Ordinance Amendments

The following ordinance proposes to amend Chapter 138 to include provisions for private fire hydrants and outdoor wood-fired boilers.

Chapter 138-Draft Ordinance-Revised 05/23/23

A draft ordinance to amend certain sections within Chapter 138 was first discussed with the Board of Commissioners on May 3, 2023 and then again on May 17, 2023.  Discussion continued on June 7, 2023, with the Board of Commissioners authorizing advertisement of the ordinance for consideration to adopt.

The Board of Commissioners will consider the ordinance at their June 21, 2023 meeting.

Update:  The Board of Commissioners, at their meeting on June 21, 2023, adopted Ordinance # 825 amending Chapter 138.

First Posted: 04/19/23
Last Updated: 06/22/23

The Township recently hired Navarro & Wright Consulting Engineers, Inc. to review the township’s four municipal historic districts to determine why the districts were established.  In doing so, the consultant provided their recommendation as to whether the current district boundary for each respective district should remain as is, be dissolved, or if its borders should be redrawn based on the criteria in which the district was established.  

The Reassessment Report prepared by Navarro & Wright Consulting Engineers, Inc. can be found here.  The Report recommends restructuring the district boundaries for the Shepherdstown Municipal Historic District.  A comparison map showing the existing and recommended boundary lines can be found here.

HARB provided recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.  They recommended Rosegarden, Trout Run, and Yellow Breeches Historic Districts remain as is.  They recommended the Shepherdstown Historic District be remapped as suggested by Navarro & Wright, but to include 239, 301, and 303 Gettysburg Pike in the district.  HARB’s recommendations were presented to the Board of Commissioners on November 16, 2022.   

Update: The Board of Commissioners discussed the different historic districts during their November 16, 2022 and December 21, 2022 meetings.  The Board of Commissioners has provided direction on how to proceed with amending the Shepherdstown Historic District boundary, and clarifying the Yellow Breeches Historic District boundary.  The Township will begin working on updates to Chapter 155, to include a new historic district map.  Information will continue to be posted to this page as it becomes available.  

If you live in the Shepherdstown or Yellow Breeches district and have information regarding the history of your home that you would like to share, please contact Jennifer Boyer at jboyer@uatwp.org.  The information could be used to assist with the creation of specific criteria for your district.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: At this time, no action has been taken to dissolve any of the districts nor remove any properties from the districts.  If your property is currently within one of the four official historic districts, then you are required to seek a Certificate of Appropriateness for most improvements to the exterior of your property.  This requires review by the HARB and the Board of Commissioners.  Please contact the Community Development Department if you are unsure as to whether your property is in one of our districts, or to discuss your next project idea!

First Posted: 10/05/22
Last Updated: 12/22/22

The following ordinance proposes to amend Chapters 181 and 217 to include provisions regarding noise pollution.

Township Noise Ordinance (Draft 12/06/23)

This draft ordinance was discussed with the Board of Commissioners on December 6, 2023, with the Board of Commissioners authorizing advertisement of the ordinance for consideration to adopt.  A copy of the public notice announcement is available here to view.  A summary sheet of the proposed ordinance is available here.

The Board of Commissioners will discuss and shall consider for adoption the ordinance at their December 20, 2023 meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m., prevailing time.  

First Posted: 12/07/23
Last Updated: 

The following ordinance proposes amendments to Chapter 233, Vehicles and Traffic.  This ordinance was first discussed with the Board of Commissioners on June 21, 2023.  The Commissioners have authorized the advertisement of the ordinance for consideration to adopt at their July 19, 2023 meeting.

On July 19, 2023, the Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance # 827.  A copy can be seen here.  

First Posted: 06/22/23
Last Updated: 07/25/23

MS4 municipalities must adopt a Stormwater Management ordinance consistent with the DEP’s current 2022 Model Ordinance. The Township has recently worked with C.S. Davidson (CSD) to develop a new Template Ordinance that will replace our current Chapter 214 Stormwater Management Ordiannce. This new ordinance will incorporate DEP’s minimum standards for process and administration, while incorporating CSD’s best practices for analysis and design. There are opportunities to customize the ordinance to fit the Townships needs while mirroring the DEP Model Ordinance and maintain CSD’s recommended minimum requirements and best management practices.

With the changes being made to our Chapter 214 Stormwater Management Ordinance, the Townships Illegal Discharge Ordinance (Ordinance 721) will also need minor updates to be in line with our new Chapter 214 Ordinance. These minor changes include updated definitions and certain allowable / disallowed discharges. 

A copy of the updated Chapter 214 Stormwater Management Ordinance can be found here. A copy of the updated Illegal Discharge Ordinance (Ordinance 721) can also be found here. 

If you would like to provide comments on these ordinance updates, a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Upper Allen Township Municipal Building, 100 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055. The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners' meeting for Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 6:30 P.M.  will commence after the close of the public hearing. At such time as the regularly scheduled meeting, the Board of Commissioners shall consider for enactment and, if approved by formal action, adopt and enact the proposed ordinances. A copy of the Notice of Public Hearing can be found here. 

