Author: Justin Evans

Help Wanted: Township Manager

Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County, is seeking candidates for Township Manager to lead our growing community of over 10,700 residents. As a Second-Class Township, a five-member Board of Supervisors sets the Township’s policies and annual budget, with the Township Manager advising the Board on those and other administrative matters.  Mount Joy Township has a $5+ million General Fund budget and maintains 66 miles of roadway and 3 public parks.

The Township Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the Township Administration and works directly with the Township Roadmaster to oversee the Public Works Department. Individuals with strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills are invited to apply. Five years of experience in municipal government with a bachelor’s degree in public administration or equivalent degree, or a comparable combination of education and experience, are minimum qualifications for the ideal candidate. Additional highly desirable skills include:

  • Fiscal management and budget preparation
  • Community relations and relationship building with residents and organizations, including strong facilitation and problem-solving skills.
  • Knowledge of the PA Second Class Township Code
  • Staffing of public meetings such as the Board of Supervisors, Park, and Recreation Board, etc.
  • Oversight of employees

This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits including health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, and pension through the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System. Dental and vision insurance are also offered. Wage is commensurate with experience and education. Interested candidates can email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to jobs@mtjoytwp.org or mail them to 8853 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 by April 19, 2024.

Township Manager – Job Description

Full-time Help Wanted: Public Works Crew Member

Mount Joy Township is looking for a motivated individual to join our Public Works crew to perform maintenance and construction activities on Township roads, parks and properties. This includes operating Township vehicles and small tools and equipment utilized in the following and other activities as directed by the Township Roadmaster:

1. Perform manual labor on Township construction and maintenance projects.

2. Serve as a helper on power equipment; assist in the servicing and repair of equipment.

3. Assist with painting and carpentry, maintain Township properties, and cut and trim grass.

4. Maintain drainage swales, clean out culverts, fill in washouts.

5. Respond to emergency situations pertaining to Township roads and infrastructure, as directed by the Roadmaster.

A PA Commercial Drivers License is required or the candidate must be able to obtain a CDL promptly after being hired. This is a full-time position with benefits including health insurance, paid time off, and more. The hourly wage is based on experience and qualifications. If interested, please pick up and submit an application to the Mount Joy Township Municipal Office located at 8853 Elizabethtown Road or email Justin Evans with any questions at justin@mtjoytwp.org.

Mount Joy Township Proposes 2024 Budget

At a special meeting held on November 6, 2023, the Mount Joy Township Board of Supervisors proposed a budget for calendar year 2024 of $5,350,393.70. The budget centers on the provision of core Township services including public safety, road and drainage system maintenance, and parks and recreation. The final 2024 budget is anticipated to be adopted at the December 18, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Mount Joy Township is proposing no tax increase for 2024.

  • The general revenue rate would remain the same at 2.34 mills.
  • The fire protection tax rate would reman the same at 0.90 mills.

The proposed 3.24-mill rate equates to $3.24 per $1,000 of taxable property value, or $648.00 in annual municipal real estate tax for a property assessed at $200,000.

The proposed budget can be viewed and downloaded here and is available for inspection at the Township Office during office hours. Please visit www.mtjoytwp.org or call 717-367-8917 to speak with Township Manager Ryan Minnich (ryan@mtjoytwp.org) with any questions or comments.

Zoning Ordinance Amendment Petition: General Commercial District (Pennmark)

Ordinance NOT ADOPTED by a 3-2 vote of the Board of Supervisors on January 15, 2024.

Petition to Amend the Zoning Ordinance (rezone 22 acres from C-1 to C-2 General Commercial)

LCPC Comments

Timeline for Proposed Ordinance:

1/15/2024 – Public Hearing Before the Board of Supervisors (scheduled)

12/18/2023 – Public Hearing Before the Board of Supervisors (postponed)

12/4/2023 – Township Planning Commission Review; tabled until 12/20/2023 meeting

10/30/2023 – Petition Accepted by Board of Supervisors

Zoning Hearing Board File – Case #230003 (Elizabethtown Mount Joy Assoc., LP / Pennmark)

The decision to deny the requested variances in Case #230003 was rendered by the Zoning Hearing Board at their Wednesday, October 4, 2023 meeting. You can view the written decision here.

ZHB Case #230003 – Applicant/Landowner: Elizabethtown Mount Joy Associates, L.P. (a.k.a. Elizabethtown Associates, Inc. and Elizabethtown Associates), 1000 Germantown Pike, Suite A-2, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 – Property Information: The site consists of two parcels generally located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Cloverleaf Road and West Main Street: 1) Cloverleaf Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552; Tax Parcel ID #461-00486-0-0000, and 2) W. Main Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552; Tax Parcel ID #461-82176-0-0000; both are within the C-1 Limited Commercial District – Applicant is seeking approval of the following sections of Chapter 135 of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Mount Joy, i.e. the Mount Joy Township Zoning Ordinance of 2012, as amended: variances of 1) Article XIII, §135-122 to permit a shopping center in the C-1 District, 2) Article XIII, §135-122 to permit vehicular fuel pumps in the C-1 District, 3) Article XXII, §135-256.A(1) to permit a shopping center in excess of 50,000 sf. in the C-1 District, and 4) Article XXII, §135-256.A(3) to permit vehicular fuel pumps in the C-1 District. The applicant desires to develop the site as a retail shopping center.

