Updated: 18 March 2008
We must take dramatic steps to reduce urban sprawl, ease traffic congestion and protect our quality of life. We can revitalize abandoned industrial sites and provide tax incentives to businesses that locate there instead of encouraging new development.
Smart planning will protect our ever-shrinking open space and high-speed rail lines will allow commuting workers to spend more time with their families.
I support Revising State Laws to Give Municipalities More Power to Regulate Local Development by:
Revising the PA Municipalities Planning Code and other state laws to make it easier for local governments to limit over-development and sprawl.
Giving municipal Zoning Hearing Boards more power to refuse zoning variance requests and zoning change requests.
Giving municipal Councils and Boards of Supervisors more power to refuse zoning changes, land development proposals, and waiver requests.
Giving local governments the authority to impose more substantial and realistic impact fees. Factors to be realistically considered include increased traffic on local roads, increased enrollment in local schools, increased public utility usage, and increased police, fire, and EMS services required.
Strengthening laws protecting property owners from adverse impacts such as storm water runoff caused by neighboring properties.
Enacting laws requiring developers applying for zoning or land development approval from local governments, to publicly disclose their political contributions to local politicians as part of the application process.
Strengthening state laws limiting development in flood plains.
Enacting laws to require builders to certify that if basements are built, local high water tables will not cause basements to flood or require basement floor sump pumps.
Enacting laws giving homeowners associations, residents associations, condominium associations, tenants associations, and other organized neighborhood groups a seat at the table in local development decisions affecting their neighborhoods and communities.
Increasing funding for public transportation and encouraging the development of high-speed rail so that we can protect the environment, grow our economy and allow commuting workers to spend more time with their families.