Planning Director: Fire fee for Hershey Elementary School is yet to be determined

By Sean Guay

Hershey, Pennsylvania — An estimated $22,500 fire department fee surprised developers and public school officials at yesterday’s Derry Township Planning Commission meeting who had just learned of the newly adopted municipal resolution that will require a fee to be paid in order to obtain building and occupancy permits in the township. The new fee is necessary to help offset rising costs of fire protection in the township. 

A new 145,000 square-foot elementary school facility will be replacing an existing 100,000 square-foot facility, therefore creating a net increase of 45,000 sf. The fire fee amounts to 50 cents per square-foot of newly built floor space.

The Derry Township Planning Commission recommended the approval of the new Hershey Elementary School contingent upon various conditions including new sidewalk paths connecting the acedemic campus to nearby walking paths. The new school building will be located in the fields behind the Hershey Middle School, close to the Derry Township Recreation Center parking lot, and adjacent to the early childhood center building which will remain to be used as the new school district office.

The existing elementary school will remain in operation until the new building is completed, at which time the existing school will be demolished and replaced with soccer fields and parking lot area. The main parking lot entrances from Homestead Road will be improved. 

Following the meeting, Derry Township Community Planning Director Chuck Emerick responded to Harrisburg100 for comment to clarify the fee total, saying, “The amount is yet to be determined for this one.” In addition to the new fee, the fire department has requested further considerations of the 12′ fire lanes and turnaround points for trucks planned for the new school.

Township engineers from HRG specified that storm water directed through a sprayed irrigation system will be required to include a battery backup, and pump alarm to ensure constant flow in case of power outage or system failure.  

The developers of the Hershey Elementary School, led by an architect from Rettew Engineers attended the meeting with Derry Township School District Superintendent Dr. Stacey Winslow, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rawls Jr., and newly elected Derry Township Supervisor Rob Myers who is a transportation engineer at Rettew. The development team was satisfied with the conditions set forth by the planning commission, however they were surprised by the newly adopted municipal resolution, saying they were just informed of the fire fee in a letter received earlier in the day. 

Following the meeting, Superintendent Winslow provided Harrisburg100 with images of the plans for the new elementary school. 

Township Supervisors will soon make considerations for the development plan. If approved, construction of the new school could begin in June 2026.