Case #230003: Elizabethtown Mount Joy Associates, L.P.

Continuance Letter from Applicant

Application

Scheduling Letter for June 7, 2023 Hearing

Applicant’s Exhibit Package Submitted at 6/7/2023 Hearing (A-1 thru A-21)

Applicant Exhibit A-22

July 26, 2023 Meeting Minutes

June 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes

Applicant’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

 

UPDATED SUBMISSION MATERIALS:

Letter Amending Application

Addendum to ZHB Application

Exhibit “A” – Deed

Exhibit “B” – Site Plan

Exhibit “C” – Lighting Plan

Exhibit “D” – Landscape Plan

Exhibit “E” – Traffic Study Vol. 1 / Vol. 2

Exhibit “F” – Transportation Details and Design Incentives

Exhibit “G” – Streetscape Details

Exhibit “H” – Aldi Rendering / Shopping Center Rendering

Exhibit “I – Wawa Rendering

 

ORIGINAL SUBMISSION MATERIALS:

Addendum to ZHB Application

Exhibit “A” – Deed

Exhibit “B” – Site Plan

Exhibit “C” – Lighting Plan

Exhibit “D” – Landscape Plan

Exhibit “E” – Traffic Study Vol. 1 / Vol. 2

Exhibit “F” – Transportation Details and Design Incentives

Exhibit “G” – Streetscape Details

Exhibit “H” – Architectural Rendering

Case #230003 Scheduling Letter (3/13/2023)

Regional Comprehensive Plan Update

With the help of the Lancaster County Planning Department (LCPD), Mount Joy Township is updating its Comprehensive Plan through a regional planning effort. The 2010 Regional Strategic Plan for Elizabethtown Borough and the Townships of Conoy, Mount Joy, and West Donegal was adopted as our Comprehensive Plan.

The update process was kicked off by rebooting last year’s public opinion survey in early 2023. Redistributing the survey paid off, returning around 360 responses through mid-May as opposed to just 50 received in 2022. You can view the public survey findings summary and survey comments matrix by clicking the links. Notes from the April 12, 2023 Regional Elected Officials Meeting also provide feedback gained from the public at large and elected officials that evening.

LCPD kicked off our region’s process by working with our 2010 Regional Plan and Lancaster County’s Places2040 to create a framework for an implementable comp plan versus an encyclopedic document with an extensive list of tasks to complete. The goal is to identify key strategic issues to explore and develop impactful action items to implement.

2023 Comp Plan Working Documents

Mount Joy Township Update Review Committee 

A local committee has been created to review the draft plan, provide feedback, and develop strategies to implement the key objectives. The committee meetings are scheduled for 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, June 6th
  • Wednesday, June 28th
  • Monday, July 31st

Improvements to Conewago Trail Crossing at Rt. 743 (Hershey Rd.)

Notice: Work planned to be completed at the Conewago Recreation Trail and SR 0743 (Hershey Road) intersection.

In July 2020, PennDOT conducted a public survey in order to gather input from trail users regarding the safety concerns at the SR 0743/Conewago Recreational Trail Crossing.

Approximately 1/3 of trail users responded that when utilizing the trail, they do not continue across SR 0743.  More than 75% of these users cited safety concerns as their reason for not continuing through the crossing.  Regarding trail access at this location, users indicated that their main concern was a lack of available and safe parking, especially along SR 0743.

A study was then completed by PennDOT in order to identify potential treatment options associated with the SR 0743 / Conewago Recreation Trail crossing. , A study presentation, summary report, and public comment form were posted to the PennDOT District 8-0 project Public Meeting Page following completion of the survey.  The documents presented three (3) treatment options, including improved signage, post-mounted flashing beacons, and overhead flashing beacons, to address the concerns identified by survey respondents. 

One-hundred and forty-eight (148) responses were received with respect to the treatment options, with the overhead flashing beacon being the preferred improvement.  The three (3) treatment options, along with the results of the study and the survey, were then presented to Lancaster County and Mount Joy Township.  PennDOT secured funding through their Multimodal Transportation Fund in order to proceed with the design and construction of the preferred alternative: the overhead flashing beacon. 

