Catherine Delacruz likes living in the Waterford at Sterling Place apartment complex in Lancaster Township, but she says that its trash area can often leave her feeling disgusted.

“When people come and see that, they say ‘I thought this would be a nicer place,’” Delacruz said. “It does not look good on us.”

That was the case last month, when a mix of trash bags, furniture and construction debris were piled in the trash area, which is located along Sterling Place between Bean Hill Road and Waterford Court. 

The trash area is gated and there are signs on a fence that warn dumpsters are for tenants use only and violators will be prosecuted.

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A Sterling Place resident who lives in a townhome near the 220-unit apartment complex emailed the Watchdog photos of trash piles taken June 16. The resident, who was granted anonymity because of a fear of retaliation from township officials for raising the issue, wrote that the trash area had been a problem for nearly 20 years. They said their complaints to Waterford at Sterling Place management and the township have gone unheard.

“In my opinion it is extremely unsanitary and a danger to our community,” the resident wrote.

Scott Ford, who owns a townhome on Sterling Place, said he thinks most of the furniture and large trash items dumped at the trash area comes from people who live outside the neighborhood. 

“People who don’t live there are dumping there,” he said. “It’s wide open, so that will happen.” 

A new management company which took over operation of the complex earlier appears to share residents’ frustration, and may finally be doing something to address the problem long-term. 

The management company, the Franklin Johnston Group, is reportedly exploring plans to shut down the trash area, according to emails which LNP | LancasterOnline got through a public record request to the township. 

An employee wrote in a May 8 email to the township that the company is planning to relocate the dumpsters to parking areas located closer to the individual apartment buildings. In the same email, they appealed to the township for help to stop the illegal dumping at the current site. 

“We are currently having an issue with residents in the surrounding area (not our residents) dumping in our trash area, which causes additional cost and our dumpster area to be overloaded with trash,” Timeka Anderson, portfolio manager for the Franklin Johnston Group, wrote. 

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Ongoing problem

Lancaster Township officials said they received one resident complaint about the trash pile that was cleaned up last month, the latest in a series of complaints that go back several years.

Zoning officer Tom Daniels said after the recent complaint, he contacted the management office at the Waterford at Sterling, and the area was cleaned up a few days later. 

On June 24, a pile of trash remained near the dumpsters that included mini refrigerators, mattresses, and a set of kitchen cabinets and countertops. By June 26, all of the trash had been removed.

Daniels said he was pleased with the Franklin Johnston Group’s response, and said it is taking a more proactive approach to the trash area than previous management. In the past, he said, trash would go unaddressed, and he sent multiple letters warning of violations of the township’s solid waste ordinance – most recently in 2022. Daniels said he never filed any citations, which could have carried fines up to $300 per day.

“I don’t want money, I want cooperation,” he said. 

Daniels said the trash area will continue to invite dumping as it is currently laid out, because it is along a public road with no security. As a zoning officer, he said he can’t do anything to stop illegal dumping on private property.

Police can issue citations for illegal dumping under state law, which can bring a fine for up to $300 for the first offense – up to $1,000 for a second offense – required trash pickup, and jail time in some cases. 

There have not been any recent prosecutions for illegal dumping, according to the Manheim Township Police Department, which provides police service to Lancaster Township on a contract basis. A department spokesperson said the department has not issued any citations for illegal dumping at the site in the last year, and has received only one complaint during that time.

Waterford’s management office did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment for this article. The Franklin Johnston Group, which manages 25,000 apartments across seven states, also did not return calls seeking comment before the deadline for this story. 

If the company follows through with its plans to move the dumpsters, it will have to get a zoning permit from Lancaster Township. Daniels said that as of Tuesday, the township has not received a permit application. 

Delacruz said if management decides to close the existing trash area and relocate the dumpsters closer to the apartments, she will support it. 

“That would be awesome,” she said.

Update: A spokesperson for the Waterford at Sterling Place emailed the following statement to LNP | LancasterOnline on Saturday: "The comfort and safety of our residents is always our top priority. We are working to address issues with the improper placement of trash in the community, including by non-residents. As always, we will keep the community informed as this work progresses." 

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