East Hanover Township approves Jonestown Road rezoning

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The East Hanover Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to rezone 10350 Jonestown Road from low-density residential to agricultural at its monthly meeting June 29.

The around 45-acre parcel was rezoned following a petition from the owner. Though no land development plan has been submitted for the property, permitted agricultural uses include various forms of agriculture and animal husbandry.

According to the minutes of a public hearing on the zoning amendment request March 30, landowner Chad Shuey said that crop farming alone is not sustainable on the property and they are considering putting up chicken houses. He also said they would like to maintain agricultural use, but are willing to develop if not possible.

Though the owners have informally stated they may install chicken houses, they may pursue any use allowed within the agricultural district. Any use will need to meet zoning requirements for the agricultural district, including stormwater management.

According to the minutes of the board’s May 26 meeting, Shuey said that buildings will be placed “right up against 22 as far as they will go,” and said they will be placed over 550 feet from houses, saying that, “we will do as much as we can to minimize impact to the neighbors.” The minutes of this meeting also reflect that up to three chicken houses could be constructed on the property.

During the public hearing in March, multiple residents voiced opposition to the rezoning, citing concerns about runoff, smells from chicken farming, and water usage. However, if not rezoned, developers could pursue any use allowed within low-density residential.

Supervisors also unanimously agreed to move forward with the adoption of an interim ordinance concerning data centers in the township, which would allow them as a special exception in the industrial zoning district, minimum lot size of 10 acres. A public hearing will be held in August, at which time the board may vote to adopt the ordinance.

As previously reported, the planning commission is reviewing examples of data center ordinances from other municipalities and considering how to legislate details like water usage and noise. However, without data centers included in the zoning ordinance, a developer could make the argument to place them in any zoning district, so the township is looking to get temporary language in place to keep potential data centers in industrial.

The board also held a public hearing regarding a draft cable franchise agreement with Comcast, during which there were no comments from the public. This agreement, if adopted, will renew Comcast’s permission to offer cable in the township in exchange for a percentage of revenues.

The board also discussed a draft cable franchise agreement with Patriot Cable, with whom the township has not previously had an agreement. Supervisors unanimously agreed to advertise the adoption of the agreement, with 5% of earnings going to the township.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously approved the reduction of the 19 Mount Laurel Lane financial security by $39,402.62, leaving $18,565.38.
• Unanimously approved the reduction of the 10630 Allentown Blvd. financial security by $8,350, leaving no balance.
• Unanimously approved the subdivision of a 20-acre residential lot from Lindley Murray Road from an around-140-acre property at the recommendation of the planning commission.
• Unanimously agreed to spend up to $1,000 to obtain land appraisal reports for a portion of 1105 School House Road, which the township is considering purchasing for future needs.
• Unanimously approved waiving rental fees for the 2027 Envirothon’s use of the H.M. Levitz Memorial Park.
• Unanimously approved minutes and the payment of the bills.

East Hanover Township supervisors will next meet July 27 at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.