Coalition
Members

Apolacon Twp..
Bridgewater Twp.
Choconut Twp.
Forest Lake Twp.
Franklin Twp.
Jessup Twp.
Liberty Twp.
Middletown Twp.
Rush Twp.
Silver Lake Twp
Friendsville
Little Meadows
Montrose

Comprehensive Plan
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Planning Needs
Planning Process
Where are we? - Background Information
Where do we want to be? - Goals & Objectives, Plans
How do we get there? - Implementation Strategies
Need for Continued Planning
Planning Issues Overview

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Conservation Planning Targets and Threats
RRIR Conservation Targets
RRIR Conservation Threats
General Community Development Objectives
Goal - Rural Working Landscape and Quality Lifestyle
Goal - Natural Resources and Open Space
Goal - Commercial and Industrial Development
Goal - Housing
Goal - Community Facilities and Services
Goal - Road System
Goal - Historic Structures

GOALS AND ACTIONS SUMMARY

General Community Development Objectives
Goals
Overall Actions
Key Implementation Strategies
Specific Actions
Land Use, Natural Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection
Land Use Management Ordinances
Community Facility Needs
Community Facilities and Services
Transportation
Economic Development
Housing
Capital Improvements Program
Official Map

PLANNING PROCESS AND INTERRELATIONSHIP OF PLAN ELEMENTS

Framework for the Future
Planning Process
Conservation of Community Character
Community Vision
Community Involvement
Implementation Strategies

FINDINGS

Community Character and Development History
Growth and Development, and Existing Land Use
Natural Features

DEMOGRAPHICS

Why Demographics
Historic Population and Recent Trends
Population Density and Distribution
Migration
Population Projections
Age of Population
Housing Units
Seasonal Housing and Population
Demographic Profiles

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN CONTIGUOUS MUNICIPALITIES,
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY AND THE REGION

Planning Code
County Planning
Regional Planning
Planning and Zoning in Contiguous Municipalities
Intermunicipal Cooperation

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Taxing Authority
Revenues and Expenditures
Municipal Comparisons
Future Considerations

LAND USE, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Summary of Planning Issues
County Planning
Future Land Use - Conserve Working Landscape, Encourage
Appropriate Economic Development and Protect the Environment
Slow and Steady Growth for the NTC
Businesses and Employment
Agriculture, Forestry, Minerals
NTC Generalized Future Land Use
Land Use and Zoning
NTC Designated Growth Area
Designated Growth Area Development Scenario
NTC Village Centers
Delineated NTC Village Centers
Village Center Development Scenario
Residential Neighborhoods
Residential Neighborhood Development Scenario
Rural Resource Areas
Rural Resource Area Development Scenario
Conservation Subdivision Design
Fiscal Benefits of Open Land Preservation
Goals for Conservation Design Development
Specific Actions for Residential Development
Commercial, Manufacturing and Institutional Uses
Preservation of Agriculture
Farmers - Long Term Stewards
Agricultural Protection Zoning
Agricultural Securities Areas
Agricultural Conservation Easements
Specific Agricultural Protection Actions
Tax Incentives - Clean and Green
Forestry
Mineral Extraction
Watershed Planning
Issues of Special Concern - Adult Businesses and Junkyards
Other Specific Actions

LAND USE MANAGEMENT ORDINANCES
SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES AND ZONING ORDINANCES

Existing Land Use Management Ordinances
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance
Compared to Zoning Ordinance
Zoning - The Principal Land Use Management Tool
Community Survey Results
County Zoning
Traditional Zoning - District Separation
Performance Zoning
Traditional and Performance Combined
Cooperative Zoning
Municipal Long Term Commitment
Management -- Not Preservation of Status Quo
Specific Actions Related to Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances
and  Zoning Ordinances

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Overview
Growth and Development
Planning and Intermunicipal Cooperation
Plan Focus
Facility and Service Providers
Intermunicipal Cooperation
Schools
Borough and Township Facilities and Services
Community Survey Ratings
Township Government
Borough Government
Local Road Maintenance
Road Maintenance Cooperation
Fire Protection and Ambulance Service
Emergency Services Forum
Emergency Management
Police Protection
Utilities and Communications
Water Supply
Sewage Disposal
On-Site Sewage Systems
Sewage Treatment Plants
Solid Waste Disposal
Recreation
Recreation and the Planning Code
Libraries
Community Facilities for New Development
Community Facility and Service Priorities

TRANSPORTATION

Access Mobility
Other Classification Factors
NTC Community Survey Findings Regarding Transportation
Road Inventory and Conditions
State Highway System
New Road Construction
Transportation Goals and Actions

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic Development Findings in the NTC Community Survey
Economic Base
NTC Economic Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Existing Business
The Bluestone Industry
Economic Development Goals and Actions

HOUSING

Housing Units
Seasonal and Vacation Units
Housing Types
Age of Housing
Home Ownership
Municipalities Planning Code Requirements
Housing Affordability Considerations
Housing Affordability in the NTC
Specific Housing Actions

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM

CIP - Budgeting Device
Informal v Formal
Prioritization of Municipal Needs

OFFICIAL MAP

Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code
What Is an Official Map?
What Misconceptions Surround The Official Map?
What Are the Benefits of the Official Map?
What Can Be Included on the Official Map?

INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION

Intermunicipal Cooperation in Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County COG
Additional Opportunities
Municipal Consolidation and Merger
Cooperation vs Consolidation

APPENDIX

Appendix A - Intergovernmental Cooperation Ordinance
Appendix B - Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement
Appendix C - Road Inventory and Evaluation Worksheet
Appendix D - Sample Junk and Rubbish Regulation Ordinance
Appendix E - Sample Nuisance Ordinance
Appendix F -  Sample Zoning Ordinance Performance and Environmental Protection Standards