Public officials have both broad and specific goals for the future of Manheim Township. Those goals will be achieved partly through the locale's zoning ordinance and will reflect the goals of the citizens of Manheim Township.

"The zoning ordinance is the codes that regulate land use and development in the township," said Porter Stevens, the community development director for Manheim Township. "It lays out a zoning map, and it's kind of the one-stop shop for growth and development in Manheim Township. They play a fundamental role, and they can shape a lot about our community."

"It determines how big buildings can be," continued Stevens. "It also ensures there's parks and open space. It really can have a significant effect on the quality of life for residents in the township. It kind of does fly under the radar, but it touches almost every aspect of life in the township."

Manheim Township is seeking input from residents for its ongoing zoning ordinance rewrite project. The township will be accepting public opinion on the zoning ordinance rewrite until March of 2027, before the final product is passed on to the board of commissioners for a vote next fall.

The rewrite will be consistent with Manheim Township's comprehensive plan.

Residents can make their voices heard by attending a meeting of the zoning ordinance rewrite committee, which are conducted at 5 p.m. on every Tuesday at the Manheim Township Municipal Office, 1840 Municipal Drive, Lancaster. Citizens can also provide feedback on the project by visiting http://www.manheimtownship.org, by calling Stevens at 717-569-6408, ext. 1122, or by emailing him at PStevens@manheimtownship.org.

"There's still lots of time to share input," said Stevens. "We definitely want to hear from residents about this because it impacts everything. This is an opportunity to think where we want new development to happen in the township. This is the marquee chance for us to sit down and have a conversation about what we want to see in our community. We're definitely doing what we can to get the word out about it."

Manheim Township is governed by a total of 19 zoning districts - a dozen base zoning districts like residential, commercial and agricultural, and seven overlay districts. Those zoning districts affect things like building permits, land preservation, traffic, affordable housing, parking and the character of neighborhoods.

By area, nearly 60% of Manheim Township is zoned low-density residential.

"I think, for the most part, people understand the basics of the zoning ordinance," said Stevens. "But because it's not something they regularly encounter, they might not know how impactful it can be. My recommendation would be to know the zoning districts in the area you live in and get familiar with the zoning in your neighborhood."

Some aspects of Manheim Township's current zoning ordinance haven't been updated in 12 years; other parts of it haven't been modernized since the 1980s.

"The general rule of thumb for updates is about ten years, just like the comprehensive plan," said Stevens. "A decade is a time frame when a lot can change. The biggest difference now is that there isn't a lot of developable land left in the township. As of 2024, we had about 1,500 acres of developable land left in Manheim Township, and now, it's probably way less than that. But there's still a need for rentable housing, especially affordable housing."

Manheim Township is 22.6 square miles in area and home to more than 44,000 residents.

"We're seeing population growth in Manheim Township and Lancaster County level off a little bit," said Stevens. "I think we need to keep that in mind. There are already people living in Lancaster County who need housing. Manheim Township and Lancaster County are both really great places to live. People who grew up here want to raise their families here, and we want to provide them with the space to do that.

"This is a generational opportunity to change land use in Manheim Township," concluded Stevens. "We also want to preserve the things that make Manheim Township the great place it is. We're excited to see what the result of this is."