Local Initiative:

The local officials of Matamoras Borough and Westfall Township are preparing a Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan to:

• Identify and Inventory the changes which have taken place in both municipalities over their development histories, and particularly over the last 10 years;
   

• Establish a framework for the conservation of community character, residential neighborhoods, open land, and environment while concurrently providing for sustainable growth and development;
   

• Provide the foundation for updated land use management tools; principally zoning ordinances and subdivision and land development regulations, to ensure well designed development and to minimize sprawl;
   

• Organize for the most efficient administration of local government and the delivery of community facilities and services; and,
   

• While each municipality remains independent, fully explore the possibilities and benefits of inter-municipal cooperation for providing facilities, services and administration.

Planning Process - Key Questions:

Simply stated, a Comprehensive Plan is a starting point - a blueprint to guide the future development of the Borough and the Township and should reflect the conditions, attitudes, situations, and goals of the community.  The success of the planning program will be measured only in the form of accomplishment.  Accomplishing the plan will be the responsibility of the area's residents.  It will require public support and positive action by the Borough's and Township's local officials.  In short time, the planning process involves finding the sometimes complex answers to four simple questions:
 

Where are we?
The initial step in the process in the collection and analysis of information on a wide range of community characteristics and concerns aimed at defining the existing condition of the community and identifying planning implications.

• Community Character/Regional Location

• Growth & Development, and Land Use

• Natural Features, Land Suitability for Development and Development Concerns

• Demographics and Economic Base

• Community Facilities and Services

• Highways and Transportation

• Planning & Development in Contiguous Municipalities, Pike County, and the Region

• Land Use

• Housing

• Transportation

• Community Facilities and Utilities

• Natural & Historic Resource Protection

• Open Space, Greenways and Recreation

• Pennsylvania Avenue Revitalization

How do we get there?
The specific means to effect the various plans are included in the Comprehensive Plan along with the actions and the responsible entities. Examples of implementation strategies include zoning ordinance and subdivision and land development ordinance updates, capital improvement budgeting, and historic structures preservation.

While the ultimate responsibility for each municipality lies with the elected officials, much of the work of implementation, assessment of the accomplishment of goals and objectives, and periodic Comprehensive Plan review can be accomplished by the Planning Commission and citizen volunteers who are appointed to special committees or task forces along with municipal officials.

How are we doing?
A Comprehensive Plan must not simply be considered a document on a shelf, but instead, one element of a community management process dependent upon the attitude and on-going foresight of the public officials charged with the responsibility of guiding the growth and development of the community. The plan should be used by the community when important decisions are made and its goals and objectives and prioritized actions should be reviewed at least each year to assess the community's accomplishments or the need to shift priorities for action.

Planning Committee:

The Planning Process is being coordinated by a Planning Committee appointed by the Borough Council and Board of Supervisors.  Members and alternates include:

Matamoras                          Westfall
Bill Carroll                            Lester "Jake" Buchanan
Jeff Foss                             Landa Copertino
John Gelorminio                  Tina Hess
Linda Kozak                        James Muir
Robert Stevens                   Charles Pranski
                                            Marge Tonkin

How can you participate?

The Planning Committee meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:00 PM at the Westfall Township Building, 102 LaBarr Lane off River Road, and all meetings are open to the public.  The Committee will also be conducting a number of public meetings throughout the process and notice will be advertised in local newspapers and will be posted on the websites below.

Information about the planning process is available from Planning Committee members and:

• Matamoras Secretary Nancy Buchanan
  570-491-2771, mataboro@optonline.net
   

• Westfall Secretary Lisa Green
  570-491-4065, westfallsec@optonline.net

MATAMORAS/WESTFALL RESIDENT SURVEY

<<back to Community Planning