At today’s County Commissioners Work Session, James Cowhey, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC), met with the Board of Commissioners to request approval of the Draft 2009 Lancaster County Urban Enhancement Fund Program Guidelines and Application. The Commissioners, however, did not provide any conclusive action during today’s meeting.
In the wake of last week’s divisive resolution, today’s discussion showed hints of tension between members of the Board.
Commissioner Scott Martin was initially resolute in his contentions with the Draft, which would newly qualify Green Infrastructure projects for Urban Enhancement funding: “My position on this is going to be constant …. I’m not in agreement with taking $625,000 more out of [Urban Enhancement] to invest in green infrastructure.” Martin further asserted, “I’m always baffled that the very first thing you look to in order to find green funds is urban enhancement…without a whiff of talking about what we’re taking from the green side of things….”
In addition to funding local land-acquisition efforts, the new Draft would support urban greening initiatives such as tree-planting, community gardens, and existing park improvement.
Commissioners Craig Lehman and Dennis Stuckey were more receptive toward the proposed plan. Lehman was generally positive about the Draft, stating “To me, urban enhancement includes a green element …. Sometimes it is those green elements, in addition to the bricks and mortar piece, that make all the difference.” Stuckey, although reluctant toward certain elements of the Draft that allot for new parkland acquisition, acknowledged the practical benefits of green initiatives like tree-planting in urban areas.
Representatives of the LCPC offered to eliminate those more expensive elements of the plan that would assist municipalities in acquiring new parkland, while maintaining support for urban greening initiatives. Commissioner Martin appreciated the alteration, stating, “It’s closer to where I want to see it …. I’m willing to compromise to get this process started.”
The LCPC will revise the current draft and present it to the Board at a later meeting.
