Growing SmarterGrowing Smarter

Pennsylvania’s Land Use Agenda

9.710.4

11.9

13.7

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

1982 1987 1992 1997

Percent of Land Developed in Pennsylvania

Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Other Land6%

Water Area2%

Farmland29%

Developed Land10%

Forest Land53%

Pennsylvania Land Cover, 1982

Note: Other Land Includes Other Rural Land and Federal Land Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Forest Land53%

Developed Land14%

Farmland25%

Water Area2%

Other Land6%

Pennsylvania Land Cover, 1997

Note: Other Land Includes Other Rural Land and Federal Land Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

21st Century Environmental Commission

Governor convened to recommend environmental priorities for the next century

Identified land use as the “most pressing” problem

Report issued 1998

Executive Order 1999-1 Support local planning efforts and encourage

regional cooperation Preserve farmland and open space Encourage growth in previously developed areas

or locally designated growth areas Respect private property rights Encourage soundly-planned growth at all levels

of government Infrastructure plans should be consistent with

sound land use

Center for Local Government Services

Designated by EO 1999-1 as the principal state-level entity for land use assistance and monitoring

Reports annually to the Governor on land use trends in PA and recommend changes to law or policy to support land use objectives

Sound Land Use Forums

53 Forums held statewide between June and August 1999

Nearly 4000 people attended

Opportunity for Pennsylvanians to share their vision for the future and provide creative solutions to land use issues

Sound Land Use Forums

Intergovernmental cooperation Farmland and open space preservation Infrastructure planning and coordination Community revitalization Planning tools

Growing Smarter Initiative

Largest-ever investment to support land-use planning efforts by local governments

Top-to-bottom review of state government programs

Legislative revisions to the Municipalities Planning Code

2000-01 Budget

$3.6 million for land use planning assistance: $2.6 million for grants to municipalities $1 million to Center for Local Government

Services for additional staff and outreach

$4.6 million proposed for 2001-02 budget

State Government Review Mission: Complete a comprehensive

review of laws, regulations, programs, policies and practices to insure consistency with Executive Order 1999-1

Interagency team coordinated by the Governor’s Policy Office

Report to Governor in August 2000

Interagency Land Use Report

Inventory of over 100 programs that have an impact on land use

Recommendations Programmatic and policy revisions Support of local land use plans and zoning Increase interagency communications and

consistency in decision-making

MPC Revisions – Acts 67 & 68

Designated Growth Areas Inter-municipal Transferable Development Rights

by written agreement Intergovernmental planning agreements

Courts allowed to consider availability of uses in multi-municipal plan and individual zoning ordinances

Promote general consistency by ensuring communication and coordination at all levels

State Agency Decisions

Commonwealth Agencies shall consider and may rely upon comprehensive plans and zoning when reviewing applications for the funding and permitting of infrastructure or facilities under sections 619.2 and 1105 of the MPC

PUC Policy Adopted Jan. 11, 2001 The Commission will consider the impact

of its decisions upon local plans and zoning including, but not limited to, reviewing applications for certificates of

public convenience siting electric transmission lines siting a public utility “building” under Sec.

619 of the MPC

PUC Policy

Encourages public utilities to consider the impact of their actions on local land use plans

Goal is to further support and promote sound land use in Pennsylvania

Signed into law by Gov. Ridge on Dec. 15, 1999

Invests nearly $650 million over five years in Pennsylvania’s environment

Currently in second year of implementation

Growing GreenerGrowing Greener

DEP watershed restoration & protection, mine reclamation, oil & gas well plugging grants

DCNR open space protection and recreation grants

PENNVENST wastewater, drinking water and storm water management grants

PDA county farmland preservation grants

Growing GreenerGrowing Greener

Organizing a Watershed Group Watershed Assessments Watershed Restoration or Protection Plan Implementation of a Watershed Plan Demonstration, Education, & Outreach

DEP Watershed Project TypesDEP Watershed Project Types

Drinking water and sewer filtration and treatment plants

Collector and interceptor sewers Combined sewer overflows Drinking water distribution systems Storm water control projects

PENNVEST Project TypesPENNVEST Project Types

4,079 acres of wetlands restored 137 miles of streamside buffers planted 389 miles of stream improvements 5,226 acres of abandoned mine land reclamation $90 million leveraged with $80 million in funding

DEP Two Year AccomplishmentsDEP Two Year Accomplishments

Water Resources PA has been in drought conditions for the

last six years Most municipalities do not know how

much water they use and where they get it More than 10,000 new water wells are

drilled in PA without regard to impacts State Water Plan is outdated

Water Resources Regional water forums (April – May) Sponsored by DEP, DCNR, PDA and the

Center for Local Government Services Systematic process of identifying water

resources needs through an open and inclusive process

Web Resources

www.GrowingGreener.orgwww.GrowingGreener.org

www.landuseinpa.state.pa.uswww.landuseinpa.state.pa.us