Stop the townhouse development on Fisher Road

Recent signers:
Kaylin Love and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

As a resident of Upper Allen Township, I find myself deeply alarmed by the proposed development plan for at least 19 townhouses at 1924 Fisher Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. This project, if allowed to proceed, threatens to disrupt our community and degrade the environment, infrastructure, and overall quality of life in our area.

One of the foremost concerns is stormwater containment. The current infrastructure is already strained, and adding such a large development will exacerbate flooding risks, posing a threat to our homes and properties. Additionally, the proposed sewer connections may not support this added burden, increasing the likelihood of sanitation issues that could affect local health conditions.

Traffic congestion is another issue that cannot be ignored. With the increase in residents, our roads, several of which were not designed to handle heavy traffic, will become more congested, raising safety concerns, especially for pedestrians and children. The increase in traffic inevitably leads to longer commuting times, reducing the quality of life for everyone in the area.

Furthermore, the potential for increased light pollution is a significant worry. Many of us moved to this area to enjoy the peace and tranquility it offers, including clear night skies. Excessive artificial lighting from the proposed development threatens to rob us of this simple pleasure.

Our sense of security and privacy is also at stake. This planned development could drastically reduce the personal space that residents currently enjoy, forcing us to sacrifice our right to a secure and private environment.

The residents of Upper Allen Township should not have to give up their well-being for unchecked development. We call on the Township's planning commission and local officials to reconsider this proposal and seek sustainable and responsible alternatives that protect our community's interests.

Sign this petition to voice your opposition to the development plan at 1924 Fisher Road and to protect the best interests of our community.

400

Recent signers:
Kaylin Love and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

As a resident of Upper Allen Township, I find myself deeply alarmed by the proposed development plan for at least 19 townhouses at 1924 Fisher Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. This project, if allowed to proceed, threatens to disrupt our community and degrade the environment, infrastructure, and overall quality of life in our area.

One of the foremost concerns is stormwater containment. The current infrastructure is already strained, and adding such a large development will exacerbate flooding risks, posing a threat to our homes and properties. Additionally, the proposed sewer connections may not support this added burden, increasing the likelihood of sanitation issues that could affect local health conditions.

Traffic congestion is another issue that cannot be ignored. With the increase in residents, our roads, several of which were not designed to handle heavy traffic, will become more congested, raising safety concerns, especially for pedestrians and children. The increase in traffic inevitably leads to longer commuting times, reducing the quality of life for everyone in the area.

Furthermore, the potential for increased light pollution is a significant worry. Many of us moved to this area to enjoy the peace and tranquility it offers, including clear night skies. Excessive artificial lighting from the proposed development threatens to rob us of this simple pleasure.

Our sense of security and privacy is also at stake. This planned development could drastically reduce the personal space that residents currently enjoy, forcing us to sacrifice our right to a secure and private environment.

The residents of Upper Allen Township should not have to give up their well-being for unchecked development. We call on the Township's planning commission and local officials to reconsider this proposal and seek sustainable and responsible alternatives that protect our community's interests.

Sign this petition to voice your opposition to the development plan at 1924 Fisher Road and to protect the best interests of our community.

The Decision Makers

Cumberland County: Upper Allen Township Commission
3 Members
3 Responded
Phil Walsh
Cumberland County: Upper Allen Township Commission
Hi, It would be helpful to meet with the residents rathers than use an online intermediary. Can you forward my contact information below to them and have them contact me? Thanks! Phil Walsh 443 McCormick Road | Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717.554.9403 pwalsh@gwater.com
Eric Fairchild
Cumberland County: Upper Allen Township Commission
As an Upper Allen Township Commissioner who shares several of the concerns raised by this petition; I respectfully suggest that those opposed need to do more than just petition. Land development is a complicated issue and property owners have rights to do any number of things with their property. The primary UAT Ordinances governing land development are Chapter 214 (Stormwater), Chapter 220 (Subdivision and Land Development) and Chapter 245 (Zoning). These Ordinances and the 1924 Fisher Rd. Plan documents can be found on the Township website. See: • Chapter 220 Subdivision and Land Development: https://ecode360.com/8576284 • Development Projects: https://uatwp.org/departments/community_development/development_projects.php#collapse590b0 The Township website shows this project was submitted December 31, 2025 and has yet to be reviewed by the Planning Commission. The PC meeting scheduled for January 26 has now been cancelled due to the snow storm. These meetings provide an opportunity for public input and are pre cursors review by the Board Of Commissioners. • https://uatwp.org/government/agendas___minutes/planning_commission.php The most effective opposition I have seen is when residents study the ordinance and ask probing questions. Some residents have even hired their own engineers- particularly traffic engineers - who can offer professional opinion vs. lay person opinion. Note that there are presently two (2) vacancies on the Planning Commission and residents have the opportunity to influence how UAT Ordinances are written going forward. UAT presently lacks one of the most effective tools to limit overdevelopment - thats a land preservation program (similar to Silver Spring Township) that pays property owners for the development rights. See: • Land and Open Space Preservation | Save Upper Allen: https://saveupperallen.com/land-and-open-space-preservation/ • Development and Future Land Use | Save Upper Allen: https://saveupperallen.com/development/ Another effective tool to limit overdevelopment is to protect our historic resources. There is much debate going on currently about Bishop Bridge - with few seeming to realize that keeping the historic 1898 bridge will likely limit future development such as the 367 apartment units previously proposed by Messiah College. See: • Bishop Road Bridge | Save Upper Allen: https://saveupperallen.com/bishop-road-bridge/ • Petition · Save the 1898 Bishop Road Bridge - United States · Change.org: https://www.change.org/p/save-the-1898-bishop-road-bridge
Jennifer Clarke
Cumberland County: Upper Allen Township Commission
Thank you for reaching out. As a new Commissioner, I'm still learning the details around several issues in the Township. The Township Ordinances determine what is permitted in the way of development. The issues raised in this petition with regard to storm water, sewer capability, light pollution, and traffic will all be included in the committee review process. I would encourage members of the community to volunteer for open committee positions. If the opinion of the community is that we do not want these developments, changes need to be made at the community- and ordinance-levels. Committee openings can be found here: https://uatwp.org/i_want_to/volunteer.php Once a development meets our ordinances, there is little we can do to prevent it. I look forward to healthy debate around this topic. Thank you.
Ken Martin
Former Cumberland County: Upper Allen Township Commissioner
Karen Overly Smith
Karen Overly Smith
Cumberland County: Upper Allen Township Commission

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Petition created on January 6, 2026