Regional GIS
Mapping Application |
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In 2008, York County became a strategic partner in the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor (CSSC) in order to plan for the expected growth from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts taking place at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The potential influx of people and businesses into the area created the need to develop a tool that would assist with growth management and land use planning in the region . . . |
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Flood Safety Awareness
(03/2010) |
In light of the recent rains affecting York County and as part the implementation of the York County Hazard Mitigation
Plan, the YCPC thought this would be a good time to pass along some facts and information
on flooding in York County. |
Municipal
Recreation Plans
(10/2008) |
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Does your municipality have the right mix of
parks and recreational facilities for it’s
population? Would’t it be nice to have a tool
that identifies park and recreational needs
and sets forth a strategy to meet the needs?
And how about some help establishing and
maintaining those amenities? Well, you can
have all of it! |
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Natural Gas
Pipelines:
Is one coming
your way?
(03/2008) |
Energy and alternative energy sources are in the
forefront of today’s news. Natural gas resources
and pipeline projects are part of that discussion.
The interest in natural gas pipelines is being driven
by many different economic factors that are
making natural gas more attractive. There now
exists a growing demand in the northeast region of
the Country for natural gas. However, the growth
in production of natural gas is taking place in the
Rockies. Thus, the need for a pipeline to meet
demand in the northeast. |
Local Update of Census Addresses Program (LUCA)
(04/2007) |
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Did you know that in 1790, the first census was taken by U.S. marshals on horseback and they counted
3.9 million people? Census 2000 counted more than 281 million people; 381,751 in York County.
Preparations are now underway for Census 2010. A key piece is the Local Update of Census Addresses
(LUCA) and your assistance is needed. |
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Chesapeake Bay
Tributary Strategy
(03/2006)
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With the signing of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement on June 28,
2000, Pennsylvania, along with Maryland, Virginia, and the District
of Columbia, made a commitment to help remove the
Chesapeake Bay from the Federal Clean Water Act’s list
of impaired waters by 2010. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Chesapeake Bay Commission, New York
New York, Delaware, and West Virginia,
along with the signing jurisdictions, are the
key partners in this Bay clean-up effort. |
Hazard
Mitigation Plan
(07/2005) |
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This Planning Perspective is intended to provide some basic information regarding the Disaster Mitigation Act
of
2000 and hazard mitigation planning. It also provides
an overview of
York County’s efforts to develop
a
Countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan. |
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Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN)
(02/2005) |
As a committed partner in municipal, as well as County and regional planning efforts, the
staff of the YCPC has prepared this issue of Planning Perspectives to inform
municipalities of what we feel is a valuable resource to aid local governments in all aspects of environmental
planning. The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) is a non-profit partnership of
national and international organizations ready to help local governments in all aspects of environmental
management. |
ABC's of Growth Management
(11/2004) |
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The Growth Management component of the York
County Comprehensive Plan is intended to serve as
a tool for coordinating land use planning activities throughout York County. The premise of this Plan is
that municipalities should be directly involved in the
delineation of future land uses and participate in
discussions of regional concern. The delineations and
discussions being predicated upon the need to direct
growth to areas where it can best be accommodated,
which in turn, helps to relieve development pressure
on valuable resource or preservation areas. |
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Environmental Advisory Council
(06/2004) |
The York County Planning Commission has
long been aware of the importance
and
complexities involved in the management
of York County’s natural resources. The
purpose of this issue of Planning Perspectives
is to provide information about
Environmental Advisory Councils - a tool
made available by law, which,
if used
properly, may enhance environmental
resource management at
the local level. |
PA DEP
to Require Stormwater Permits for Many
Municipalities in York County
(07/2002) |
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The Federal Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Chapter 26, establishes
the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into
the waters of the United States and gives the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to implement pollution
control programs and set water quality standards for all
contaminants in surface waters. The 1987 Clean Water Act
amendments required the EPA to promulgate stormwater
Ordinance. According to the EPA, polluted storm water runoff
is a leading cause of impairment to nearly 40% of surveyed
United States water bodies which do not meet water quality
standards. |
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York County Planning Commission Holds
Regional Meetings to Hear from Residents
(06/2002) |
In the past several months the York County Planning
Commission has made significant progress in
developing a county-wide Open Space Plan. A series
of regional public meetings were held between June
17-24, 2002, to share resource and inventory
information and to encourage citizen participation. |
PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) Amendments
(01/2001) |
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On June 22, 2000, Governor Ridge signed Acts 67 and 68, into law. These Acts,
which make extensive revisions to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code
(MPC), went into effect on August 21, 2000. The amendments represent the first
comprehensive update to the MPC since 1990 and are the product of legislation
sponsored by Representative David Steil (HB 14) and Senator James Gerlach (SB
300), respectively. |
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The Municipal Consulting Program
(08/2000) |
The adoption of the Growth Management Plan in September of 1997,
as a part of the York County Comprehensive Plan, set the stage for
the initiation of the “Municipal Consulting Program.” The primary focus
of the Program is to establish consistency between county and
municipal plans. To achieve consistency the County and municipalities
need to be in agreement and have an understanding of where
development areas, resource lands, villages, and agricultural lands are
to exist within the County. |
1999 Subdivision Activity in York County
(04/2000) |
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During 1999 subdivision activity continued at a brisk
pace with 730 plans being processed during the year.
