West End townships considering joint changes in zoning, development
By David Pierce
Pocono Record Writer
Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 1:38 PM
Proposed changes in zoning and land development ordinances for five West End townships will be considered and probably adopted Thursday during a rare joint meeting of multiple supervisors’ boards.
Elected officials from Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred, Ross and Polk townships will hold a public hearing and special meeting at the West End Fire Hall, Route 715, Brodheadsville, beginning at 7 p.m.
The five townships — known collectively as CJERP — will present and hear comments on proposed zoning and land development ordinance changes in four of those townships. Officials from Polk — the fifth township — will present entirely new local zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances for likely adoption that night.
Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred and Ross already have shared regional zoning, which allows individual townships not to provide for some uses if those uses are already allowed in another member township. Polk Township is joining the group for the first time when it comes to shared zoning and planning.
Each of the five supervisors’ boards is expected to adopt an updated intergovernmental cooperation agreement and an updated regional comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan update — building on the original 2006 comp plan — adds Polk Township to the plan and upgrades a regional land use map.
Each of the five supervisors’ boards is expected to adopt an updated intergovernmental cooperation agreement and an updated regional comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan update — building on the original 2006 comp plan — adds Polk Township to the plan and upgrades a regional land use map.
The cooperation agreement creates a joint planning committee which is comprised of two representatives from each municipality. The committee considers any future comprehensive plan amendments and reviews all subdivisions and land developments of regional significance.
The CJERP committee also works with the Monroe County Planning Commission to periodically review local land development and zoning amendments for consistency with the regional plan.
