The pages are in PDF format and can be viewed by using Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Download Adobe Reader by clicking on the Adobe box below.  All maps noted in the plan can be viewed at the Township Office.

 

 

MANHEIM CENTRAL REGION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OVERVIEW

Municipalities are required by state law to have a Comprehensive Plan. There are certain basic elements that all Comprehensive Plans must contain. Some of these include a statement of objectives concerning future development; a plan for land use including intensity & character, traffic, parks and recreation, preservation of prime agricultural lands; a plan to provide housing needs for present and future residents; a plan for the movement of goods and people; and a plan for community facilities and utilities including water, sewer, police, fire, libraries, etc. The Comprehensive Plan should also have implementation strategies and should protect natural and historic resources.

Counties are required to have Comprehensive Plans and municipalities are to have Plans that are consistent with the content and direction of the County Plan.

The concept of a Comprehensive Plan incorporates the idea of knowing where you are before you decide where you want to go. Therefore a Comprehensive Plan contains census data that draws a picture of what the community looks like in terms of population, age, home ownership, schools, recreation facilities, community services, roads and other features.

Comprehensive Plans should be updated or re-written approximately every ten years. The Manheim Central Region Comprehensive Plan was written and in adopted in 1993, after extensive community discussion and participation. It was the first regional comprehensive plan in Lancaster County to incorporate urban growth boundaries and encompassed the entire Manheim Central School District (Penn Township, Manheim Borough and Rapho Township). The School District was also a very active participant in the Plan.

In 2000, a Strategic Update to the Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the three municipalities and the school district. This document addresses certain areas of the existing plan that had shown significant changes over the past several years. The background information was not redone, primarily because the most recent census data (2000) was not available at that time.

As you read through the Plan, we hope it will provide you with an overall concept of the Manheim Central Region – where we are presently and our thoughts for our future.

Copies of the complete Comprehensive Plan, including the detailed maps, are available at each of the municipalities in the region.