NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — In preparing to update its comprehensive plan for the first time in 14 years, North Whitehall Township surveyed its residents and found many want to reduce commercial and warehouse development, keep taxes low and preserve the rural character of the township.
A plan for how the township can address those concerns as it grows in the next 10-15 years will be reviewed and face a vote of its Board of Supervisors on Feb. 6.
- North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors will vote to adopt the township’s draft comprehensive plan at its Feb. 6 meeting
- The plan provides a general framework to manage future growth and preservation and sets long- and short-term goals for housing, transportation, infrastructure, preservation, zoning and other aspects of a municipality
- The plan also assesses population trends. North Whitehall Township’s population is projected to reach 23,973, a 47.3% increase from the 2019 estimate
The township is at the end of a multi-year process of updating its comprehensive plan, which provides a general framework to manage future growth and preservation.
“The plan seeks to set forth a common community vision for the future of North Whitehall and to coordinate, educate, and guide development and preservation in appropriate areas of the Township,” the plan's executive summary reads.
What is a comprehensive plan?
A comprehensive plan sets out long- and short-term goals for housing, transportation, infrastructure, preservation, zoning and other aspects of a municipality, and will inform new ordinances.
In other words, it is a guideline for where future efforts and developments should go and what they should be like.
It also assesses the trajectory of transportation, developments, demographics, employment and other key aspects of the area.
View the draft plan in full below:
The comprehensive plan last was updated in 2009. The process of creating the new plan started in May 2021. The township conducted a resident survey for the plan, which received 1,100 responses.
South Whitehall Township also is in the process of reviewing its draft comprehensive plan and likely will adopt the final version in the coming months.
Highest priorities in the plan
The plan provides a blueprint for implementing its goals in a section called “Action Plan.” The section includes tables that categorize potential action items into high, medium and low priority.
Some high-priority action items include:
- Conducting a township-wide survey of existing facilities to determine accessibility issues.
- Requiring appropriate landscaping, buffers and noise mitigation with new development
- Developing regulations that permit/incentivize solar, geothermal and other alternative energy sources.
- Permitting/incentivizing a variety of housing types that meet the needs, preferences and financial capabilities of the township’s present and future residents.
- Providing incentives for the adaptive reuse of vacant and/or abandoned or underutilized commercial and industrial properties/structures.
- Encouraging volunteerism within the community by identifying and organizing activities and projects.
- Preparing a study/map of sidewalk and trail availability and gaps within a 10-minute walk to parks, schools, community facilities, food establishments and retail and personal services.
- Updating land use regulations to include provisions requiring the planting of native species and the removal of non-natives.
The plan says high-priority items should be completed within the next year.
Population trends
In 2019, the population of North Whitehall Township was estimated at 16,278 — a 4% increase from the 2010 total population.
By the year 2040, North Whitehall Township’s population is projected to reach 23,973, a 47.3% increase from the 2019 estimate. This growth rate is generally on trend with the growth that is forecasted for the region, according to the plan.
“The plan seeks to set forth a common community vision for the future of North Whitehall and to coordinate, educate, and guide development and preservation in appropriate areas of the Township."North Whitehall Township draft comprehensive plan
The plan shows the township population is aging.
In 2010, the largest segment of the population was 35 to 49 years old. However, in 2019, the largest segment of the population was 50 to 64 years.
The township also is seeing an increase in the population aged 65 years and older.
Land use maps
The plan examines future land use and how that should be implemented in future township ordinances. It includes the township’s current land use map and a potential future map.
At a recent township Planning Commission meeting, township Zoning Officer Jeff Mouer said the township has formed a committee to review the zoning ordinances and suggest potential changes to align them with the new map.
The committee likely will hold its first meeting on Feb. 13.
