NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — North Whitehall supervisors have adopted a plan to guide the township's future.
The township has worked since 2021 to update its comprehensive plan, which provides a general framework to manage future growth and preservation.
- The North Whitehall Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the township's new comprehensive plan
- South Whitehall Township officials and North Whitehall residents were concerned about a section of the southern part of the township that is marked for industrial development in the plan’s potential future land map
- Board of Supervisors Chair Al Geosits said the map in the plan does not necessarily reflect what the revised zoning ordinances will look like
- Township officials will begin to review the zoning ordinances and suggest potential changes to align them with the new map in the coming months
“The plan seeks to set forth a common community vision for the future of North Whitehall and to coordinate, educate, and guide development and preservation in appropriate areas of the Township,” the plan's executive summary reads.
Supervisors voted to adopt the plan despite concerns raised by South Whitehall Township officials and North Whitehall residents about a section of the southern part of the township that is marked for industrial development in the plan’s potential future land map.
Supervisors Chairman Al Geosits said he agreed with the concerns, but he voted to adopt the plan because future zoning ordinances do not have to be identical to the future land use map in the plan; they only have to generally align with it.
South Whitehall also is in the process of reviewing its draft comprehensive plan and likely will adopt the final version in the coming months.
What is a comprehensive plan?
A comprehensive plan sets out long- and short-term goals for housing, transportation, infrastructure, preservation, zoning and other aspects of a municipality, and will inform new ordinances.
In other words, it is a guideline for where future efforts and developments should go and what they should be like.
The comprehensive plan last was updated in 2009. The process of creating the new plan started in May 2021. The township conducted a resident survey for the plan, which got 1,100 responses.
Industrial development in the Jordan Valley
The plan examines future land use and how that should be implemented in future township ordinances. It includes the township’s current land use map and a potential future map.
The potential future land use map changes some of the land that is currently zoned as industrial to industrial agricultural. The map also has a new industrial section between Route 309 and Route 476 that is currently zoned residential.
North Whitehall sent the plan to neighboring municipalities to ask for feedback. South Whitehall officials sent back a letter expressing concern about the industrial zones in the Jordan Valley at the southern border of the township.
According to township solicitor Thomas Dinkelacker, the letter requested township officials “consider how future developments may negatively impact the unique character of the Jordan Valley” and how they may conflict with South Whitehall's land use plans.
“The [comprehensive] plan is just a general rule. But the zoning ordinance is where we have the teeth."Al Geosits, chair of North Whitehall's Board of Supervisors
Resident Jedd Komlos said he agreed with South Whitehall’s comments.
“That whole purple zone right there is going over, arguably one of the most beautiful stretches with Jordan Creek and conflicts with the whole idea of preserving open space and preserving greenways and natural habitats,” Komlos said.
Geosits said he agreed that section of the township is not a good place for light industrial development, but said that will be discussed further as the township adopts new zoning ordinances based on the comprehensive plan.
“The [comprehensive] plan is just a general rule. But the zoning ordinance is where we have the teeth,” Geosits said.
At a recent township Planning Commission meeting, township Zoning Officer Jeff Mouer said the township has formed a committee to review the zoning ordinances and suggest potential changes to align them with the new map.
Highest priorities in the plan
In a section called “Action Plan,” the plan provides a blueprint for implementing its goals. The section includes tables that categorize potential action items into high, medium and low priority.
Some high-priority action items include:
- Conducting a township-wide survey of existing facilities to determine accessibility issues
- Requiring appropriate landscaping, buffers and noise mitigation with new development
- Developing regulations that permit/incentivize solar, geothermal and other alternative energy sources
- Permitting/incentivizing a variety of housing types that meet the needs, preferences and financial capabilities of the township’s present and future residents
- Providing incentives for the adaptive reuse of vacant and/or abandoned or underutilized commercial and industrial properties/structures
- Encouraging volunteerism within the community by identifying and organizing activities and projects
- Preparing a study/map of sidewalk and trail availability and gaps within a 10-minute walk to parks, schools, community facilities, food establishments and retail and personal services
- Updating land use regulations to include provisions requiring the planting of native species and the removal of non-native
The plan says high-priority items should be completed within the next year.
