7th Comprehensive Plan Approved In Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — The township's 7th comprehensive plan is now in the books.

Horsham Council unanimously adopted the township's comprehensive plan at its meeting last Wednesday, with a mention of the history books: the first plan was passed in 1954.

While the township has changed a great deal over the past seven decades, officials are mapping out the grand plan for the next few decades.

The comprehensive plan tabulates township resources and determines how to allocate them over the next decade in terms of land use, transportation, facilities, and natural and historic resources.

The comprehensive plan was compiled by Marley Bice, the Montgomery County Planning Commission's community planning assistant manager.

Residents also provided input through surveys and discussions.

What Is A Comprehensive Plan?

A comprehensive plan is a long-range strategic plan and policy document that provides a framework for managing the future growth and development of a community.

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, requires municipal comprehensive plans to be reviewed every 10 years, and most plans use a planning frame of reference of 20 years into the future to understand the community’s evolving needs, the township's website states.

The comprehensive planning process begins by identifying a community’s existing physical and social infrastructure to highlight strengths and desired areas for improvement.

Through public engagement, a community vision statement is drafted to guide the plan’s recommendations. Individual recommendations and implementation strategies are proposed to advance the township’s goals and vision for the future.

Comprehensive Plan Updates

The township adopted its first comprehensive plan in 1954.

Subsequent plans and plan updates took place in 1964, 1969, 1978, and 1989. The township’s current comprehensive plan was updated in 2011.

The focus of the township’s new comprehensive plan is to revisit all of the relevant aspects of land use planning within the context of updated demographic, transportation, and development trends.

Click here to learn more about the comprehensive plan