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Planners Unite - Press Release from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association

Date: 4/26/2010

Harrisburg, PA - In today’s economic climate, local government must be ready to provide the services and infrastructure necessary to support the development of new businesses, provide a variety of housing options, and protect our quality of life. Unfortunately, state budget cuts have drastically limited the chances that our Commonwealth will prosper. A group of community professionals, planners, and developers have joined forces in a voluntary collaboration called “Planners Unite” to fight for local government and protect community investments. 

Planners Unite has formed to re-establish state recognition of the importance of community planning in Pennsylvania. The organization, a committee of the PA Chapter of APA, hopes to build legislative support to restore funding for the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Land-Use Planning and Technical Assistance Program (LUPTAP). This vital state program was cut by 90% from $4 million to less than $400,000. LUPTAP, administered by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services (Center), is the single program in state government with a direct mandate to provide financial and technical assistance in the area of community and land use planning.  It helps to fulfill Act 58 of 1996, which requires the Department to provide technical assistance to municipalities on zoning and planning-related issues. Community planning is an essential function of local government and necessary to prepare strategies for community and economic development, land use, transportation, conservation, and infrastructure; and to undertake improvements in a coordinated manner and deal with issues cooperatively across municipal boundaries.

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Please click here for more information about Planners Unite