1. New Hanover Comprehensive Plan
Maggie Dobbs, AICP

2. What is a comprehensive plan?
Long-range plan to outline the future growth and development of a place
Identifies a community vision for the future
Provides implementation recommendations to achieve this vision
MPC requires an update every 10 years
Must be:
Geographically comprehensive
Comprehensive in subject matter
Long-range time frame
typically projects out needs for 20 years
Long-range encourages visionary, comprehensive thinking without over-reaching our ability to project data (DVRPC has 25-year projections for population and employment that are updated every 5 years)
Ability to reevaluate at 10-years, or half-way through, to evaluate progress and determine if conditions have changed significantly enough to warrant a full reexamination

3. Benefits of a CP Community-based visioning process
Supports community-identified goals
Provides direction for implementation
Provides guidance for policy-making and decisions regarding infrastructure, zoning amendments, public investments, etc.
Can be used to support funding and grant requests

4. Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance Capital Improvements Program
What can you do with a CP?
New Hanover
Comprehensive Plan
Zoning Ordinance
- Recommend updates
- Identify shortfalls or inconsistencies
- Update permitted uses
- Define proposed changes to districts
Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance
- Strengthen requirements
Capital Improvements Program
- Identify projects that would qualify for the CIP
- Project timeframes to inform budget needs
Grants
- Identify projects with grant potential
- Establish priority projects and application sequencing
Policy
- Identify any changes or updates to policy approaches
- Municipal administration
As required by Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), a community’s zoning ordinance, subdivision and land development ordinance, and capital improvement program must be generally consistent and work to implement the municipal comprehensive plan. All of the elements work together in the daily administration of the community and should be supported by a strong, long-range, comprehensive community vision as laid out in the comprehensive plan.
**Find out if they have a CIP

5. Plan components Comprehensive Plan Elements Required by the MPC:
Statement of Objectives
Plan for Land Use
Plan to Meet Housing Needs
Plan for Movement of People and Goods
Plan for Community Facilities and Utilities
Plan for the Protection of Natural and Historic Resources
Plan for the Reliable Supply of Water
Discussion of Short- and Long-Range Implementation Strategies
Statement of the Interrelationships between Plan Components
Statement of Consistency with Adjacent Municipalities’ and the County’s Comprehensive Plan

6. Consistency with other plans
NHCP shall be consistent with plans from adjacent municipalities, the regional planning commission, and the county
Should recommendations be created that are inconsistent with the long-range vision identified in the regional comprehensive plan, the township may petition for an amendment to reflect the community’s goals and values
Montco 2040
PMRPC Comp Plan
New Hanover Comp Plan

7. New Hanover Comp Plan Transitioning community desires
Desire for a limit to development
Concern with increasing vehicular traffic
Open space preservation
Commercial development
Tailored to individual needs of the township rather than to the region as a whole
Address more unique township concerns and opportunities
Informed through research, stakeholder input, and community involvement and feedback

8. Plan Structure Introduction and background
Discussion of component areas
Housing and population projections
Transportation
Natural and historic resources
Future land use
Community facilities and utilities
Parks and open space
Recommendations and implementation strategies
In all sections, current conditions will be explored, future needs will be identified, and strategies will be recommended that will ensure those future needs are met

9. Deliverables 18 month process Background research
Stakeholder interviews
Coordination with the PC
Issues identification, feedback, insight
Community outreach elements
Survey
Workshops
Open House
Advertising opportunities at community events
Draft writing and review
Final adoption

10. Timeline 2019 2020 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 Background Research
Goals Identification
Stakeholder Interviews
Survey
Strategies Identification
Workshop
Draft Writing
Open House
Draft Review
Adoption

11. Role of planning commission
MCPC does preliminary background research
Reliance on PC to be the voice of residents – representative democracy here to understand the needs/concerns/desires of community to help shape the initial recommendations
Provide input on who else to reach out to, history of projects, identification of needs, other research areas may have missed, what other community groups exist
Participation in upcoming community events as volunteers in various roles

12. Next Steps… Confirm public outreach events timeline
Will need to establish feedback mechanisms and timelines for delivery of review materials
Will use review materials to discuss what goals the community has and begin to develop potential recommendations for each topic area
Options:
Background data reports
Summary of findings

13. Questions or comments?
Maggie Dobbs, AICP