About the Plan

ABOUT
A comprehensive plan is a community’s long-term vision for the future—along with a roadmap for how to get there.
It outlines goals and makes recommendations about important topics like:

Land use and development
Transportation and mobility
Parks and recreation
Housing and neighborhoods
Utilities and infrastructure

While the plan is officially adopted by local governments, it is not a law. Instead, it’s a powerful tool that helps guide decisions, shape policy, and set priorities for public investment.

At its core, a comprehensive plan helps communities answer big questions like: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? And how do we get there—together?

WHAT IS THE BUDGET?

Funding for the multi-municipal comprehensive plan totals $75,000, which includes grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) as well as local matching contributions from the participating municipalities.

PLANNING PROCESS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a comprehensive plan used for?
A comprehensive plan can be used as a reference document for grant writing, an action plan for a future task force, and an advocacy tool for community-oriented development.
Regional funders pay special attention to projects that can demonstrate how its impact will build into something larger. West Hills Region Comprehensive Plan Project nests specific strategies, vetted by the community, within a larger framework for community investments. Municipalities or community groups, interested in attracting
funding, can find alignments in the Plan and use the text, graphics, and data to develop funding applications.

Are there other people, groups, interested in advancing the finished plan? In the planning process we typically find many people doing great work for the community who may not have been in contact with each other previously. The West Hills Region Comprehensive Plan Project creates a framework for action that is broad enough to allow for community members to act together and specific enough to
allow individual action with specific points for coordination and partnership.

What will this plan do?
The finished Comprehensive Plan for will:

Set Priorities for Public Investment: Identify where resources like infrastructure, parks, and public services should be directed over the next 10–20 years.
Create guidance for updates to land use regulations (Zoning/SALDO):
Considers changes to local land use policies to reflect community goals,
environmental concerns, and development trends.
Coordinate Decision-Making Across Municipalities: Offer a consistent
framework to help townships and boroughs align on development,
transportation, and shared services.
Support Grant Applications and Funding Requests: Serve as a foundational
document to strengthen proposals for state, federal, and private funding.
Provide a Roadmap for Future Growth and Preservation: Outline strategies to attract investment while protecting farmland, forests, water resources, and community character.