The Lancaster Planning Commission recommended a zoning change approval Wednesday to a large parcel of land for future use by Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General Health.
The roughly 30 acres of land between Harrisburg Avenue and Dillerville Road is part of a $46 million project for Norfolk Southern to relocate a rail yard from there to the former site of the Lancaster Brickyard dump in Manheim Township, behind the Lancaster Main Post Office on Harrisburg Pike.
The two entities requested a zoning change from central manufacturing to mixed use.
The property is still owned by the rail company, but should be turned over to the two Lancaster organizations by the end of 2013, according to LG Health.
The health system and college are discussing concept ideas for future use of the land, which include medical education, administrative and mixed-use areas, Keith Orris, LG Health senior vice president of community and government affairs, has said.
The zoning will be discussed at a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. May 22 in City Council chambers at 100 S. Queen St., and a vote is scheduled on the zoning change at the council's June 22 meeting, Chief Planner Paula Jackson said.
The rezoning request is in line with the area's regional comprehensive plan, Michael LaSala, executive director of the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee, said in a letter to Jackson.
