Residents of Cornwall Borough and North Cornwall, North Lebanon, South Lebanon and West Cornwall townships are invited to provide feedback to inform the development of the Cornwall-Lebanon regional comprehensive plan.
The municipalities, all part of the Cornwall-Lebanon school district, are collaborating on the newest version of the plan.
A slideshow on the plan, presented by Gannett-Fleming-TranSystems senior project manager Michelle Brummer to representatives of each municipality at a public meeting Wednesday, details the ways the region has changed since 2013.
While the public meeting offered attendees feedback forms, the meeting was sparsely attended. However, residents can offer their thoughts in a survey until Sept. 30.
A comprehensive plan is an advisory document that lays out data and plans for a given region. Involved municipalities are not bound to make decisions based on it, but it can inform considerations about rezoning, municipal infrastructure priorities and more.
While a version of the plan was adopted by all listed municipalities — save for Cornwall, which only agreed to join the plan in 2022 — in 2013, comprehensive plans should be revised every 10 years.
Read More: (2022) Cornwall council passes 2023 budget, joins regional comprehensive plan
“Why update now? 10 years has passed. Market conditions have changed. Citizens and officials have changed,” the presentation reads. “There are new concerns about development and quality of life.”
On display at Wednesday’s meeting were several maps relevant to the plan. Older versions of the maps are available for reference at North Lebanon Township’s website here.
In addition to listening to Brummer’s presentation, representatives also discussed the possibility of addressing fire companies in the plan.
Fire companies are increasingly struggling to find and maintain volunteers, with an aging volunteer-base. In addition, mergers between companies have become common.
Read More:
- N. Annville Twp. fire company merger advances despite stalled bylaws pact (August)
- Bellegrove, Union Water Works fire companies move toward merger (June)
- Three local fire companies to merge into the South Lebanon Fire Department (January, 2023)
If representatives decide to pursue this further, Brummer said, the plan may include details on the handling of merged or regional fire departments and recommendations on increasing volunteerism.
At the next committee meeting, representatives of the involved municipal governments will review and provide feedback on a draft, which will be informed by survey results. The draft will also be reviewed by the planning commission.
Before adoption by the municipalities, public hearings will be held and revisions will be made as needed.
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