Comprehensive Planning

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Delaware County Planning can help you update your municipal comprehensive plan to help shape the future of your community.

Comprehensive Planning provides the basis for moving municipalities forward by determining the development goals and aspirations of the community. Delaware County 2035, the County’s Comprehensive Plan, was informed by municipal comprehensive planning efforts and guides County policy.

The Department is committed to helping further the integration of a sound comprehensive planning process into the daily conduct of municipal decision-making and management. The Department can assist municipalities in Delaware County with updating their comprehensive plan, creating a comprehensive plan on a contractual basis, and finding potential funding.

Questions about Comprehensive Planning? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.

Create a Comprehensive Plan

When preparing a comprehensive plan, the Department’s professional planners work closely with stakeholders to identify a common vision for the future and develop strategies to achieve that vision.

A stakeholder task force is created which typically includes municipal leaders, local officials and staff, members of the business community, and local residents. The Department and task force review the history and development of the community, survey existing conditions, and project future trends. From this background and analysis, we develop recommendations to retain and enhance communities’ positive features and identify where and how improvements could be made. The entire process, from formation of a task force or steering committee to the publication of the final plan document typically takes 18-24 months. For more information on the comprehensive planning process, check out this information sheet.

Funding Assistance

Regional and state funding sources may be available to support your municipal comprehensive plan update. For currently available funding assistance programs, see the Funding page.