Chairmen Gormont, Updyke, and Solicitor Smith ignore and stonewall the Township Planning Commission's motion to amend existing solar ordinance and were called out publicly below to protect the welfare of all tax-paying residents...

Represent all citizens
Nov 10, 2020

Editor, Gettysburg Times,
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code allows townships such as Mount Joy to establish Planning Commissions that function as advisors to the township’s Board of Supervisors.
 
When NextEra Energy presented its industrial-scale solar proposal for the Baltimore Pike Corridor of Mount Joy Township; the Planning Commission unanimously voted against it, citing the size of the project as contrary to the township’s Comprehensive Plan which states “new development will occur, but in ways that fit into the character of the community”. NextEra’s proposal also lacked the storm water management plan required by code.

This is noteworthy because most township drinking water comes from groundwater. Understanding how NextEra addresses runoff and other aspects of storm water management is essential to environmental conservation and to ensuring residents’ health.
 
Many Mount Joy residents have provided information to the Planning Commission related to viewed inadequacies in the current zoning code. Most are concerned that industrial solar factories will adversely affect the township’s character and property values. Consequently, the Planning Commission thoughtfully reviewed the applicable sections of code (with guidance from the township’s paid attorney) then made recommendations for suggested changes that would address several of the deleterious effects of future NextEra-like, industrial solar installations.

However, the Mount Joy Board of Supervisors chose to completely ignore these recommendations at their Oct. 15, 2020 meeting. Chairman Gormont hurriedly read the Commission’s proposal, immediately said “hearing no discussion” (not “is there any discussion?”), then quickly changed the subject. It was unclear if any of the supervisors had bothered to read the Planning Commission’s recommendations or if they had any thoughts on the matter. What was clear is that no discussion took place.

The board is not required to adopt Planning Commission recommendations. However, to simply toss the matter aside like so much garbage showed a total lack of respect for the Mount Joy citizenry and for the work done by the Planning Commission.
In the United States, civil discourse is the hallmark of effective democracy. Bypassing discussion of the Planning Commission’s recommendations implies the Supervisors consider themselves sovereign rulers akin to kings, or perhaps other drivers are governing their decision-making.

As elected representatives, the board has a moral and ethical responsibility to act on behalf of all citizens; not only on behalf of their personal self-interests or a few select land owners who stand to make a lot of money if industrial solar factories come to Mount Joy Township.

Linda Spellman,
Littlestown