Is it Time for a New Comprehensive plan?
Yes. The best practice for municipal planning requires a comprehensive update or complete revision of comprehensive plans every decade at the very least. Whitehall Township needs a full overhaul or replacement of its comprehensive plan as it has surpassed its 20-year mark since 2005. The fundamental vision has stayed stable but has changed so much since 2005.
A new comprehensive plan would allow Whitehall Township to:
Collect robust data on new developments, population shifts, traffic patterns, and changing land uses.
Engage the public via modern platforms (online surveys, social media, targeted outreach) for more inclusive feedback.
Integrate new sustainability and smart-growth goals that respond to present-day priorities.
The retail sector has undergone major transformations (e-commerce, mixed-use trends, big-box consolidation), so commercial areas like MacArthur Road could require updated guidance on how best to adapt.
Redevelopment of older industrial and commercial properties remains critical; incentives, zoning updates, or public-private partnerships can play a role.