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| Pocono Mountains Regional Planning Commission | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pocono Mountains Regional Planning Commission |
| Type | Regional planning agency |
| Region served | Pocono Mountains |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Pocono Mountains Regional Planning Commission The Pocono Mountains Regional Planning Commission is a regional planning organization serving the Pocono Mountains area of northeastern Pennsylvania. It provides coordinated planning, technical assistance, and policy advice for municipalities, counties, transportation authorities, and conservation groups across the region. The commission engages with municipal governments, county commissioners, state agencies, federal partners, and nonprofit organizations to address land use, transportation, environmental protection, and economic development.
The commission traces its origins to mid-20th century regionalism that involved entities such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Monroe County, Pike County, Carbon County, Luzerne County, and neighboring boroughs and townships. Early collaborations linked the commission with the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance. Key milestones included strategic plans developed alongside the Metropolitan Planning Organization process, regional comprehensive plans coordinated with the William Penn Foundation and initiatives influenced by statewide programs like the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Over time the commission expanded to work with regional entities such as the Delaware River Basin Commission, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, New Jersey Transit (on cross-border matters), and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The commission is governed by a board composed of representatives from county governments, municipal officials from boroughs and townships, and appointed members from authorities like the Pocono Mountain Visitor Bureau and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Executive leadership typically includes an executive director and professional staff with backgrounds connected to institutions such as Penn State University, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, and regional planning councils. Committees and advisory panels often feature stakeholders from the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority, Pike County Redevelopment Authority, Northampton County Planning Commission (on multi-county issues), the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and representatives from tribal nations when projects intersect historic sites listed with the National Register of Historic Places.
The commission provides technical assistance in areas including land use analysis for boroughs and townships, transportation modeling for the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration, environmental permitting coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service, and grant-writing support related to programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Economic Development Administration. It offers mapping and geographic information system services using standards from the U.S. Geological Survey and partnerships with academic labs at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. Workforce development and tourism-support programs link clients to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Greater Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, and regional arts councils.
The commission’s planning footprint covers municipalities within the Pocono Mountains region, including townships, boroughs, and cities that interface with counties such as Monroe County, Pike County, Carbon County, and portions of Luzerne County. It coordinates across transportation corridors tied to the Interstate 80 corridor, the Interstate 476 corridor, and state routes connected to the Lehigh Valley International Airport and regional rail lines formerly associated with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Ecological planning reaches into watersheds under the purview of the Delaware River Basin Commission and key natural areas including lands proximate to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Promised Land State Park, and habitats monitored by the National Wildlife Federation.
Funding sources include grants and contracts from federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture for conservation programs, and the Appalachian Regional Commission for economic projects. State-level support comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Department of Community and Economic Development (Pennsylvania), and allocations associated with the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. Local funding and matching contributions derive from county budgets, municipal dues, and partnerships with entities like the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority, regional utilities, private foundations including the Pew Charitable Trusts, and corporate sponsors linked to the hospitality industry and ski resorts such as Camelback Mountain Resort and Shawnee Mountain Ski Area.
Major initiatives have included regional comprehensive plans developed in coordination with the Northeast Regional Planning Commission framework, transportation studies linked to the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre area, and trail network projects connected to the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Environmental restoration projects involved coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for flood mitigation and stormwater management. Economic development and resilience efforts partnered with the Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration, and regional higher education institutions like East Stroudsburg University to support workforce training and site redevelopment.
Supporters credit the commission with improving intermunicipal coordination among entities such as individual township boards, county commissioners, and regional authorities, and with helping secure funding from agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Critics have raised concerns similar to debates around regional planning bodies across the United States, pointing to perceived tensions with local elected boards, disputes involving landowners, interactions with conservation organizations such as the Sierra Club and local historical societies, and challenges coordinating across jurisdictions tied to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and state regulatory frameworks. Stakeholders including business groups, environmental advocates, and municipal coalitions continue to debate priorities around growth management, tourism, habitat conservation, and infrastructure investment.
Category:Regional planning organizations in the United States Category:Pocono Mountains