Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Millcreek Township public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
14 issues in zoning
SALDO and Stormwater Ordinance Updates
The township is reviewing changes to its subdivision/land development rules and stormwater ordinance, plus a new ordinance on Tax Collector fee collection. These shape how development happens and what fees residents and builders pay.
Rezoning of 16.3 acres at 5901 Wattsburg Road to Interstate Commercial
The Scott family wants 16.3 acres near I-90 and Route 8 rezoned from Conservation Residential to Interstate Commercial to make the land marketable — possibly for a hotel or truck stop. Neighbors fear traffic, well-water contamination in the Mill Creek headwaters, noise, light, and big drops in home values. The commission recommended denial, but supervisors have the final say December 15.
In-Law Apartment Special Exception at 4709 Lawndale Drive
The Hicks case shows how the township handles existing in-law suites when homes change hands — here the special exception keeps a pending sale alive. One neighbor worried it sets a precedent for the single-family street.
Multi-Family Dwelling Variance at 3223 West 12th Street
Marie McDaniel is seeking a variance or nonconforming use status to operate a multi-family dwelling in a single-family residential zone.
Sign Regulations Variance at 5942 Peach Street
Rodney Williams is requesting relief from commercial sign regulations for a property located in the C1 Corridor Commercial District.
Legacy multi-family homes misclassified as single-family
A West 12th Street house has operated as three rental units for decades, but township records never showed it. The variance now protects the owner's ability to keep renting — and to sell the property as what it actually is.
Herbert Rezoning Request at 4007 West 12th Street
A developer requested rezoning 3.2 acres from low-density residential to mixed-use corridor, drawing fierce pushback from neighbors worried about traffic, high-density housing, and property values. The board ultimately voted down the request following a Planning Commission recommendation to deny.
Floodplain Setback Variance for Residential Pool
Homeowners on Larchmont Drive sought permission to install an above-ground pool and deck close to Beaver Creek due to a lot constraint.
Zoning Code Amendments for Data Centers and Transitional Dwellings
Candy Horm asked why the township hasn't written rules for data centers yet. Staff said they'll designate where they'd be allowed — but there's no ordinance currently in the works.
Kelso Drive Residential Redevelopment
Property owners are rebuilding a single-family home and adding a large garage in an area zoned for commercial mixed use, maintaining the historic residential character of the neighborhood.
Accessory Structure Regulations Without Principal Dwellings
Property owners are seeking flexibility to add carports and storage structures on lots without a primary house, balancing practical storage needs with neighborhood character.
Westminster Development Floodplain Variance Request
A developer wants to build commercial buildings and parking dangerously close to Walnut Creek, but neighbors are sounding the alarm about polluted runoff, contaminated drinking wells, and safety hazards near the steep cliff.
West Lake Road Commercial Rezoning
Two long-time business properties were rezoned to residential in the 2022 comprehensive rezoning, and the owners want MU-1 Neighborhood Mixed Use back so they can sell or operate. The Supervisors tabled both petitions and want the Planning Commission to look at adding two business parcels across the street so all four rezone together and avoid a spot-zoning challenge.
Paper Street Expirations — Westminster Blvd and South Shore Drive
The township formally gave up long-expired rights to two never-built streets from 1920s subdivisions, letting abutting property owners claim the land — while keeping its sewer lines there.