| The idea of "regional planning" is not new to the Capital Region.
The evolution of regional planning began over forty years ago in 1956 with the formation of the "Regional Planning Commission of Greater Harrisburg". Organized under the
leadership of Nolan F. Ziegler, then Mayor of Harrisburg, the regional planning commission comprised various representatives from the City and surrounding townships and boroughs in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. At the time, the
Regional Planning Commission of Greater Harrisburg was a cooperative organization, which coordinated planning services and activities where mutual problems, issues and concerns overlapped municipal boundaries.
To accomplish its mission in its early years the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Harrisburg prepared several significant studies and policy documents beginning with a statistical report
entitled Forces of Past and Future Development (1958). Model ordinances guidelines and recommendations were also prepared entitle entitled Land Subdivision Regulations (1958) and A Guide for Zoning (1958). Following these reports,
the Commission developed a formal inter-municipal land use plan in its planning area entitled Master Plan (1960).
The Commission also prepared another important study entitled People, Place, Price (1963), which was a supplement to the commission's first plan. This policy report examined past
population statistics and recent 1960 Census data and projected the population for the planning area and Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) of Cumberland and Dauphin counties.
The report reexamined land use data and outlined "how to" guidelines for developers and residents on securing zoning permits, variances, processing subdivisions and land development plans, housing
codes, non-compliance notices and demolished structure notices, lateral permits, sewage disposal, electrical equipment installation and fire prevention code compliance.
Similar to other regional planning agencies around the country, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Harrisburg's local planning orientation would make a significant shift in the early 1960's.
Following the enactment of four pieces of federal legislation which included (1) the Housing and Urban Development Act, (2) the Public Works and Economic Development Act, (3) the Appalachian Regional Development Act, and (4) the
Water Resources Planning Act. These laws and their related programs helped to establish a system of regional planning agencies across the country which would fill gaps between existing levels of government, facilitate the work of
federal, state, and local government and guide implementation.
In conjunction with these laws and the Federal Highway Act, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Harrisburg expanded its planning area and scope in 1965 to include all the communities in
Cumberland and Dauphin Counties. A primary reason for this realignment was to meet the Municipal Planning Organization (MPO) requirements of the Federal Highway Administration for consideration of highway transportation related
funds.
In 1966, Perry County was added to create the three county arrangements, which is present today. The alignment also remained consistent with the established Standard metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)
of the time. Along with a name change to the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, a total of 104 municipalities and the three member counties became part of the regional planning program.
The fundamental mission of the Tri-County
Regional Planning Commission is to provide technical planning support for the Cumberland
County Planning Commission, Dauphin County Planning Commission, Perry
County Planning Commission and Harrisburg Area Transportation Study
Programs. |
