The amenities, services and programs that stimulate the quality of life in Manheim Township don't occur by accident. They are deliberate and intentional results procured by concerned local citizens.

They're planned.

In a variety of ways, the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan is an emerging local tradition.

"Every community is different," said Porter Stevens, Manheim Township's community development director. "Often, communities get lucky with good leaders who make good decisions at the right time. I think that was true in the '70s. (The lifestyle afforded Manheim Township residents) speaks to the quality of people who were elected. With so many things, I think it comes down to people."

Manheim Township's 2035 comprehensive plan will be presented to the five-member board of commissioners at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Manheim Township Municipal Office, 1840 Municipal Drive, Lancaster. At that meeting, the 139-page, 10-year comprehensive plan will be reviewed, discussed and quite possibly approved, and the public is encouraged to attend.

If the comprehensive plan is voted into law, it will signal the conclusion of an extensive and exhaustive two-year process.

"Planning is really important because as a township we want to make sure we're pursuing what makes our community special," said Stevens. "A comprehensive plan is a long-range, visionary document that reflects how the community wants to stay the same and how it wants to change. It's ultimately used by local leaders as a way to make decisions on all kinds of things, all the big issues affecting quality of life. It's helping to guide decisions on where we put tax dollars and what we're prioritizing."

Manheim Township's 2035 comprehensive plan addresses how to fund and improve local parks, waterways, trails, bike lanes, roadways and partnerships within and outside of the township. The plan focuses on four major goals and their implementation: securing fiscal stability; affordable housing; an improved transportation network; and land use regulations.

"In many ways, the township will look the same in 2035," said Stevens, a resident of Lancaster city. "There's a vision of the township laid out in map form. Where you might see things differently is in the southern part of the township in the shopping area. There is a need for affordable housing in the area. We'd also love to see a township that's easier to get around. We also need to create more transportation opportunities for township residents."

Work on the 2035 comprehensive plan began with an initial committee meeting in September of 2023. After gathering census data, information from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and housing trends, the plan has been revised a number of times since.

Manheim Township's 2035 comprehensive plan came under the scrutiny of thousands of individuals and officials from inside and outside of the locale, including interactions with 2,000 Manheim Township residents and 70 members of focus groups. More than 50 different comments about it were addressed.

"We recognize that a lot of issues really impact township residents and that township residents are really concerned about them," said Stevens. "We wanted to make sure that everything concerning residents was addressed. In terms of public interactions, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything else that has gotten this much attention. It's a great opportunity for residents to have a voice in shaping the future landscape of the township."

Manheim Township's previous comprehensive plan was drafted in 2010. Since then, much has changed, and the locale navigated an unprecedented pandemic.

"In planning parlance, 15 years is a very long time," said Stevens. "It's important to take a look every 10 years to see how things have changed. The speed of development has changed, but it's still a very high growth area, and traffic congestion has increased."

"I think overall, people view Manheim Township in a positive way," added Stevens. "It's about recognizing we have a really great community here, and we want to keep that high quality of life. People love the school district; people love the parks. We have some strengths, but we also have some weaknesses. Manheim Township is in pretty good shape."

To view Manheim Township's 2035 comprehensive plan, go to http://www.manheimtownship.org/64/Comprehensive-Plan-2035.