Update: During the regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting on February 1st, 2023 at 6:30 PM, the Chapter 214 Stormwater Management Ordinance was repealed and replaced, and the Illegal Discharge Ordinance was amended as detailed above. Signed copies of the ordinances will be posted as soon as available.

Update: A signed copy of the Chapter 214 Stormwater Management Ordinance can be found here. A signed copy of the Illegal Discharge Ordinance can be found here. 

First Posted: 1/17/23
Last Updated: 2/27/23

The Township must amend its floodplain regulations and adopt a new floodplain map and floodplain study from FEMA by September 7, 2023.  For more information about the zoning amendments, floodplain regulations, and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), visit our Floodplain Management page. 

The Township is considering amending its regulations regarding daycares.  These regulations would apply to family child care homes, group child care homes, child care centers, and older adult daily living centers.

There will be opportunities to discuss the ordinance during the public meeting and public hearing process.  Public meeting/public hearing dates and times will be posted as they become known.  

To view the Township's current regulations for daycares, visit the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 245) within our Codified Ordinances.

Draft Ordinance: Daycare Ordinance-Draft 08-2023;  Daycare Ordinance-Draft 09-2023

Note: During the June 21st Board of Commissioners' meeting, public proposals were also discussed in addition to the draft ordinance. The public proposals included reducing the setback distance for fences and reducing the off-street parking requirements.  These suggestions will be discussed further, and if deemed appropriate, will be included in subsequent amendments.  

• § 245-14.25. Group child care homes, family child care homes, child care centers and older adult living centers.  Subsection E.   ".....Outdoor play areas shall not be located within the front yard and must be set back 25 feet from all property lines...."
• • Public proposal:  Reduce the setback requirement either with neighbors' consent or to match that of the building setback.

• § 245-17.2.  Daycare centers.  The off-street parking requirement is 1 space for every employee on the largest shift, plus one space for every six students, plus off-street waiting spaces to accommodate at least six automobiles.
• • Public proposal: Reduce to one space per every six students or one space per employee plus three spaces for customers.

Planning Commission meeting: 07/31/23.  

Board of Commissioner meeting to establish a public hearing date: 09/06/23

Public Hearing: 10/04/23 at 6:00 p.m.  Public Hearing Ad Summary

Board of Commissioner meeting to consider adoption of the ordinance: 10/04/23 at 6:30 p.m., prevailing time (following close of public hearing).  Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance #828.

First Posted: 06/26/23
Last Updated: 10/05/23

The Township is considering amending its regulations regarding signs.  The Township's sign regulations have not been completely updated since 2006.  This ordinance amendment seeks to incorporate new best practices, along with appropriate provisions from federal and state court decisions involving signage.  This ordinance amendment  also incorporates additional and modern definitions for signs and sign-related material, and incorporates the use of some images and charts to better explain regulations.  The sign regulations would apply to all permanent and temporary signs.  

Draft Ordinance: Sign Ordinance-Draft 06/23; Sign Ordinance-Draft 08/23 

The draft ordinance proposes to repeal and replace Article 18 within the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 245).  

There will be opportunities to discuss the ordinance during the public meeting and public hearing process.  Public meeting/public hearing dates and times will be posted as they become known.  

Planning Commission meeting: Discussed 07/31/23.  Discussion to continue on 08/28/23.  Recommended conditional approval on 08/28/23.

Board of Commissioner meeting to set a public hearing date: 09/20/23.  Public hearing date not determined.  Time provided for public comments.  A public hearing date will be determined at a future meeting in 2023.

Public Hearing: Date TBD

Board of Commissioner meeting: Date TBD

Please check back periodically for updates.

First Posted: 06/22/23
Last Updated: 09/21/23

Messiah University ("Applicant) has submitted a petition to request a Zoning Map change to one of their properties.  They are requesting the property at 403 Grantham Road, Tax Parcel # 42-30-2112-029EX, be rezoned from Medium Density Residential (R-2) to Institutional (INS). The Applicant has stated the reason for their request is to have this parcel of land zoned the same as their other adjoining properties.

Any change in zoning districts requires an amendment to the Township's Zoning Map, which is made part of the Township's Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 245 (Section 245-3.3).  

Map Amendment Request

To view the Township's Zoning Map, click here: Maps

There will be opportunities to discuss the zoning map amendment request during the public meeting and public hearing process.  Public meeting/public hearing dates will be posted as they become known.  

Planning Commission meeting: Reviewed on 11/27/23.  Recommended approval.

Board of Commissioner meeting to set a public hearing date: 12/06/23

Public Hearing Date and Time: 02/07/24 at 6:00 p.m.  

Board of Commissioner meeting to consider adoption and enactment of the proposed amendment: 02/07/24

Please check back periodically for updates.

First Posted: 10/20/23
Last Updated: 12/07/23