UAT Neighbor Testimonials &
Preservation Organization Comments
Embedded Files
The following comments in favor of a land preservation referendum were made during public comment at the Board of Commissioners Meeting on June 17, 2026 and excerpts were copied verbatim from the meeting minutes at www.uatwp.com.
Ms. Jean Foschi is a resident and Cumberland County Commissioner. She liked the idea of bringing the concept to the ballot, and called it “incredibly fair.” She urged haste, saying that there is tremendous pressure throughout Cumberland County to continue developing. Ms. Foschi said she does not want a data center and that she does want green space and recreational opportunities. She spoke to the quality of life that green space offers residents.
Mr. Erik Weenink urged Upper Allen Township to be proactive in land preservation efforts, saying it would be at risk for overdevelopment if it was not. He argued that, although it was public money being used to preserve private lands, it would still help improve the quality of life for the average resident by preventing further development.
Ms. Robin Banks felt that developers were taking over the Township. She warned of warehouses and data centers. She expressed concern that “we’re taking away land, and we are letting people come in.” She said she was willing to pay additional taxes to prevent future development.
This letter from Ms. Stephanie Williams, Director of Cumberland County’s Farmland Preservation Program and Open Space Program, was sent to the Board of Commissioners and recorded in the June 17, 2026 meeting minutes at www.uatwp.com.
The following comments in favor of a land preservation referendum were made at the Public Forum: Land Preservation Referundum I during public comment on June 22, 2026 and excerpts copied verbatim from the meeting minutes at www.uatwp.com.
Ms. Jean Foschi is a Cumberland County Commissioner and resident of UAT. She reiterated comments she had made during a previous public meeting and expressed support for allowing Township residents to vote on a land preservation referendum. She stated that open space, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a healthy environment contribute positively to residents' quality of life and well-being. Ms. Foschi referenced Cumberland County's library tax referendum as an example of a successful voter-approved funding initiative, noting that county residents approved the tax through referendum votes in the 1980s. She stated that she has heard many residents express a desire to better balance development with preservation and suggested that a land preservation referendum would provide a fair and democratic process for the community to make that decision.
Mr. Ed Franco is on the Cumberland County Planning Commission. He reported having worked with Ms. (Stephanie) Williams for over 20 years. He stated that the land preservation concept has been around for 10+ years. He echoed Ms. Williams’s offer to assist in the process and felt that UAT was moving in the right direction toward a November referendum.
Ms. Janet Graaff, a recent transplant to the Township from Connecticut, said she was “thrilled” that the Commissioners were paying attention to land preservation. Ms. Kraf encouraged the Board to think broadly about long-term preservation efforts and to leverage all available resources to support open space conservation.
Ms. Jo Bitzer stated that preservation opportunities are time-sensitive because land is generally easier and less expensive to preserve before development proposals are submitted. She expressed concern that increasing regional development pressures, including the potential secondary effects of large-scale projects proposed elsewhere in the region, could place additional pressure on undeveloped land within Upper Allen Township. Ms. Bitzer noted that many residents have already expressed concerns regarding traffic, stormwater management, loss of open space, and continuing development, and she argued that the Township should act proactively before additional preservation opportunities are lost.
Ms. Robin Banks, has lived in the Township for 45 years. She has witnessed extreme change take place. She was upset about increased traffic. Ms. Banks stated that the Township needs to take action to address continued development and preserve open space. While indicating that she would be willing to pay additional taxes to support land preservation, she suggested that the Township should explore ways to require developers/businesses to contribute more toward preservation efforts. She referenced ongoing and potential future development in areas such as Oakwood Hills and along Lisburn Road, noting that commercially zoned properties may eventually be developed, further increasing growth pressures.
Ms. Tina Prins expressed strong support for moving forward with land preservation efforts. She referenced discussions involving a representative for a proposed data center who had inquired about several preserved farms, asking questions regarding conservation protections. Ms. Prins stated that one landowner with approximately 400 acres across five farms declined to pursue such discussions, despite continued interest from the developer's representatives. She argued that permanent conservation protections provide an important safeguard against future development pressures, including potential data center projects.
Ms. Linda Strock wanted to know if funds raised for land conservation could be used to save the horse farm adjacent to Webercroft, a warehouse is proposed for the site. Ms. Strock asked about Monroe Twp, concerned about the proximity of the proposed data center to UAT. She wanted assurance that once a land enters the conservation program, it would never be vulnerable to becoming the site of a data center.
Ms. Annie expressed strong support for land preservation efforts. She noted that, as a renter who has lived in the area for approximately 15 years, she does not earn the average income referenced during the presentation but would still be willing to bear the estimated cost of the program because of the long-term value of conservation.
She cited benefits such as flood mitigation, wildlife habitat protection, cleaner air, cleaner water, and environmental conservation as important public outcomes. Annie concluded by stating that the cumulative effect of preserving individual properties can create significant long-term benefits for the Township, even when those benefits are not immediately visible to individual residents. She expressed her belief that conservation represents a worthwhile community investment that will help protect environmental resources and quality of life for future generations.
Ms. Susan Weenik, stated that she believes the present time is appropriate for a land preservation referendum because residents are paying close attention to growth and development issues, particularly concerns surrounding the proposed data center in Monroe Township. She argued that the project has increased public awareness of the risks associated with losing undeveloped land and highlighted the importance of establishing conservation tools before development pressures intensify.
