Lancaster County Council Advances Road Funding, Backs Major Industrial Projects in April 28 Meeting

The Lancaster County Council held its regular meeting on April 28, 2025, in the County Administration Building. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including youth engagement initiatives, volunteer recognitions, updates on major infrastructure projects, economic development incentives, and long-term planning matters. Council members heard from residents on road conditions and public services, debated the future of a critical road project in the panhandle, and voted on whether to proceed with a countywide transportation sales tax referendum. The agenda also included updates on the new airport terminal, appointments to key advisory boards, and a presentation on the county’s comprehensive planning progress. Below are highlights of several key sections from the meeting.

Youth Recognition and Presentations: April, observed as National County Government Month, featured an art and essay contest involving local students. Winners from North Elementary, Harrisburg Elementary, and Indian Land Intermediate were recognized during the meeting for their creative depictions of county services, especially the sheriff’s office and EMS.

Volunteer Awards: The council honored the recipients of the Keep Lancaster County Beautiful awards. The 2024 Volunteer Group Award was presented to the Land United soccer team, and the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award went to Coach Humphrey for his community cleanup efforts.

Lancaster County Airport Terminal Project: Officials provided an update on the nearly complete new airport terminal. The $7.3 million project remains under budget and is expected to open in July following final installations. The county contributed $2.5 million, supplemented by state and federal grants.

Public Comments: Residents addressed road maintenance issues and the enforcement of truck restrictions. Former Chairman Rudy Carter advocated for reviving the 1-cent transportation sales tax to support infrastructure needs. Additional comments were submitted online regarding county service concerns and tax policies.

Economic Development Projects

Council gave final approval to two major economic development agreements:

Old Castle APG – “Project Block”
Old Castle APG South Inc., doing business as Adams Products, received approval for a Special Source Revenue Credit (SSRC) agreement tied to its new operations in a multi-county industrial park in District 1. The company is investing $21 million to renovate and expand a 30,000-square-foot facility for manufacturing architectural stone products used in outdoor living spaces.

• Incentive Details: 25% SSRC for five years, contingent upon meeting investment and job targets.

• Commitments: A minimum of $15 million investment and 20 jobs, with a goal of 30 employees and average wages of $22.32/hour at full production.

• Public Benefit: Over 20 years, the county expects to collect nearly $3 million in property taxes from the project, with only $319,000 in total abatements provided.

Project Janus
Council also approved a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes (FILOT) and SSRC agreement with Project Janus, an indirect subsidiary of a large European-based company. The company will consolidate and relocate its operations to Lancaster County, where it will distribute and assemble power-related products.

• Investment: $51 million and 163 new jobs, with a minimum commitment of $41 million and 125 jobs.

• Incentives: 20-year FILOT agreement with a 6% assessment ratio and fixed millage, along with SSRCs—50% for the first 10 years and 25% for the next 5 years.

• Wages & Benefits: Average hourly wages of $32.11, with unskilled labor starting at $22.25; benefits include medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage.

• Strategic Importance: State-supported and intended to enhance regional competitiveness for high-quality industrial jobs. The company currently uses the Port of Wilmington, though state leaders are encouraging a shift to the Port of Charleston.

Infrastructure Planning: Rise Lane Road Project

Council revisited the Rise Lane road widening and water line project following public input and cost updates. Three options were evaluated:

• Option 1: Relocate a 2.5-inch water line and widen the road to 18 feet with drainage ditches — estimated cost: $580,500.

• Option 2: Upgrade to a 6-inch line with fire suppression capacity, requiring more extensive installation — estimated cost: up to $1.13 million depending on route.

• Option 3: Mill and resurface the road without relocating the water line — estimated cost: $250,500.

Council voted to solicit bids for both Option 1 and Option 3 to evaluate costs before making a final decision. The project is one of the last two remaining under a prior capital sales tax initiative.

Transportation Sales Tax Referendum

Council voted 6–1 to move forward with drafting legislation to place a 1-cent transportation sales tax on the November 2025 ballot. If passed, the tax would replace or offset the existing annual road maintenance fee and generate an estimated $256 million over 10 years.

The proposed allocation of funds includes:

• $60 million for U.S. 521 widening

• $21 million for Barberville Road improvements

• $15 million for paving county roads

• $40 million for state and municipal road improvements

• $5 million for pedestrian and greenway projects

Council members emphasized the need for robust public education to improve voter awareness following the failure of a similar referendum in 2024.

Comprehensive Plan Update

Planning Director Lynne Harden presented a status report on the county’s 10-year comprehensive plan, adopted in 2020. The report outlined progress made toward land use, infrastructure, housing, and environmental goals across four geographic planning areas (Panhandle, Greater Lancaster, Kershaw Area, and Southern Lancaster County).

Key highlights:

• Active tracking of concurrency legislation at the state level

• Continued coordination with school and utility providers on growth management

• New data and mapping tools for public and staff use

• Interdepartmental coordination with the county’s 3-year strategic plan

Board Appointments

The council unanimously approved the following board appointments:

• Keep Lancaster County Beautiful Board: Reappointments for Anne Ferguson and Greg Gregory; first term for Claire McConna.

• Recreation Advisory Board: Reappointments for Michael Fulkerson and Brent Stoner.

The council also received a list of current and upcoming vacancies for review.