Susquehanna County Regional Planning Commission

Susquehanna County Regional Planning Commission
Name	Susquehanna County Regional Planning Commission
Type	Regional planning commission
Founded	20th century
Headquarters	Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
Region served	Northeastern Pennsylvania
Leader title	Executive Director

Susquehanna County Regional Planning Commission is a local planning body serving Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, coordinating land use, transportation, and development among municipalities including Montrose, New Milford, and Forest City while interfacing with state and federal agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The commission engages with neighboring counties like Wayne County, Bradford County, and Lackawanna County and collaborates with institutions including Penn State Extension, Delaware River Basin Commission, and local utilities to guide comprehensive plans, zoning updates, and infrastructure projects.

History

The commission emerged amid mid-20th century regional planning movements influenced by national models such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, the New Deal agencies including the Public Works Administration, and state-level initiatives like the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Early interactions involved county officials, township supervisors from Herrick Township and Bridgewater Township, and borough councils from Montrose and Susquehanna Depot, aligning with programs from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Federal Highway Administration. Over subsequent decades it worked alongside entities including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to respond to issues from floodplain management related to the Susquehanna River to rural land preservation influenced by the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.

Organization and Governance

Governance structures reflect models seen in regional bodies such as the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Allegheny County Department of Planning, with appointed commissioners from townships, boroughs, and county government. Leadership roles include an executive director, planning staff, and technical advisory committees that coordinate with PennDOT District 4, the Pennsylvania Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. The commission's bylaws and intergovernmental agreements reference standards used by the American Planning Association, the National Association of Regional Councils, and the U.S. Census Bureau for data sharing, and it liaises with elected officials including state legislators from the Pennsylvania General Assembly and county commissioners.

Planning Functions and Services

Core functions mirror those of metropolitan planning organizations and regional councils: comprehensive planning, land use mapping, zoning assistance, and grant administration involving agencies like HUD, EPA Brownfields Program, and USDA Rural Development. The commission produces geographic information system work compatible with ESRI standards, census tract analyses using U.S. Census data, and transportation planning integrated with PennDOT and the Federal Transit Administration. It provides technical support to local boards of supervisors and borough councils, assists with stormwater management plans tied to DEP regulations, and supports historic preservation efforts in consultation with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the National Register of Historic Places.

Major Projects and Initiatives

Projects include comprehensive plan updates for Montrose and New Milford, transportation studies aligned with PennDOT roadway improvements, and economic development strategies similar to those supported by the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration. Environmental initiatives have involved watershed planning in collaboration with the Delaware River Basin Commission, brownfield remediation projects leveraging EPA grants, and agricultural land protection programs partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The commission has also coordinated broadband expansion efforts with the Federal Communications Commission, the Pennsylvania Office of Broadband Initiatives, nonprofit partners like Connected Nation, and regional utilities to improve connectivity in rural townships.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources reflect typical mixes of county allocations, state grants from bodies such as the Commonwealth Financing Authority, and federal funding from HUD Community Development Block Grants, EDA, and USDA. Partnerships extend to academic institutions such as Penn State, community organizations including local chambers of commerce, conservation groups like the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, and regional alliances such as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance and the Lackawanna Heritage Valley. Contractual relationships often involve engineering firms, planning consultants, and legal counsel familiar with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and grant compliance for agencies including the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Community Impact and Regional Issues

The commission addresses issues common to rural counties: population aging seen in U.S. Census trends, land use change tied to shale gas development and interactions with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Marcellus Shale regulatory framework, transportation access with PennDOT and Federal Highway Administration priorities, and preservation of cultural resources listed with the National Register of Historic Places. Community impacts include improved municipal zoning capacity for boroughs and townships, grant-supported infrastructure upgrades, and coordinated disaster resilience planning with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Ongoing challenges involve balancing economic development initiatives promoted by the EDA and SBA with conservation priorities championed by the Nature Conservancy and local historic preservation commissions.

Category:Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania Category:Regional planning commissions in Pennsylvania