County Council to look at planning issues Monday

The idea of mixed-zoning districts and possible updates to the county planning department’s comprehensive plan are on the agenda for Lancaster County Council’s meeting Monday, July 23.
As part of the discussion, council will look at whether or not commercial and residential zoning should be allowed on the same parcel of land. The county now allows mixed zoning only in planned development districts.
Council will also consider updates to the county’s comprehensive plan, including updated census statistics and information about commercial zoning.
Council members are also scheduled to formally approve the acceptance of Community Development Block Grant funds to help repair sewer lines in the Kershaw Mill Village area. The funding for $584,285 will be allocated mostly from federal funds and the county has no financial involvement.
Also on council’s agenda are several ordinances, including second reading to extend the suspension of Sunday work prohibitions through 2020.
There will also be two public hearings, one to hear comments about a proposed development agreement between the county and Haile Gold Mine Inc., and the other to discuss granting a pipeline easement to create a sewer main for the Walnut Creek development.
A large number of items remain absent from council’s agenda, primarily first reading of an ordinance prohibiting smoking in enclosed public places and enclosed work areas in the county. Council discussed a draft ordinance in June, but it’s been postponed pending a review from the county’s Health and Wellness Commission.
Also missing from the agenda is an ordinance to revise the county’s B-3 commercial zoning definitions, as well as second readings of three Haile Gold Mine ordinances pending the completion of a development agreement between the county and Haile Gold Mine. Several residents have spoken out against one of the gold mine ordinances, which would rezone several residential properties owned by the mine to industrial.
Council will meet in closed session before the meeting at 5:45 p.m. to discuss a legal matter related to an inducement resolution, an economic development/contractual matter and a legal update. The session will continue after the meeting if needed.
Regular council meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays each month at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at the Lancaster County Administration Building.
Council meetings are open to the public. Council agenda packets are available online at www.mylancastersc.org/, by looking under the Government Tab and then clicking Agendas and Minutes.