What’s Going On At Good Hope And Wertzville Roads In Hampden Township, PA

If you live near Westbury, Wellington, Wentworth, Pinehurst, or Greenwood Circle, you’ve probably heard about the corner of Good Hope and Wertzville. A developer has been trying to put stores there for years. Neighbors have been trying to keep it residential. The latest round is in front of the Board of Commissioners right now.

1. What’s proposed
Southwest corner of Good Hope Road and Wertzville Road | ~7.67 acres | 8 parcels
Good Hope Ventures (Bony Dawood) wants eight properties, mostly in the 2000 block of Good Hope and the 5000 block of Wertzville, rezoned from Residential Country to Commercial Park Limited. The site is less than a tenth of a mile from the I-81 Wertzville Road interchange, across from a Turkey Hill. The current plan described to Cumberland County: a convenience store with fuel at the corner, two small retail buildings, and extra buffering along the south and west (Dawood told commissioners that’s three times what the township requires). He has not named the tenants.
📍 Intersection of Good Hope Road and Wertzville Road, Hampden Township, PA 17050

2. How we got here
PennLive has called this a ~15-year effort. The paper trail the county laid out starts in 2016: a rezoning the county recommended and the township denied; a 2023 application that was withdrawn; a 2024 curative amendment that went to Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas after the township didn’t act, then was withdrawn. This round is a curative amendment, meaning the applicant argues the residential zoning itself is invalid (an “island” next to commercial land on the east side of Good Hope, and not reasonably usable for houses). The township’s 2015 comprehensive plan does mark the corner for future commercial.

3. What neighbors are saying
Last year about 400 residents from the nearby neighborhoods signed a petition against commercial zoning. Eight nearby residents have party status in the hearing, so they can question witnesses and put on their own case. The concerns on the record are the usual ones for this corner: more cars at I-81, a commercial use next to established homes, and whether this is the right place for another convenience store when Carlisle Pike already has plenty.

4. What the developer is saying
At the July hearing Dawood was the only witness. He said the eight parcels would only support about seven homes, which isn’t financially feasible, and that users are already identified (he wouldn’t name them). His pitch: people in this part of the township wouldn’t have to drive to the Pike for everyday stops. Traffic studies were done in 2023, with follow-up counts during the school year; a full PennDOT traffic impact study would come later, at land development, if the zoning changes.

5. Where it stands
The Board of Commissioners opened the public hearing in June, continued it July 30, and continued it again to the Aug. 27 meeting for the applicant’s experts. PennLive said it would continue at least once more after that. Public comment comes after both sides put on their cases, not before. Nothing has been approved. Meetings are in person at the municipal building, 209 S. Sporting Hill Road.

This is one to watch if you own or want to buy near that interchange. Zoning fights like this can take months, and they do change what “next door” looks like. I’ll update when the board actually votes.

Would you like a FREE copy of the Cumberland County Home Price Report for August 2026? Just email me at josh.schoenly@exprealty.com or shoot me a text at 717-571-0456

- Josh Schoenly
http://JoshVIPs.com
Realtor® - eXp Realty, LLC
Call/Text: (717) 571-0456
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