Correction/Clarification — The story below, posted on LancasterOnline Tuesday, incorrectly described the prospects of The Crossings at Conestoga Creek shopping center. Manheim Township's rejection on Monday of a revised stormwater plan halts the project at least temporarily. The developer has several options. It could: ask the commissioners to revise the township's floodplain ordinance; proceed with the land development and provide more engineering detail, then reapply for permission; or reduce the size of the project to lessen stormwater runoff.

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Concerns about flooding along the Little Conestoga Creek led Manheim Township's board of commissioners to turn down a revised stormwater plan for a proposed shopping center.

By a vote of 3-2, the commissioners denied High Family Partnership's request to modify plans for The Crossings at Conestoga Creek, a $100 million, 650,000-square-foot shopping complex proposed for a former 90-acre farm opposite Long's Park.

Commissioners Mike Flanagan, Nancy Keebler and Rick Casselbury Jr., voted against the proposal, with Carol Simpson and Larry Downing voting in favor.

High had asked for permission to reduce the number of stormwater retention basins and flood elevations while enlarging the flood-plain volume and surface areas. High also wanted to construct an acre of riparian buffer along the creek for each acre of reduced 100-year flood plain.

In rejecting the developer's request, Keebler read a letter from Arro Consulting Group, an engineering firm hired by the township, recommending rejection of the plan, saying it does not conform with the township's stormwater requirements.

Discussion of the plan consumed the first 2½ hours of Monday's township meeting.

A number of residents who live both upstream and downstream of the proposed shopping center voiced concerns that the high water problems along the Little Conestoga will only get worse with the changes.

Resident Arthur O'Connor of Colonial Manor Drive said a 7-foot-tall tree at the rear of his property by the creek is nearly covered by water at least once a year. He said that constitutes an 11-foot rise in the water level — equal to the level supposedly reached by a storm once every 100 years.

"I see a 100-year storm every year," he said.

O'Connor, an engineer, warned against narrowing the flood plain and forcing more water into the floodways designed to carry the water away. He said that would cause the water to flow with more force, "gouging" sediment out of the earth and carrying it to the Susquehanna River.

The township's engineer, Jeff Shue, said the developer's plan would in fact slow the velocity of the water, not increase it.

"Be very careful about things that will impact people downstream," O'Connor said.

He asked the board to "consider all of the ramifications of your decision."

Eric Ashley and Mike Kellam of 1048 and 1018 W. Roseville Road, respectively, were concerned about water that already rises to an alarming level near their homes. Armed with photographs taken during Saturday's rain from Tropical Storm Hanna, Kellam said he was considering selling his house and "buying an ark."

A woman who lives along Jackson Drive in Lancaster said her home is adjacent to a flood plain and has been inundated with water on a number of occasions.

She called the plan "not very intelligent" and called for its rejection.

Monday's rejection does not kill the Crossings plan, only the proposed stormwater plan revision.

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com