Comprehensive plan update starting soon, volunteers wanted

It would be updated for 1st time since 2004

The next update to Upper Gwynedd’s comprehensive plan could start soon, and the township is seeking local residents or business owners interested in sharing their thoughts.

“We did enter into an agrement with the county to start the comprehensive plan update in September,” said Township Manager Mike Lapinski. “One thing we need to do ahead of that kickoff meeting is form a steering committee.”

According to The Reporter archives, the last major update to the township’s comprehensive plan was done in 2004, and at that time volunteers updated a plan that had not been revised previously since 1971.

Ongoing development since then, the completion of traffic improvements on Sumneytown near West Point Pike and Church Road, and efforts like a township push to create new development along Sumneytown Pike, could all be included in a new plan, according to Lapinski and Planning and Zoning Officer E. Van Rieker.

In talks during the board’s July workshop meeting, the board reached a consensus to include two commissioners, two planning commission members, two members of the public, a business owner, and a staff representative, and Rieker and Lapinski said they both will likely fill that role.

Rieker said when doing similar plan updates for other municipalities, he has found it helpful to invite in representatives of other groups within the township when the steering committee focuses on certain chapters, topics or fields, like Merck or the North Penn School District, as the need arises.

“If one is about planning for the North Penn School District, and what their needs might be, we would invite a physical attendee to that meeting: their business manager, or somebody from their board, to an invited meeting,” he said.

“If we have a traffic and transportation issue, then we’ll invite our traffic consultant. If we have any sewer or water issues that need to be talked about, we’ll get our own representation, as we need them,” Rieker said.

A project timeline posted by the township says the kickoff, data collection and analysis will run through the rest of 2018, public engagement will start in early 2019, synthesis of that data and further public engagement will happen over the summer of 2019, and a draft final plan will be presented and adopted by the end of 2019.

Lapinski said the terms of the contract with the Montgomery County Planning Commission are very similar to recent agreements that body has made with North Wales Borough and Lansdale Borough for similar updates: three-year contracts with the first two years dedicated to the plan input and update, with the third year dedicated to implementation, at a cost of roughly $30,000 for the three years.

Commissioners Denise Hull, Liz McNaney and Jim Santi said they could take turns acting as the commissioners’ representative on the task force, depending on who is available for certain meeting dates and times.

Details on those meeting dates and times will be announced as they are finalized, and anyone interested in serving on the steering committee is asked to submit a letter of interest and resume to Assistant Township Manager Alex Kaker at AKaker@uppergwynedd.org no later than Sunday, Aug. 12. The township commissioners next meet at 7 p.m. on Aug. 21 at the township administration building, 1 Parkside Place. For more information visit www.UpperGwynedd.org.