Crossings stormwater plan nixed

Township denies developer’s request

By LARRY ALEXANDER, Staff --
From the Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster, PA
Published: Sep 10, 2008

Correction/Clarification — The story below, posted on LancasterOnline Tuesday, incorrectly described the prospects of The Crossings at Conestoga Creek shopping center. Manheim Township's rejection on Monday of a revised stormwater plan halts the project at least temporarily. The developer has several options. It could: ask the commissioners to revise the township's floodplain ordinance; proceed with the land development and provide more engineering detail, then reapply for permission; or reduce the size of the project to lessen stormwater runoff.

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Concerns about flooding along the Little Conestoga Creek led Manheim Township's board of commissioners to turn down a revised stormwater plan for a proposed shopping center.

By a vote of 3-2, the commissioners denied High Family Partnership's request to modify plans for The Crossings at Conestoga Creek, a $100 million, 650,000-square-foot shopping complex proposed for a former 90-acre farm opposite Long's Park.

Commissioners Mike Flanagan, Nancy Keebler and Rick Casselbury Jr., voted against the proposal, with Carol Simpson and Larry Downing voting in favor.

High had asked for permission to reduce the number of stormwater retention basins and flood elevations while enlarging the flood-plain volume and surface areas. High also wanted to construct an acre of riparian buffer along the creek for each acre of reduced 100-year flood plain.

In rejecting the developer's request, Keebler read a letter from Arro Consulting Group, an engineering firm hired by the township, recommending rejection of the plan, saying it does not conform with the township's stormwater requirements...

Read the full story: Crossings stormwater plan nixed: Township denies developer’s request