INTRODUCTION

Mission

In 2004, the Borough of Slatington and the townships of Heidelberg, Lynn, Lowhill, Washington and Weisenberg agreed to shape their collective vision for the future by adopting their first Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan. At that time, the plan was a first of its kind, not only for the region, but the entire Commonwealth. Commitment to the multi-municipal planning process requires thoughtful coordination, deep consensus building and a collective open-mind to work as partners in pursuit of health, safety and general welfare of multiples municipal jurisdictions.

The purpose of the Northern Lehigh Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan build on the Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan for the Northern Region of Lehigh County, adopted in 2004, to set a course that maximizes the assets of all communities for the betterment of the Northern Lehigh area.

The Plan will be prepared in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Developing the Plan will gather all these communities together with private and non-profit sectors and the public to define shared objectives and collaborate on implementation. Along the way, each community retains its autonomy, while partnering with its neighbors on important issues that face Northern Lehigh.

Process

Comprehensive Planning

Comprehensive planning is a process that determines community goals and visions, setting a clear path to where you want to go and how you want to get there. Ultimately, the outcome of the comprehensive planning process will be a Northern Lehigh Plan that will set public policy for transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, agriculture, education, housing and other local priorities.

The Northern Lehigh Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan will be a legal document guided by the direction and parameters set by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, but it’s also about aspiring to create the future Northern Lehigh communities want. The Plan will guide decisions, research, reports and funding as the official legal strategy influencing the growth, development and preservation of the Northern Lehigh assets. The Plan will be designed to communicate through writing, as well as through maps, charts, graphs, tables, graphics and infographics that can be shared through all communication platforms.

Through its accessibility to everyone, the Plan will serve as a tool that lets everyone be part of striving toward the future the area has chosen together.