Recent Projects 

Susquehanna County
~ Municipal Survey and Comprehensive Plan
Assisting the Susquehanna County Department of Planning and Development to update the County Comprehensive Plan addressing growth and development in terms of the need for local job creation balanced with preservation of rural character and environmental protection. Partial funding via a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Southeastern Wyoming County
~ Resident Survey and Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan
Preparing multi-municipal comprehensive plan for four rural townships in Wyoming County - Eaton, Monroe, Northmoreland, and Noxen, aimed at protecting agriculture and open land. Partial funding via a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Northern Tier Coalition
~ Resident Survey and Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan
Assisting twelve municipalities in Susquehanna County to form a planning group under the terms of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Act and prepare a multi-municipal comprehensive plan focused on agriculture protection, open land preservation, natural resource conservation, and building cooperative implementation strategies. Partial funding via a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

     Apolacon Township           Franklin Township           Little Meadows Borough
     Bridgewater Township       Friendsville Borough       Middletown Township
     Choconut Township          Jessup Township             Rush Township
     Forest Lake Township      Liberty Township              Silver Lake Township

Chestnuthill Township
~ Conservation Subdivision Design
Prepared zoning ordinance amendment for Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, to incorporate conservation subdivision design in the zoning ordinance, the first in Monroe County.

Benton Township
~ Open Space Subdivision Design and Zoning Ordinance
Comprehensive revision of Benton Township, Lackawanna County, Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance with incorporation of Natural Lands Trust model standards for open space design. Partial funding via a grant from the Natural Lands Trust and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Monroe County
~ Growing Greener Audits
Conducted Monroe 2020 growing greener audits for Chestnuthill Township, Coolbaugh Township, East Stroudsburg Borough, Middle Smithfield Township, Mount Pocono Borough, Ross Township, and Tunkhannock Township.

Nescopeck Township
~ Comprehensive Plan
Assisted rural Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County with the update of the Comprehensive Plan which focused on open land and agricultural land preservation.

Orange Township
~ Resident Survey, Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance
Assisting Orange Township, Columbia County, with the development of a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance.

Greenfield Township
~ Situation Audit, Mandatory Open Space Subdivision Design, and Zoning Ordinance
Based on a community situation audit, developed the first mandatory open space subdivision design regulations in Lackawanna County. The regulations are incorporated in the Greenfield Township Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. 

Borough of Mount Pocono
~ Resident Survey and Comprehensive Plan
Prepared comprehensive plan for the Borough of Mount Pocono including all elements required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Conducted community-wide resident survey to identify key community development issues.

Pike County
~ Comprehensive Plan
Prepared, along with the Pike County Planning Commission, a county-wide comprehensive plan as required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The project was funded by the Pike County Commissioners and a DCED SPAG grant. The Plan included an inventory of community facilities throughout the County, a detailed demographic analysis, surveys, and the publication of nine separate documents including for example Community Facilities and Services, Transportation Issues, Economic Development Needs, Pike County Growth and Change, and Housing Needs Assessment. 

Porter Township
~ Comprehensive Plan and Open Space Element and Land Use Controls
Working with Porter Township, Pike County, to develop a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance with a focus on preserving rural character via the use of growing greener open land conservation techniques. The project was fully funded by the Small Communities Planning Assistance Program.

Dreher-Lehigh-Sterling Townships
~ Comprehensive Plan and Community Surveys 
Prepared a joint comprehensive plan with a focus on open land preservation including community surveys for these three Wayne County municipalities. The Plan was partially funded by State Planning Assistance grant funds.

Newton Township Comprehensive Plan
~ DCED State Planning Assistance Grant
Developed for Newton Township, Lackawanna County, a comprehensive plan partially funded by a DCED SPAG grant. Plan included full range of background studies, community inventories such as demographics and land use, and all elements required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code including goals and objectives, community facilities, land use, transportation, housing, and implementation strategies. 

Wayne County, Comprehensive Plan
Prepared the community facilities element of the Wayne County, Pennsylvania, comprehensive plan.

Town of Delaware
~ Master Plan Update
Updated the Town of Delaware, Sullivan County, NY, master plan aimed preserving rural character and consistency with the Upper Delaware National Scenic and recreational River Management Plan.

Monroe Township and Mehoopany Township
Conducting community surveys and situation audits in these two Wyoming County townships as the basis for community development objectives.

Roaring Brook Township
~ Land Use Controls
Developed revisions of the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. Provide continuing planning and land use control administration services to the Township. 

Pike County Public Library
~ Community Survey and Plan 
Conducted with the Library Board four county-wide surveys as part of a strategic planning process to establish the Library's mission, set goals and objectives for improved Library service, identify alternatives, and present implementation strategies. Surveys included citizen survey, business survey, local official survey and educator survey. Project includes coordination of public participation elements; news releases, public meetings. 
 

Contact Information

Carson Helfrich
HCR #1 Box 59 Paupack, PA 18451
Ph: 570-857-0282
carson@communityplanning.biz