What is an Urban Growth Area?
The Urban Growth Area is defined as an area that is appropriate for future development and includes Lancaster City or a Borough at its center, developed portions of Townships, and additional lands suitable to accommodate new development. In combination, these lands should have sufficient development capacity to meet future land use needs over a 25-year period without constraining the development market. In order to allow the market to act freely, Lancaster County Planning Commission advises municipalities to provide double the projected development acreage for the next ten years when designing Urban Growth Area Boundaries.

Development in Urban Growth Areas should be provided with a full range of public infrastructure services, including both public sewer and public water service with sufficient capacity to support the intended density and intensity of development. Residential development in Urban Growth Areas should occur at an average net density of 7.5 dwellings per residential acre and non-residential development should occur at intensities which maximize the use of land and infrastructure. Urban Growth Areas are given official standing by their incorporation on Future Land Use Maps and through adoption in County and local comprehensive plans.

Show All Answers

1. If I file a complaint with the Township, will it remain confidential?
2. Can I change the zoning district designation of my property?
3. What are setbacks?
4. Where can I find a zoning permit?
5. What is a building permit?
6. What is a Certificate of Use and Occupancy?
7. What is a comprehensive plan?
8. Do I need a permit to re-pave my driveway?
9. Where can I find information on housing assistance for owners, landlords or developers?
10. Where can I get 2010 US Census data?
11. What exactly is zoning?
12. What is a zoning ordinance?
13. What is a permitted use?
14. What is a special exception?
15. What is the Zoning Hearing Board?
16. What is a variance?
17. What is a conditional use?
18. What is a Planned Residential Development (PRD)?
19. What is a Cluster Development?
20. What is a Transferable Development Right (TDR)?
21. What is the Transferable Development Right Program and Origin in Manheim Township?
22. How many Transferable Development Rights are assigned to property in Manheim Township?
23. What is the Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 (MPC)?
24. What is a Designated Growth Area?
25. What is an Urban Growth Area?
26. What is a Village Growth Area?
27. What is Growing Together?
28. What is the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee?
29. What is a Home Occupation?
30. What is an easement?
31. What is riparian buffer?
32. What are prime agricultural soils?
33. What is a floodplain?
34. What are Best Management Practices (BMPs)?
35. What is the Land Use Advisory Board (LUAB)?
36. What is the Planning Commission?
37. What is an Official Map?
38. What is a Historic Resource?
39. What is a Codified Ordinance?