Ms. Vayneink also stated that many Upper Allen Township residents have become frustrated with the pace of development in recent years and expressed concern that growth has significantly changed the character of the community. Referencing prior land development controversies, she noted that some residents felt their concerns were not adequately considered during previous development decisions. She suggested that those experiences have motivated residents to become involved earlier in the process and pursue proactive land preservation measures.
Ms. Vayneink concluded that development pressures are unlikely to diminish and that the community currently has momentum and public interest behind conservation efforts. She urged the Township not to delay further consideration of a referendum, stating that now is the appropriate time to begin protecting land before additional preservation opportunities are lost.
The following comments in favor of a land preservation referendum were made at the Board of Commissioners Meeting during public comment on July 1, 2026 and excerpts copied verbatim from the meeting minutes at www.uatwp.com.
Mr. Neil Schier cautioned that development pressures continue to increase and asserted that developers actively seek opportunities to maximize development rights. He referenced his own involvement in opposing a proposed warehouse project near his neighborhood, noting that a 60,000-square-foot warehouse has been proposed approximately 15 feet from adjacent residential properties. He argued that such projects illustrate the need for the Township to take proactive measures to preserve open space before additional development occurs.
Mr. Schier also commented on the importance of preserving land in the Webercroft and Sunnyland areas, specifically referencing the horse farm property discussed earlier in the meeting. He noted that Webercroft contains approximately 110 homes and stated that residents in the area have limited access to parks, sidewalks, and other recreational amenities. He described the property as an important parcel for the surrounding neighborhoods and said that preserving it would benefit current and future residents.
Mr. Schier stated that preserving open space is critical to protecting the character of the Township from ongoing development pressures. He expressed dissatisfaction with recent zoning-related decisions and urged the Board to act promptly on the open space initiative before additional opportunities for preservation are lost.
Ms. Jean Foschi said she was in support of land preservation; she expressed her belief that the proposed land preservation referendum ordinance deserves fair consideration by Township voters in November.
Ms. Foschi emphasized the importance of ensuring that residents are provided with accurate, factual information regarding the referendum and the ordinance. She stressed that misinformation or confusion could discourage residents from supporting the initiative and noted that taxpayer dollars are involved, making it essential that voters receive complete and accurate information before making a decision.
Ms. Claudia Ward expressed support for land preservation, explaining that she has lived in the Township for approximately 20 years and values its rural character and quality of life. She voiced concern about continued development and stated that preserving open space is important to maintaining the character of the community.
Ms. Ward commented that Upper Allen Township is a desirable place to live and raise a family and that communities with similar characteristics are becoming increasingly difficult to find. She stated that she would be willing to pay higher taxes to support land preservation efforts, believing that preserving open space provides benefits that justify the additional cost. She concluded by emphasizing that preserving the Township's unique character is worth the investment and noted that residents must pay for the amenities and quality of life they wish to maintain.
Mr. Barry Strock owns a 106-acre farm, which was preserved in 2000. He spoke in support of land preservation and shared his family's experience preserving their farm through the Cumberland County Agricultural Preservation Program. He explained that preserving the farm required significant personal and financial commitment but stated that the preservation program ultimately enabled the property to remain in agricultural use rather than being developed. Mr. Strock expressed strong support for preservation efforts, noted that existing preservation programs include accountability measures and oversight, and encouraged the Township to consider a model similar to Silver Spring Township's. He concluded by stating that a Township preservation program could help other landowners preserve their properties, just as the county program had helped save his family's farm.
Ms. Robin Banks commented that if a land preservation tax were implemented, she believed the cost should be shared by all Township residents rather than limited to earned income taxpayers. Speaking as a retired resident, she stated that she and her husband would be willing to pay a small increase in their taxes if it would help preserve open space and limit further development. Ms. Banks expressed her view that preserving the Township's character is a community-wide benefit and that all residents should contribute toward that goal.
The following comments in favor of a land preservation referendum were made at the Board of Commissioners Meeting during public comment on August 3, 2026 and excerpts copied verbatim from the meeting minutes at www.uatwp.com.
Ms. Judy Bailey expressed concern that delaying the preservation initiative until completion of the Comprehensive Plan could result in the continued loss of farmland and open space. Referencing the loss of a farm property along Market Street, she suggested that an established preservation program might have provided an opportunity to preserve that property. Ms. Bailey further noted that Cumberland County's agricultural preservation program has limited funding and recently experienced funding reductions. As a result, she stated that the Township should not rely solely on county programs and should consider establishing its own source of preservation funding to support local farmland preservation efforts.
Mr. Cameron Weiser, introduced Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust serving Cumberland, Perry, and Franklin Counties. He stated that the organization has operated since the early 1980s and currently works to preserve land throughout the region. Mr. Weiser stated that Central Pennsylvania Conservancy has been following the Township's discussions regarding the proposed land preservation referendum and is encouraged that the Township is considering a preservation program. He noted that the Conservancy works closely with Cumberland County's agricultural preservation program, including efforts coordinated by Stephanie Williams, and acknowledged the importance of farmland preservation. He explained that land trusts can also assist with properties that may not qualify for or rank highly within county preservation programs. Mr. Weiser expressed support for the referendum and indicated that Central Pennsylvania Conservancy would welcome the opportunity to partner with the Township on future land preservation projects.
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