DONEGAL REGION PLANS FOR FUTURE

citizens asked to share their opinions

Officials in the Donegal Region  are preparing a plan for the next twenty years and will host a Public Forum on June 9, 2010, to hear citizen opinions and ideas about the future of the community.  All residents of the Donegal Region are encouraged to attend.  

 The Donegal School District, East Donegal Township, Marietta Borough, Mount Joy Borough and the Lancaster County Planning Commission are preparing a comprehensive long range plan for the Donegal Region. To ensure continued citizen input and involvement in this planning initiative, a Public Forum will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Donegal Springs Elementary School to allow residents to share their opinions and ideas about current issues facing the region and to help determine goals for the future.

 The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria where there will be a short presentation before participants will break out into small discussion groups to review and discuss the Vision and Framework for the Future.  The information gathered will be used by the Regional Steering Committee to prepare a plan document that will guide the policies and decisions of their elected and appointed officials over the next twenty years.

 The current Donegal Region Comprehensive Plan was formally adopted by the three member communities (Mount Joy Borough, Marietta Borough and East Donegal Township) in 1995.  Recognizing that the plan no longer accurately reflects the Region, the municipalities of the Region, as well as the Donegal School District, are conducting an extensive update to that document.  The Region has partnered with the Lancaster County Planning Commission and engaged a team of consultants, led by Wallace, Roberts and Todd of Philadelphia, PA, to guide them through the planning process. A Steering Committee comprised of representatives of each municipality, Donegal School District and LCPC staff is leading the project.  

 The project’s planning process began in September, 2009 and will continue through early 2011.  Final presentation of the document should occur by the end of 2010 with public hearings and final adoption of the new Regional Comprehensive Plan in early 2011.

 The primary purpose of this important meeting is to hear from residents about current issues facing the Donegal Region, and to obtain their comments about a draft vision statement and the framework planning document. 

Additional information about the Public Forum or the Plan Update Process may be obtained by contacting any of the three municipal offices, the county planning commission, or at the project website:  http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/planning