Council delays second reading on 71.1-acre rezoning amid connectivity concerns

Lancaster County Council on March 9 unanimously postponed the second reading of ordinance 20-26-2012, a request to rezone about 71.1 acres at Charlotte Highway and Laurel Hill Road from Low Density Residential to Regional Business, until staff and the applicant resolve newly raised connectivity issues.

Ben Johnson, speaking for the applicant C.F. Smith, told the council he had learned about the connectivity concerns late the previous afternoon and asked for more time. "We'd like to defer it till we can look into it and clear it up," Johnson said, asking the council to put the item back on a future agenda after investigation.

Brian Long, representing Widewaters Group and owners of the nearby Parkstone development, warned of immediate harm if access is changed. He said Parkstone obtained a full access permit at Parkstone Drive that emergency responders rely on and that the applicant has not negotiated the cross‑access agreements Parkstone’s approvals presumed. "The applicant does not have cross access agreement as required under the UDL," Long said, adding that redirecting traffic to a new signal could imperil safety and increase maintenance costs for Parkstone residents.

Council members also sought clarity on whether the county's moratorium on residential applications affects a commercial rezoning that permits multifamily uses. Planning staff had recommended approval of RZ‑2025‑2538, while the planning commission had recommended denial by unanimous vote; council members asked staff to confirm how the moratorium interacts with permitted uses under the regional business district.

After discussion, Chairman Karnes and members agreed to add a 60‑day limit to the deferral so the item would return to the agenda once connectivity issues were investigated; the motion to defer with that condition passed unanimously.

What happens next: council staff will verify the legal effect of the moratorium on any residential proposals and the parties will work to resolve cross‑access or connectivity concerns. The item will return to a future council meeting within the 60‑day window unless the council extends the period.