CURRENT HEADLINES

LVTS, LVPC ADOPT

FUTURELV: THE REGIONAL PLAN

FutureLV: The Regional Plan got unanimous approval from the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study October 2, and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission followed with unanimous approval of the plan on October 31, ending a three-month period of debate that saw the plan receive more than 200 public comments.

The approvals open a new phase in which FutureLV will head to the Lehigh County Commissioners, Northampton County Council, and the US Department of Transportation over the coming weeks and months.

FutureLV is designed to help the Lehigh Valley manage its steady economic, population and job growth over the next 25 years, while preserving the farmland, recreation and open space that defines the quality of life residents have come to expect. The LVTS approval was necessary to keep transportation money flowing into the region for the current Transportation Improvement Program that is investing $534 million on road, bridge, trail and transit projects over four years.

It also came after a 45-day public review period in which community, education and business leaders, as well as the public, issued 224 comments about the plan.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP IS OUR 2019 COMMUNITY OF DISTINCTION

Plainfield Township’s part in the first ever 10-community Slate Belt regional plan, it’s integral role in starting the Slate Belt Regional Police department and its purchasing agreements with neighboring communities are prime examples of municipal cooperation in action.

But where Plainfield has really put its partnerships to work is in its efforts to protect the environment.  The Township has partnered with Northampton County to expand the Two Rivers Trail, established its own Appalachian Trail Conservation Overlay District designed to protect the Mountain, adopted new conservation by design policies and put a focus on farmland preservation.

For these reasons, and many more, Plainfield Township was named the LVPC’s 2019 Community of Distinction Wednesday during the 6th Annual Lehigh Valley Gala + Awards at DeSales University. The award is given each year to one community that’s practiced a long-term commitment to planning excellence, innovation and municipal cooperation.

Honorees in the Community of Distinction Category were Bath Borough, Coopersburg Borough, and Whitehall Township.

MEETINGS + TRAINING