This is consistent with the level of activity that has
been experienced for the last several years. This
subdivision activity will produce a total of 4927 building
lots. The average subdivision plan consisted of 6.7
building lots. The plans ranged in size from one lot to
over three hundred lots. |
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1999 Proposals for
Zoning Changes
(03/2000) |
During 1999 there were a total of 74
proposals for changes in zoning
considered by municipal officials in York
County and submitted to the County
Planning Commission for review and
comment. These proposals consisted
of 42 for text amendments, 31 for map
amendments and one for the complete
update of a zoning ordinance. |
1999 Building Activity
(03/2000) |
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As measured by building permit
records, construction activity in
York County during 1999 was brisk and
consistent with that of recent years.
During 1999, 1,982 building permits
were issued by municipalities in
York County. Well over 90 percent
of these permits were for the
construction of a total of 2,342
residential units. |
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TEA-21
Will Lead Us
Into the 21st Century
(08/1998) |
On June 9th, 1998 President Clinton signed the
Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty First
Century (TEA-21). TEA-21 builds on the
initiatives established in the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), which was
the last major act authorizing legislation for surface
transportation. This historic bill reflects the view that
transportation is more than concrete, asphalt and steel: it is
about people, and about providing them with the opportunity
to lead safer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. |
Protecting York County's Rural Environment
(06/1998) |
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One of the most pleasant aspects of living in
York County is its rural environment. A
Sunday ride through the countryside would
have one believe that there is an abundance of farmland
left in the County. Unfortunately, the rate at which
farmland is being lost proves otherwise.
In 1960, there were 408,200 acres of farmland in York
County, or 70% of all County land. By 1992, there
were 252,052 acres of farmland, or 43.2%. If this
trend continues it is possible that in 25 years the total
percentage of farmland in York County may be less
than 20%. |
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Wireless Communication Facilities
(02/1998) |
Wireless communications facilities seem to be
popping up everywhere. This newsletter is
intended to provide information regarding
cellular towers, the nature of such installations, their
placement and what options local officials have at their
disposal to regulate these facilities. Understanding the
nature of current communications technology is half the
battle. |
YCPC Transportation
Planning Division’s Role
in the Review of
Subdivision and Land
Development Plans
(11/1996) |
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An important function of the Transportation Planning
Division of the YCPC
is the review of subdivision and land development
plans relating to traffic circulation, traffic control, safety concerns, access management, and alternative modes of
transportation. The review process conducted by the Division
involves the following three items: subdivision/land
development plans, traffic impact studies, and PennDOT
Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) applications. |
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Stormwater - A Watershed Approach for Managing Runoff
(10/1996) |
Beyond the implications of the Act's provisions to
ensure compliance, it is important for local officials to
consider the benefits within their jurisdiction, as well as
for neighboring municipalities, of watershed-based
Water Planning planning. |
Pedaling York County's Bikeways
(08/1996) |
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Over the past few years the York County
Heritage Rail Trail has received a lot of
attention about its planning and construction.
All of this culminated on June 22nd when the first 8
miles of the Rail Trail were officially opened in York
County. The Trail is planned to continue into the City of
York to form 18 miles of continuous trail within York
County. |
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Protecting the
Water Resources of
York County
(04/1996)
|
In January of 1995, the YCPC made application, initiated by the
Comprehensive Planning section, for a State
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) grant to
conduct a County Water Supply Plan and Wellhead
Protection Program Plan. Though this was a limited and competitive grant, the Bureau of Water Supply and
Community Health granted York County's application
for this project grant, and work on the plans is
scheduled to be undertaken in 1996 with the technical
assistance of Acer Engineers & Consultants, Inc. |
PennDOT Twelve
Year Transportation Program
(02/1996) |
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Established by the Commonwealth's
Transportation Act of 1970, the Twelve Year
Transportation Program is a vehicle by which
major capital highway, bridge, transit, air, rail,
and transportation-related projects are programmed and
implemented by PennDOT. This legislation also created
the State Transportation Commission which oversees the
Twelve Year Program process. |
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County/Municipal Data Sharing for Geographic Information
Systems (GIS)
(09/1995)
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The YCPC has been
devoting a great deal of its resources to the
development of a county-wide Geographic
Information System (GIS). By the end of 1995 the system
should be operational. It is timely that municipalities
become informed about the County GIS and what it can do
for them.
For those that may not be familiar with the term GIS, it
may be useful to think of it as computer mapping and
database display. |
Proposed "Takings"
Legislation in PA
(08/1995) |
|
The Pennsylvania Planning Association's
second annual forum concerned the "takings" legislation currently before the
Pennsylvania State Senate. The focus of the
seminar was the impact this legislation could
have on local governments. |
