Hempfield moves forward with proposed zoning changes

Marijuana manufacturing and processing facilities wanting to open up shop in Hempfield are restricted to specific areas of the township.

During Monday’s public meeting, supervisors voted to limit where the facilities can open to agricultural, light industrial and heavy industrial zones by special exception. It was one of several changes made to the zoning ordinance as township leaders plan for future developments.

“In the past, our zoning ordinance did not address the manufacturing or processing of marijuana at all,” said Patrick Karnash, director of planning and zoning for the township. “As we have seen trends across the country change, we have taken that into account. We wanted to get ahead of that trend.”

Other changes made to the ordinance include the expansion of the corridor enhancement overlay district, creating map changes for three properties and defining food trucks.

The corridor enhancement overlay district — which spans all of Route 30 and parts of Route 119 and Route 66 — will now include Donohoe and Georges Station roads that have been subject to proposed developments, Karnash said.

The district is designed to improve traffic and pedestrian circulation and safety. It also creates a consistency in lot layout and design, Karnash said, adding, “Past development along these corridors has led to increased traffic congestion, large expanses of parking, inadequate pedestrian access and unappealing visual clutter.”

Moving forward, township officials hope new construction and redevelopment of existing sites will enhance function and appearance of the roadways.

The second portion of the zoning ordinance includes map changes for a township owned property on Walden Court as well as properties along Route 136 owned by the Hempfield Area School District and a private owner. The properties will be rezoned to institutional, which allows for several kinds of developments like schools and essential services.

Karnash said the reasoning behind the change is to create a continuous zoning district.

The original proposal included a township owned property along Route 136. Supervisor Doug Weimer nixed the property during the vote, stating, “Seeing as the township does not have a current plan for the property it owns on 136, I don’t see why we need to make a change there at this time.”

The final change defined food trucks as a temporary business.

“In the past, Hempfield Township has not had any provisions that really controlled or had any way of knowing what food trucks are operating within the township, so this adds that as a temporary business and therefore we can monitor who is in the township and doing business within our boundaries,” Karnash said.

Township Supervisors Weimer, Tom Logan and John Silvis voted in favor of the ordinance changes. Board Chair George Reese voted against the changes, and Supervisor Rob Ritson was not present at the meeting.