413 Jonestown Road and remove a handicapped spot at 417 Jonestown Road.
• Approved the Memorial Day parade route. On Monday, May 25, starting at 8:30 a.m. for staging, the parade will travel from the Lebanon Free Church parking lot along Shepherd Street onto Jonestown Road, then head east and over the bridge into Jonestown Borough. Organizers must provide the township with an insurance certificate removing the municipality from liability.
• Agreed to a $650 limit for the county’s tire collection contribution on April 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lebanon Expo Center. McFeaters said previous years have seen the township owe around $450.

The Union Township Board of Supervisors will have its next meeting at 3111 PA-72 on April 8 at 6:30 p.m.