For most of 2007, Manheim Township's biggest story has been in limbo.

Since February, township officials have been considering a "conditional use" request from High Real Estate Group that could pave the way for The Crossings at Conestoga Creek, a $100 million shopping center planned across Harrisburg Pike from Long's Park.

As outlined, it would be the county's second-largest retail complex, trailing only nearby Park City Center.

First introduced in March 2006, High's plans for The Crossings include a $27.5 million reworking of the Harrisburg Pike interchange at Route 30, with the help of federal and state money.

But staunch citizen opposition and a multi-step review process have so far tied up The Crossings.

An ongoing "conditional use" hearing, which township commissioners began in June, has included several eight-hour sessions that delved into traffic minutiae and sorely tested attention spans.

"It has taken longer than I expected — longer than anyone expected," said commissioner president Carol Simpson.

In other news this year, Manheim Township saw significant leadership changes with a new police chief and plans for a new township manager.

In March, the township hired Neil Harkins as police chief. He replaced Paul Rager, who retired in October 2006 after 40 years in the department and 21 as chief.

Also, long-time municipal manager Jim Martin announced his plans to retire this spring, after 25 years on the job.

But High's plans for The Crossings remained the year's biggest municipal news in Manheim Township, which in 2002 scuttled a plan to build a baseball park and strip shopping center on the same 90-acre site.

A key aspect of High's plan for The Crossings is its pledge to also construct an entirely new interchange at Route 30 and Harrisburg Pike, which the real estate group says will actually lessen traffic in the area. The new intersection would be controlled by a single traffic light and allow turning vehicles to cross the intersection in two directions simultaneously.

But for some, adding more cars to an already busy area has seemed like a recipe for gridlock.

William Cluck, an attorney for several East Hempfield Township residents who live next to the site, has painstakingly questioned High's traffic plan during the ongoing conditional use hearing, stalling the approval process.

But things may soon get moving again.

Earlier this month, High agreed to pay East Hempfield Township $1.2 million to "mitigate the traffic impact" if the center is approved — a concession that should help remove one of High's roadblocks.

Ben Bamford, senior development manager for High Real Estate Group, welcomed the pact.

"We are encouraged by the fact that we were able to come to an understanding with the township for the ultimate betterment of the community," Bamford wrote in an e-mail.

"While the process has been lengthy, the public process has served to better inform the public," he added.

If commissioners ultimately approve the "conditional use," High will then submit a formal land development plan, which will give more specifics about the shopping center.

In other words, it is far from over.

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