State Planning Board Unveils Report and Recommendations on Governance, Infrastructure, and Economic Development
HARRISBURG (Dec. 1) -- The State Planning Board, a statutory advisory board in the Governor’s Office, today released its Report and Recommendations on legislative and executive actions that will help the Commonwealth address vital goals of reinvesting in cities and towns, fostering growth and competitiveness of both urban and rural economies, and improving the quality of life in all of Pennsylvania’s diverse communities.

Judith Schwank, chair of the Berks County Commissioners and chair of the State Planning Board, and Alex Graziani, executive director of the Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County and vice chair of the board unveiled the recommendations that were first presented to Governor Rendell and legislative leaders in May, and will serve as the basis for an outreach initiative to the regions, organizations, and citizens of Pennsylvania to discuss and get public input on the reform measures recommended.

 “The State Planning Board took its charge from Governor Rendell very seriously and worked hard over the past year and a half to study and make recommendations on some challenging issues for Pennsylvania,” said chair Judy Schwank.  “Over the next year, we hope to gather input from Pennsylvanians in regional sessions and further refine or expand our recommendations.”

The State Planning Board had been inactive for several years, and was reinstituted by Governor Rendell in 2003 and 2004 with the appointment of fifteen citizens representing diverse interests and regions of the state.  By law, four legislative members appointed by the majority and minority parties in each house, as well as the Secretaries of Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, Transportation and Public Welfare are also members of the Board.

The Board began its work in 2005 in response to the Governor’s charge to examine and make recommendations in three areas:

• Conflicts among development, municipal, and conservation interests and needs on open space and infrastructure issues;
• Specific policies, such as criteria for state investments, incentives for more multi-municipal planning and implementation, attracting private investment, and tax and revenue sharing that will achieve smart growth goals for revitalization of cities and towns and sound economic development in rural communities; and
• Proposed options for improved governance measures that will enable Pennsylvania to compete more effectively for economic growth while improving the quality of life in Pennsylvania’s diverse communities.

The Board’s initial report makes recommendations in the areas of governance, infrastructure and economic development. The Board makes specific recommendations for legislation to provide better options to counties and local governments for right sizing services such as police and fire; making comprehensive plans effective guides for consistent implementation; removing legal barriers to consolidations and mergers where these make fiscal and political sense; and providing clear authority for tax base and revenue sharing among counties and local municipalities that would benefit from these tools.

The Board also makes recommendations for legislative changes involving transportation, infrastructure, and economic development issues, and endorses the planning process being initiated by state agencies this year to work with partners in nine regions of the state to prioritize economic development projects and integrate them with transportation, infrastructure and land use decisions.

The State Planning Board's report is an important step in this administration's efforts to identify and overcome barriers to community and economic development,” said Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary for Community and Economic Development. “Implementation of the Board's recommendations will contribute to effective land-use planning, strategic investment in communities and high-impact economic development projects."

“Governor Rendell is working aggressively to attract new private sector investment, foster business growth and create the jobs we critically need. This report allows for continued development that sustains our economy while conserving our exceptional natural resources,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said.

“Linking transportation and land use will be crucial to delivering affordable mobility improvements,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler. “The Transportation Funding and Reform Commission’s recent final report details how the lack of clear links between transportation and growth management has hurt efforts to produce cost effective mobility for Pennsylvania. The work of the commission and the planning board aims to help move Pennsylvania toward better, affordable mobility opportunities.”

The Planning Board’s recommendations will guide investment and support local growth and economic development across the commonwealth and work to support Governor Rendell’s vision that the state needs to offer vibrant, clean and beautiful communities if families and businesses are going to call Pennsylvania home. The full report is available at www.landuseinpa.com.