Springettsbury Township does not need a Shopping Center at a Busy Intersection
Places That Matter in Springettsbury Township
A shopping center is envisioned on the northeast corner of East Market Street and Mt. Zion Road in Springettsbury Township. Spring Lane LLC has proposed rezoning this corner in order to build a shopping center. It is the corner where three 19th Century homes and the iconic Modernaire Motel front the Lincoln Highway; i.e. East Market Street. These places matter in Springettsbury Township; however the bigger question is: Does Springettsbury Township really need another Shopping Center; especially at such a busy intersection?
RETAIL SPACE UNDER UTILIZED
There is already a lot of built retail space, not being utilized in the township. I know it is all about being in a very visible location, which is why Spring Lane LLC wants to rezone the property at the East Market Street and Mt. Zion Road crossroads to build a shopping center.
FOOD STORES
Within one mile of that location there are five major food stores, all with easy access. With the congested traffic at the proposed intersection, it is going to be difficult to get in and out of the discount grocery store Lidl, that has already committed to the proposed shopping center.
VISIBLE LOCATION vs. TRAFFIC VOLUME
The Shopping Center plans show a bank, again a bank in a very visible location, but if traffic volumes make it difficult to get to, will it go the way of another bank in the township at a very visible location that is now shuttered; Metro Bank on corner of Haines Road and Mt. Rose Avenue.
PLANNING COMMISSION
With very little discussion the Springettsbury Township Planning Commission indicated that four of the five reasons that the York County Planning Commission gave for not recommending this rezoning request were flawed. If I were told my work was flawed, I’d sure want a chance to defend my work. I think it would be a wise move by the Township to request the York County Planning Commission Staff to provide the specific references in the Springettsbury Township Comprehensive Plan that they used to make their comments. This would be very useful information for the Supervisors to have when making their decision about the rezoning request.
TRAFFIC
The Springettsbury Township Planning Commission did not contest the fifth point, brought up by the York County Planning Commission; that rezoning would increase traffic on already congested high volume roadways. The Springettsbury Township Planning Commission indicated traffic increases could be mitigated. One suggestion was to install a traffic light at the Market Street entrance to Springetts Manor Apartments to get more traffic flowing via the road next to the Paddock back to Eastern Boulevard. I guess traffic headed south on Mt. Zion Road could use the roads through Springetts Manor Apartments as a relief route. Which is not great news for residents of the apartments.
TOWN CENTER
The Attorney for Spring Lane LLC, Jeff Lobach, presented this rezoning request at the Township Planning Commission as an idyllic Towns Center where residents of the neighboring Springetts Manor, Lafayette Plaza, and Yorkshire Apartments would walk to do their grocery shopping. I know that Adaptive Traffic Control is the buzz word, however will it be good enough to regulate the additional automobile traffic in addition to all these residents crossing these busy roads with their shopping carts. Is that what residents of Springettsbury Township really want for this already congested intersection?
If you have an opinion, let the Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors know it; because this decision ultimately rests in their hands. The Board of Supervisors meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM in the Township Building at 1501 Mt. Zion Road (for September those dates are the 10th and 24th). Public Comment is taken early in the meetings.
Related posts include:
- Mount Zion Commons coming in Spring of 2024
- These Places Matter in Springettsbury Township
- Bloomingdale, a Remarkable Historic Home
- The WEISER Sign in the Attic
- The Modernaire Motel, A Classic on The Lincoln Highway
- Builders of the Modernaire Motel
- Lost Landmark?
- Answering Your Questions about Rezoning for a Shopping Center on Corner of East Market Street and Mt. Zion Road in Springettsbury Township
- Letter to the Editor got Results in Springettsbury Township
- Rezoning Effort continues along Market Street and Mount Zion Corridor