In 2022, PennDOT began work with the project engineering team to finalize construction plans and obtain project-specific clearances and permits.  During the course of the design process, additional traffic data was collected and a signal warrant analysis with more recent information was conducted.  The warrant analysis concluded that overhead flashing beacons proposed in the original study were no longer sufficient and that the trail crossing of SR 0743 warrants full traffic signals.

As a result of the additional study and design work, the intersection improvements now include new traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings.  The traffic signals will be used to stop oncoming traffic after the signal has been triggered by approaching trail users so that they may cross safely. Trail users will activate the signal via automatic detection sensors or by manually pressing push button activators.  Advanced warning signs will be installed along the SR 0743 approaches to alert motorists to the trail crossing.  In addition to the signal installation, the trail will be reconstructed and paved with asphalt on both sides of SR 0743 to provide level areas near the roadway. 

Work is scheduled to begin in Late Summer 2023 and will be conducted during nighttime hours.  The trail will be open for use during regular daytime hours.

The conceptual plans can be viewed at this link.

Feedback on the proposed design can be submitted here: SR743Crossing@RVE.com 

Panattoni Warehouse #1 – Land Development File

Warehouse #1 Files

Transmittal Form

Land Development Plans: p.1-14 / p.15-19 / p.20-29 / p.30-43 / p.44-54

Stormwater Management Report / Maps

Wetland Delineation

Traffic Study Scoping Application (2023-01-06) / Att. #1 / Att. #2 / Att. #3 / Att. #4 / Att. #5

Township Engineer 2023-01-30 ReviewTraffic Engineer 2023-01-17 Review

Phase 1 Traffic Study Application (2023-03-13) / Att. #1 / Att. #2 / Att. #3 / Att. #4

 

NPDES Permit Submission (2023-01-05) Files

LCCD Application

E&S Plan Set: p.1-8 / p.9-15 / p.16-24 / Report

PCSM Plan Set / Report / Maps

NOI

Geotechnical Report

Waters of the US Delineation

Bog Turtle Phase 1 Report

Preliminary Wetland Determination

 

Panattoni Warehouse #1 – Zoning Hearing File

Case #230001 Application

ZHB Written Decision (7/13/2023)

Case #230001 Scheduling Letter for 1/17/2023 HearingProof of Publication

Case #230001 Scheduling Letter for 2/15/2023 HearingProof of Publication

Case #230001 Scheduling Letter for 3/9/2023 HearingProof of Publication

Case #230001 Scheduling Letting for 7/13/2023 MeetingProof of Publication

Traffic Report / Landscaping & Lighting / Building Rendering / Building Elevations

Applicant’s Exhibits Submitted at 1/17/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-1 Submitted at 2/15/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-2 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-3 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-4 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-5 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-6 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Myers-7 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Bucher-1 Submitted at 2/15/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Sollenberger-1 Submitted at 3/9/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Bucher-2 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Thompson-1 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Thompson-2 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Thompson-3 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Thompson-4 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Stevens-1 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Stevens-2 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Stevens-3 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Stevens-4 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Stevens-5 Submitted at 4/18/2023 Hearing

Exhibit Haines-1 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing

Exhibit A-14 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing

Exhibit A-15 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing

Exhibit A-16 Submitted at 4/27/2023 Hearing

Approved Minutes of the 1/17/2023 Hearing

Approved Minutes of the 2/15/2023 Hearing

Approved Minutes of the 3/9/2023 Hearing

Approved Minutes of the 4/18/2023 Hearing

DRAFT Minutes of the 4/27/2023 Hearing

Party Filings After Closure of the Hearing:

Applicant – Findings of Fact

MJT – Findings of Fact / Memorandum of Law

Myers – Findings of Fact

The Mount Joy Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a special public meeting on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 6:00 P.M., prevailing time, at The Young Center For Anabaptist Studies on the Elizabethtown College campus, One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 (GPS Address of the Young Center: 400 Campus Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022), to render a decision on the following application, which follows the close of all testimony and public comment at the Thursday, April 27, 2023 hearing. The public is cordially invited to attend the meeting.  No further testimony, argument, or public comment shall take place at this special meeting.  Persons with disabilities who require any auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to observe should contact the Township Office at least five days before the above date to discuss how your needs may be best accommodated. 

ZHB Case #230001 – Applicant: PDC Northeast LPIV, LLC, 2442 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA 92612 – Landowner: Franklin B. Greiner, Jr., 1650 Steel Way, Mount Joy, PA 17552 – Property Information: Tax Parcel ID #461-89922-0-0000, located at 2843 Mount Pleasant Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552 and within the LI, Light Industrial District – Applicant is seeking approval of the following section of Chapter 135 of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Mount Joy, i.e. the Mount Joy Township Zoning Ordinance of 2012, as amended: special exceptions pursuant to Article XVII, §135-163.B & §135-163.C to permit an industrial use on the subject property. The applicant desires to construct a 1,006,880-sf. warehouse and associated improvements.

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