What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A municipal comprehensive plan is an essential tool for shaping the future of Manheim Township. Comprehensive plans are governed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (PA MPC) Act 247 of 1968, the enabling legislation that permits municipalities to create, adopt, and utilize land use planning tools to guide local decision-making. Under this law, comprehensive plans are used as a tool for shaping future development, growth, transportation infrastructure, parks, and many other elements of a community’s-built environment. A comprehensive plan also serves as:

• An educational tool for residents to help them learn about their community
• A platform for discussing how growth, development, and land use can be guided
• A roadmap for improving mobility and transportation connections
• A set of principles that underpin all decisions being made to improve the community

Additionally, Rooted and Renewing 2035 Township Comprehensive Plan was created to be an “implementable comprehensive plan,” which represents a significant change from how municipal comprehensive plans have been developed in the past.

Developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, this new method permits municipalities to focus on the few key issues identified through data gathering and extensive engagement with the community. Recommendations are focused on those key issues and are intentionally limited in number, so that the community can utilize its limited resources more effectively to accomplish them. An implementable plan is also designed to be relatively short, concise, and free of technical jargon that would make it challenging for laypeople to read.

By adopting the Implementable Comprehensive Planning Approach, Rooted & Renewing 2035 will be a plan that strongly and clearly focuses on the priorities that Township leaders and residents said were important, while still meeting the requirements of the PA MPC.