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Letter from Lengerich
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[This letter sent to the Hershey Chronicle] Letter to the Editor: It was heartening to see so
many citizens turn out at the Thursday meeting on
preserving open space in Derry Township.
We must continue to question the impact of
rapid and intensive development on our township
environment. A
public hearing next Tuesday, 3/23, at 5:30 PM, will
address the proposed cluster housing for the
Espenshade property on Swatara Creek.
To give some background, last January in the
midst of a snowstorm and despite unanimous
opposition by Derry Township residents, Derry
Township supervisors voted to change the zoning from
agricultural /conservation to village residential on
the Espenshade field and wooded creek bank.
The proposal to be addressed at Tuesday’s
public hearing is that of allowing cluster housing
of 44 homes, a road and cul-de-sac on less than 10
acres. I encourage residents to go to
the township office, look at the plans, attend the
hearing and ask the Supervisors what is happening
here. How
does intensive development benefit township
residents? How
are we dealing with the negative aspects on our
schools, traffic threading a mile or more through
existing neighborhoods before it can exit to a major
road? Have
the developers presented an alternative plan that is
feasible, considering the steep topography, existing
easements, and the underlying geology?
Will this intensive development actually save
any open space land when you consider that no one
can build on the steep creek bank or over a main
sewer line under any zoning?
What is the lost opportunity for parkland? See you Tuesday night,3/23 5:30
pm at the township building. Becky Lengerich |
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