Existing and abandoned rail beds throughout the region
Good primary road system
Close to major metropolitan areas
Historically and architecturally interesting
THE BEAUTY
Deciduous forests provide seasonal color
Large and varied waterways throughout the region
THE PEOPLE
Large number of sportsmen who are familiar with and are
willing to work to protect the resources in the region
Well-established and funded sportsmen’s clubs throughout the
region
A variety of athletic groups – bikers, snowmobile enthusiasts
and equestrians – provide a potential volunteer pool
Educational resources like Keystone College and the Water Resource Center
3 land trusts -- Countryside Conservancy, E.L. Rose, and North
Branch Land Trust – are working in the region
Large number of schools, communities and athletic associations
have developed recreational facilities that are used by the public
THE GOVERNMENT
Large amount of land is currently preserved through Clean and
Green or the county Agricultural Preservation Board purchase of
development rights
Many of the townships and municipalities recognize the danger
of lack and planning and have already started the process of
updating or writing regulations and plans to regulate growth
Talented and interested county planners and municipal
officials
OUR WEAKNESSES
ITS RURAL NATURE BRINGS RURAL PROBLEMS
Large number of residents rely on septic systems, often poorly
maintained or leaking, for sanitary waste disposal
Heavy reliance on individual vehicles for transportation
No public transportation
Large gravel and dirt road system stresses the environment and
township resources
Many municipally managed systems
ECONOMICS
Limited tax base in much of the region
Poor employment opportunities force youth to leave the area,
further weakening the tax base
Economic reliance on extractive industries like timbering,
quarrying and selling stone walls, all of which further threaten
our resources
BELIEF THAT THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES TO DEVELOPMENT
Widespread feeling that “with so much land, why worry about
development?”
Lack of education about how to protect the environment
Aging residents believe that subdivision is the only way that
they can hold onto a part of their land
RELUCTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE
Belief by authorities that the population is opposed to zoning
Poorly done zoning regulations in the past lead to suspicion
of the zoning process
Part time township officials and employees lack time and
training to handle large-scale projects
Complicated grant system makes obtaining money difficult
PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR
Historically, townships and boroughs have not worked in
partnership
Unregulated growth because of lack of zoning
Pennsylvania’s tradition of importing out-of-state waste (8
million tons in 1999 alone)
Lack of coordination between existing organizations, schools,
and government bodies raises costs and limits project size and
success
Lack of a comprehensive storm water management plan or
coordinated plans
LOCATION
Easy access to Interstate 81 and cheap land prices make this
area a target for landfills and large-scale farming
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