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Home My WebLink AboutNov 2025 - PC Staff Report (1)Franklin County Planning Department Updates Franklin County Planning Commission Thursday, November 6, 2025 Agricultural Preservation The program currently has 167 preserved farms totaling over 20,290.29 acres. 2023 Farms ● Lemar Road LLC (204.08 acres) - Peters Township – State Approved 6/12/25 ● Steve and Lynn Hykes (141.10 acres) - Antrim Township – Settled ● Paul Witter (4) (88.2 acres) - Southampton Township - Settled ● Barry Timmons - (46.11 acres) - Montgomery Township - Settling soon ● Todd and Vicki Heckman - (37.1 acres) - Peters Township ● Donald and Denise Martin #3 - (79.6 acres) - Guilford Township – State Approved 6/12/25 ● Jeff Grove - (58.17 acres) - Peters Township – Settled ● JEM Farm - (93.39 acres) - Washington Township 2024 Farms ● Schnebly (136.6 acres) - Montgomery Township - Title Process ● Brake, B (80.7 acres) - Montgomery Township – Title Process ● Brenize, Ben (115.3 acres) - Southampton - Title Process ● Gingrich, A. (104.9 acres) - Peters Township – Title Process ● Bachtell (132.90 acres) - Montgomery Township – Title Process 2025 Farms • Jay Shelly (40 acres) - Peters Township – Survey Process • Rotz Family Farm LLC (87.9 acres) - Peters Township – Survey Process • Robert & Rhodena Eckstine (57.46 acres) - Montgomery Township – Title Process • Daniel & Amy Hershberger (243.15 acres) - Peters Township – Survey Process • William & JoAnn Haines (100.5 acres) - Southampton Township – Survey Process On September 25, 2025, Franklin County celebrated the preservation of 20,000 acres of farmland at Creekside Dairy in Hamilton Township. The Franklin County Commissioners, along with the Franklin County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, Franklin County Farm Bureau and state and local representatives attended the event. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) ● FY 2025: Funds in the amount of $358,280 have been awarded to the county. Application has been sent to DCED. The proposed projects are as follows: ○ Luminest – Acquisition - $223,789.60 ○ Habitat for Humanity 2025 – Acquisition - $60,000 ○ Habitat for Humanity 2024 – Professional Services - $10,000 ■ Projects involve creation of LMI housing ● FY 2024: Our subrecipient agreement is with our solicitor for review, quotes received for environmental review processes. Projects awarded are as follows: ○ Luminest- Acquisition - $242,919 ○ Habitat for Humanity- Acquisition- $50,000 ■ Projects involve creation of LMI housing ● FY 2023: ○ Borough of Greencastle - Baltimore Street Crossing Signal - $55,764.26 ■ Awaiting PennDOT approval before going to bid. Subrecipient agreement amendment will be proposed for change in amount allocated ○ Habitat for Humanity- Acquisition- $37,488.96 ■ In the process of invoice processing before drawdown request; subrecipient agreement amendment proposed for change in amount to be used for acquisition vs. professional services ● FY 2022: Borough of Greencastle - ADA Curb Ramp/Sidewalk project: $286,103 ■ Adjustments to the target work area being made, waiting on updated construction schedule to conduct Davis-Bacon interviews. ○ Habitat for Humanity- Acquisition: $10,845 ■ In the process of invoice payment and approval before drawdown request. ● FY 2021: The closeout process has been completed ○ Borough of Greencastle – ADA Curb Ramp project: $110,000 ○ CONTACT Helpline: $9,000 ● FY 2019: We have completed draw down, closed each activity, and submitted for closeout ○ Greencastle Curb Ramp Project- $289,875 Comprehensive Plan The Planning Department is meeting quarterly with our County Administrator to discuss updates and implementation. Our next meeting is scheduled for December 19, 2025. Staff would be happy to accept feedback on community organizations that are or may be willing to help advance some of these goals. Housing The Chambersburg Project used $10,000- awarded by the Commissioners, from the Housing Trust Fund to help to make repairs to homes for families or individuals that need assistance. Mosquito and Tick-Borne Disease Control Program ● Mosquitoes: West Nile Virus Positives in Franklin County reached 52. This was about double of what we had last year. Luckily, as the virus in the environment grew later in summer, dry conditions caused mosquito populations to plumet. As of now there have been no confirmed human cases of WNV in Franklin County. Overall, the year was a challenge due to vast amount amounts of precipitation causing large populations of nuisance mosquitoes in Greene and Guilford Townships. Many sprays had to be conducted both by backpack and truck to control the population. ● Ticks: 2,673 Blacklegged tick nymphs were collected statewide in 2025. Their infection rate numbers remain comparable to last year with:  B.burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)- 23%  A.phagocytophilum (Co-infection)- 7.2%  B.microti (co-infection)- 4% Solid Waste Plan DEP has reviewed chapters 1, 2, and 3 and final edits have been completed by GT Environmental. We are currently reviewing the first draft of chapter 4 and should be receiving the remaining chapters in the upcoming weeks. The SWAC recently received a survey to convey what needs the SWP should prioritize. Review of our applicants for the RFQ for capacity guarantee has concluded and we are now finalizing contracts to send to all 8 entities. Transportation ● 2025-2027 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP): Following the beginning of the new Federal Fiscal Year (FFY), the first year of the 2025-2027 UPWP has begun as of July 1st, 2025. The Quarter 1 invoice for 2025-2026 is currently being developed and reviewed by staff before final submission to PennDOT. ● 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Work has continued on development of the 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program update. After reaching out to local municipalities for candidate projects they would like to add to the TIP, a meeting was held with Chambersburg Borough regarding their selected project priorities on August 4th, following which a meeting to discuss bridge and pavement candidates and local priorities was held with PennDOT on August 21st. Framework for a ‘TIP-at-a-Glance' document has been developed, which provides a comprehensive breakdown of TIP funding allocation between project types, locations, and costs – this is currently being adjusted to utilize information for the 2027-2030 as more information is being ascertained. ● Franklin County Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP): In preparation for the Franklin County Long Range Transportation Plan, a coordination meeting was held between MPO staff, PennDOT, and FHWA. Scope development for the LRTP with Larson Design Group will begin shortly, with an initial meeting scheduled for early November. ● MPO On-Call Consultant: After the contract between Franklin County MPO and Larson Design Group was approved by the County Solicitor, it was introduced to the Board of Commissioners for review and summarily approved – LDG is now under contract with Franklin County MPO under an on-call consulting capacity. ● County Bridge Projects: Preliminary engineering for bridge replacement projects on bridges 130, 131, and 118 continues, which is receiving federal funding through the FCMPO TIP. The Bridge 23 project carrying Tallow Hill Road over Conococheague Creek in Guilford and Hamilton Townships is still anticipated to be bundled for bidding with the Bridge 118 project under a March 26, 2025 agreement. Administrative revisions to the Bridge 66 project, which will be coordinated by PennDOT and receive funding as part of the Commonwealth’s Performance of Locally Owned Historic Metal Truss Bridge Rehabilitation Project, have undergone Solicitor review and have been approved by the Board of Commissioners.