Mission

Slate Belt communities have a rich history dating back more than 250 years, but for the first time ever, ten municipalities are partnering to build a bright future.

The purpose of the Slate Belt Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan is to enable the boroughs of Bangor, East Bangor, Pen Argyl, Roseto, Portland and Wind Gap and the townships of Plainfield, Washington, Lower Mount Bethel and Upper Mount Bethel to shape their collective vision for the future.

The Plan will be prepared in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Developing the Plan will gather all these communities together with private and non-profit sectors and the public to define shared objectives and collaborate on implementation. Along the way, each community retains its autonomy, while partnering with its neighbors on important issues that face the Slate Belt area.

Process

Comprehensive Planning

Comprehensive planning is a process that determines community goals and visions, setting a clear path to where you want to go and how you want to get there. Ultimately, the outcome of the comprehensive planning process will be a Slate Belt Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan, called Plan Slate Belt, that will set public policy for transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, agriculture, education, housing and other local priorities.

The Slate Belt Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan will be a legal document guided by the direction and parameters set by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, but it’s also about aspiring to create the future the Slate Belt desires.

The Plan will guide decisions, research, reports and funding as the official legal strategy influencing the growth, development and preservation of the Slate Belt’s assets. The Plan will be designed to communicate through writing, as well as through maps, charts, graphs, tables, graphics and infographics, which can be shared through all communication platforms.

Through its accessibility to everyone, the Plan will serve as a tool that lets everyone be part of striving toward the future the area has chosen together.

Issues and Opportunities

The foundation of the Plan is the Issues and Opportunities report. This report collects much of the information we already know about the Slate Belt and consolidates it into an organized, easy-to-read document. The report covers the existing information on the communities, analyses about issues ranging from equity to the impacts of redevelopment, the first rounds of community engagement and the draft goals. This process builds a base of information about the communities and identifies community concerns.

The Plan Slate Belt will build upon this base to create a framework of policies, actions and implementation steps that will prepare the Slate Belt area to adapt to the changes of an evolving community.

SLATE BELT COMMUNITIES

  • Bangor Borough
  • East Bangor Borough
  • Lower Mount Bethel Township
  • Pen Argyl Borough
  • Plainfield Township
  • Portland Borough
  • Roseto Borough
  • Upper Mount Bethel Township
  • Washington Township
  • Wind Gap Borough

CLICK HERE FOR PRINT VERSION

Consultant, site maintained by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission