2010 State Land Use and Growth Management Report
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code mandates the Governor's Center for Local Government Services to prepare a comprehensive State Land Use and Growth Management Report every five years. The 2010 report is the first update following the inaugural report in 2005.
The 2010 report evaluates contemporary land use issues, significant historic and projected trends, and statewide and regional development patterns. It makes a number of recommendations - specific opportunities for the Commonwealth to positively impact future growth and development patterns.
The report talks about change. The latter half of the decade brought an economic recession and dramatic declines in building and development, plus fiscal stress for state and local governments. Pennsylvania's population is one of oldest in the nation. Households continue to be more one or two persons and less families with children. The state is diverse and land use issues vary from region to region. Marcellus Shale natural gas, not foreseen in the 2005 report, is a major issue today.
Planning and the character of land use and development are important to the above issues. Pennsylvania and its communities need to look to the future, understand demographic, market, and technological changes, and be ahead of others in embracing new economic opportunities presented by the changes. We need to understand what community assets are most critical to retaining and attracting people and businesses. These include basic infrastructure and services, plus historical, cultural, and natural features that make Pennsylvania stand out as a place to live, work, and enjoy. State and local governments must act strategically and cooperatively to invest shrinking resources in these priority assets.
2010 State Land Use and Growth Management Report - Executive Summary
2010 State Land Use and Growth Management Report