Three months ago, an overflow crowd of residents from an East Hempfield community asked their township for some help.

On Wednesday night, an overflow crowd of most of the same people got that help.

By a unanimous vote, the East Hempfield supervisors approved a zoning change that will help residents of a 55-and-older community in the township "better enjoy our homes," as one resident said.

The residents of Village Grande, on Harrisburg Pike, had described back in June how they wanted to build decks and patios - but couldn't, since their homes sit too close to the "rear setbacks" in their community.

The rear setback is the minimum distance required between the rear property line and the structure.

The supervisors took care of that problem at their meeting Wednesday night, voting to change the setback, drawing loud applause from the residents who packed the meeting.

More than 200 residents had signed a petition three months ago asking East Hempfield for help.

The configuration of the homes, placed too close to the rear setback, is the problem, the residents had said.

"I don't want much. ... I just want a place where I can enjoy life in our senior years," Jo Lund of 1917 Speedwell Road told the supervisors back in June.

The supervisors amended East Hempfield's zoning to reduce the rear setback from 15 feet to 5 feet, to give the residents more space.

Also Wednesday, the East Hempfield board agreed to hold a meeting next month on possible plans for a large commercial development along Marietta Pike.

The supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, to hear a rezoning request from developer Cheswicke LLC for a 58-acre site along Marietta Pike, adjoining Route 30 and Running Pump Road.

There are four different parcels on the property, which under the plan would be rezoned from "agricultural holding" and residential to commercial.

Also Wednesday, the supervisors began the process of rezoning the township-owned Sylvan View Farm property along Harrisburg Pike.

The site, which the township has owned since 2003, would be rezoned from residential to commercial.

A hearing would be held some time in the future regarding the 2.5-acre property.

Over the years, the site has been everything from the Sylvan View Dairy to a real-estate sales office.

Once rezoned, township officials have said it could be a good site for a medical or business office.

Copyright 2008 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.