CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin County Commissioners are asking residents to share their vision and goals for the future of Franklin County as the county continues to update its comprehensive plan.
A county comprehensive plan guides land use policy and is required by Pennsylvania law to be updated every 10 years. Franklin County’s new comprehensive plan, known as Imagine Franklin 2035, will serve as a blueprint for the county to address opportunities and build upon existing community assets in the years to come.
Franklin County residents and stakeholders are encouraged to share their thoughts and vision for Franklin County’s next 10 years and beyond by completing an online survey, available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/imaginefranklin2035 through Nov. 11. Paper copies of the survey are also available at select locations such as local libraries, post offices and senior centers or by contacting the Franklin County Planning Department. Spanish versions of the survey are also available.
Residents and stakeholders may also provide feedback by attending public open houses later this month. The schedule includes both in-person and online forums:
- Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m. – Greene Township Municipal Building, 1145 Garver Lane, Chambersburg;
- Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m. – Highline Train Station, 21 S. Jefferson St., Greencastle;
- Nov. 3, 5-7 p.m. – Franklin County Administration Building, 272 N. Second St., Chambersburg; and
- Nov. 7 – virtual open houses from noon-1 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. online at bit.ly/FCPDVirtual
The survey and public forums offer residents the opportunity to provide their input and thoughts on a variety of topics, including transportation, housing, agricultural preservation and other land use issues. The Planning Department also held community pop-up events over the summer and has been collecting feedback through focus groups and the Imagine Franklin 2035 website, compplan.franklincountypa.gov.
Feedback from these public engagement activities is critical and will help the Franklin County Planning Department develop a road map for establishing the county’s vision and goals for the next 10 years and beyond.
“Franklin County has undergone serious growth during the last 10 years and now is an opportune time to review and evaluate where we are as a community, where we want to go and how we’re going to get there,” said Franklin County Planning Director Steve Thomas.
The comprehensive plan, funded in part by a Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development grant, began in April and will be complete by the summer of 2023. For more information on Imagine Franklin 2035 and ways to provide input, visit compplan.franklincountypa.gov or contact the Franklin County Planning Department at 717-261-3855 or [email protected].
