South Lebanon Township approves Birch View final plan

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

The South Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors approved a final land development plan for Birch View, along with two waiver requests, on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The meeting began with a moment of silence in honor of Ashley Weidman, a member of the South Lebanon community, who recently lost her battle with breast cancer.

Chrisland Engineering’s Jaxon Weaver presented the Birch View plan to supervisors requesting two waivers. Landmark Homes’s Chuck Hess was also present.

The first waiver was to combine the preliminary and final plan, and the other to reduce the number of monuments needing to be built from seven to four. 

“We felt that was a bit excessive based on the number of pins we are going to be setting,” said Weaver. “The fear is that if you bury them all on a right of way a lot of times utilities get installed along the right of way as well so that could potentially make collision conflicts.” 

Per the township ordinance at least one monument shall be built per two lots in order to ensure that “reliable survey points are available for all parts of the subdivision.”

Both waivers were unanimously approved and conditional approval was then given for the plan, pending financial security, engineering fees, rec fees, sewer capacity, and an ownership and maintenance (O&M) agreement. These conditions are typical of a final approval, as noted by township manager Jamie Yiengst.  Lastly, supervisors approved an O&M agreement for the plan. 

The board then reviewed an agreement the township has with the Humane Society of Lebanon County to cover the cost of animals brought to the Humane Society from South Lebanon Township residents.

Since October 2025, 67 animals had been brought to the Humane Society from South Lebanon Township. Yiengst noted this number is much higher than in years past. After discussion, the board approved a form to be filled out in the township office, in order to prove residency in South Lebanon Township before taking an animal to the Humane Society. 

In other news, supervisors took the following actions:

• Approved the purchase sewer capacity for 1 EDU for 405 Greenfield Drive. 
• Approved a park request for a softball tournament for Oct. 31. 
• Heard concern from resident Shannon Kurtz about gates for the pickleball courts not being locked at dusk per the posted signage and individuals continuing to play on the courts. Supervisors plan to remind park staff about locking the gate at dusk. 

The South Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors will next meet on October 13 at 7 p.m. at 1800 S. 5th Ave., Lebanon. Meetings are open to the public.