Background

For more than six years, Lancaster General Health has met publicly with West Earl Township officials about building new medical facilities in Northeastern Lancaster County.

Northeastern Lancaster County is a rapidly growing community where the need for healthcare services is on the rise. Currently, one in four Lancaster General Health patients come from this community, which helps explain why we would like to expand in this area. We want our patients to have access to an LG Health facility that is closer to where they live, so that they can spend more time with their healthcare provider and less time behind the wheel of their car.

This timeline provides a list of upcoming and completed meetings where the project will be discussed. We encourage the public to attend and participate in these meetings.

Past Events

• Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 – West Earl  Township rezoning hearing 
  
  • West Earl Township Supervisors unanimously approve LG Health's request to change its Northeastern Lancaster County property from Commercial zoning, to Professional Enterprise. Change permits medical services, including outpatient care, physician offices and a hospital, to be built on the property.

• Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 – Lancaster County Planning Commission Meeting
  • The Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) reviewed LG Health’s re-zoning request for usage for consistency with Lancaster County’s comprehensive plan, and the 2003 Conestoga Valley Joint Comprehensive Plan (which includes West Earl Township)
  • LCPC recommends West Earl Township Supervisors change the zoning of LG Health’s property from Commercial zoning, to Professional Enterprise, to allow for North Campus project
  • Read the meeting minutes

• Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 – East Lampeter Township Board of Supervisors Meeting
  • The East Lampeter Township Board of Supervisors reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise. The Supervisors unanimously voted to indicate that the zoning change “is generally consistent with the CV Region Comprehensive Plan.” However, their recommendation has no jurisdiction over West Earl Township’s Board of Supervisors

• Monday, July 27, 2009 – West Earl Township Board of Supervisors Meeting
  • West Earl Township Board of Supervisors reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise and voted to authorize that a public hearing on the request be scheduled and advertised

• Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – West Earl Township Planning Commission Meeting
  • West Earl Township Planning Commission reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise and voted to recommend the request be approved by the West Earl Township Board of Supervisors

• Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – East Lampeter Township Board of Supervisors Meeting
  • The East Lampeter Township Board of Supervisors reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise. The Supervisors voted to recommend that the property’s zoning be changed as requested in West Earl Township. However, their recommendation has no jurisdiction over West Earl Township’s Board of Supervisors

• Monday, July 20, 2009 – East Lampeter Township Planning Commission Meeting
  • The East Lampeter Township Planning Commission reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise. The Commission unanimously voted to find that “…the proposal is generally consistent with the CV Comp Plan.” However, their recommendation has no jurisdiction over West Earl Township’s Board of Supervisors.

• Monday, July 20, 2009 – Conestoga Valley School District School Board Meeting
  • The Conestoga Valley School Board reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise.

• Thursday, July 16, 2009 – Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors Meeting
  • The Upper Leacock Township Board of Supervisors reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise. The Supervisors unanimously voted to find that the request “…is generally consistent with the Conestoga Valley Joint Comprehensive Plan.” However, the decision has no jurisdiction over West Earl Township’s Board of Supervisors.

• Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – Upper Leacock Township Planning Commission Meeting
  • The Upper Leacock Township Planning Commission reviewed LG Health’s request to change the zoning of its North Campus property from Commercial to Professional Enterprise. The Commission unanimously voted to find the LG Health request “… is generally consistent with the Conestoga Valley Joint Comprehensive Plan. However, the recommendation has no jurisdiction over West Earl Township’s Board of Supervisors.

   

• Fall/Winter 2008 – Spring 2009
  • Proposed zoning changes are discussed between LG Health and West Earl Township leaders. A final draft of the guidelines outlined for the “Professional Enterprise” zoning designation is written for consideration by West Earl Township leaders, East Lampeter and Upper Leacock townships, and the Lancaster County Planning Commission.

• June 2008
  • Lancaster General Health presents proposed language to West Earl Township leaders that would change zoning of its property at Routes 222 and 322 from “C-2 Commercial” to “Professional Enterprise.” Discussions also continue regarding obtaining public water and sewer service to the property.

• April 2008
  • Lancaster General Health and Ephrata Community Hospital officials meet publicly with West Earl Township Supervisors to discuss a collaborative approach to providing medical services for growing Northeastern Lancaster County. They outline future healthcare demand in the region and what types of services could be established to meet that demand.

• October 2007
  • LG Health reopens dialogue with West Earl Township Planning Commission regarding providing healthcare services at its township site.

   

• 2006-2007
  • LG Health officials hold public meetings with West Earl Township officials to identify ways to secure public water and sewer services for its property.

• May 2005
  • LG Health leaders present an update on the health system’s plans to provide medical services in Northeastern Lancaster County to the West Earl Township Board of Supervisors.

• November 2003
  • Lancaster General Health withdraws plans for a medical facility, citing concerns about the ability of on-site wells to produce a sufficient supply of water. LG Health begins effort to secure public water and sewer for medical services on the property.

• October 2003
  • West Earl Township Zoning Hearing Board considers Lancaster General Health’s proposal to build an outpatient facility on the health system’s commercially zoned property.

• August 2003
  • West Earl Township Supervisors adopt Conestoga Valley Joint Comprehensive Plan, the “end result of a twenty-four month cooperative planning effort between East Lampeter, Upper Leacock, and West Earl townships.” The plan, which recommends how the three municipalities should grow over the next several years, makes specific reference to Lancaster General Health’s property at Routes 222 and 322. It notes: “The expectation is any new business development would bring public utilities to the area. The area is a prime target for business development based on its location to the interchange area…”
    
    As a result of the plan’s adoption, the LG Health property is included within one of Lancaster County’s Urban Growth Boundary.

   

• 2003
  • Lancaster General Health purchases 68 acres of commercially zoned property in West Earl Township, at the intersection of Routes 222 and 322. The property had been zoned for commercial development since at least 1982.