Round 5 (November 2024)

Growth Area Recalibration

Municipal governments (city, boroughs, and townships) first established designated growth areas about 30 years ago, working with the Lancaster County Planning Commission (now Department). There are two types:

Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) include the city and/or at least one borough
Village Growth Areas (VGAs) include a village with sewer service and 50+ dwelling units

Designated growth areas have no regulatory power of their own, but municipalities typically zone the land within them for residential, commercial, mixed-use, or industrial development.

Since the 1990s, LCPD had not comprehensively reviewed growth area boundaries. In the fall of 2024, rather than holding regional meetings in each planning area, LCPD staff met with small groups of local decision makers to discuss potential adjustments to these boundaries.

Once we receive municipalities’ input, we’ll create draft maps for local review and potential adoption.

Meeting Materials

For each of the meetings in this round, LCPD staff produced map(s) highlighting areas that might be included in growth areas or removed from them.

Areas Considered for Inclusion

Villages (not yet designated as VGAs) with existing or planned sewer service
Areas that might be appropriate for industrial use
LCPD-identified “focus areas” with buildable land near public transit
Areas that regional comp plans identify as potential areas for growth
“Legacy areas” – Development outside but adjacent to growth area boundaries

Areas Considered for Removal

Rural Villages that were once VGAs but lack the sewer service needed for significant growth
Preserved farms inside a growth area and adjacent to a growth area boundary
Parcels that municipalities have identified as unlikely to develop or have sewer service

Sample Maps

As an example of the maps we produced for review in Round 5, we’ve included a map of the eastern boundary of the Metro area, together with a photo of some of the municipal comments we received. Although LCPD staff are providing input into this process, municipalities are in the driver’s seat!