The Smart Growth Partnership is committed to working with local governments, helping them to make good long-term decisions. We seek to provide education and technical assistance to successfully plan and implement Smart Growth in their municipality.  We will, upon request of a local governing body and staff availability:

• Help municipalities with Comprehensive Planning:
  • Preparing requests for proposals and work plans
  • Prepare intergovernmental Cooperation Agreements (to encourage multi-municipal planning)
  • Consultant selection
  • Work with the municipality and consultant during plan development
  • Advocate the implementation of adopted plan elements
• Review and make comments and/or recommendations to proposed or adopted:
  • Official Map
  • Subdivision and land development ordinances and amendments
  • Planned residential development regulations
  • Traditional neighborhood development regulations
  • Zoning ordinances and amendments
  • Building and housing codes and amendments
  • Capital improvement programs
  • Impact fee ordinances
  • Water surveys
  • Storm water management plans
  • Watershed plans
  • Environmental study
  • Sewage facilities plans
• Help find funding to plan, design and implement smart growth ideas with our "Circuit Rider" grant writer
• Provide education and training opportunities to elected officials, local government staff, planning commissions, zoning hearing boards and environmental advisory councils.
  

Municipality Projects Include:

• Westmoreland County Comprehensive Plan - Adopted December 2004
• City of Greensburg - Conducted a Smart Growth audit
• Murrysville, Unity, Penn, Hempfield, North Huntington, and Greensburg- Facilitated a Multi-Municipal Planning Meeting
• Derry Area- assisted with Comprehenisive Plan effort
• Irwin Project- Provided technical planning support and education
• Hempfield Township, City of Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg Borough, and Sourth Greensburg Borough- Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan
• City of Latrobe Revitalization Committee- Facilitated Downtown Visioning workshops
• Rostraver Township- Assisted in updating the township's 2000 Comprehensive Plan