Here's how to comment on the draft Wayne County Comprehensive Plan Update

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·2 min read

How has this far northeast corner county of Pennsylvania, Wayne County, grown or otherwise changed in the last 10 years? What can this tell community members and how can this help them set and implement goals for the next decade?

The Wayne County commissioners have announced that the final draft of the county's 2023 Comprehensive Plan is now available for public review and comment.

The commissioners intend to formally adopt the plan in early 2024. The state requires the county to update this plan every 10 years.

Work on the update began in 2022, directed by the Wayne County Planning Commission and County Planning/ GIS Office with help from Woodland Design Associates and Shepstone Management, who served as consultants.

The process explores how the county stands on everything from population and demographics to transportation and economic development. Community facilities, cultural and historic assets are part of what is looked at. The consultants surveyed full and part-time residents and held meetings with critical stakeholders in the community. The Comprehensive Plan also incorporates the Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation Plan, which was adopted in 2021, and the Housing Assessment and Strategy finished in early 2023.

This is the cover of the final draft of the 2023 Wayne County Comprehensive Plan Update, now available for public review and comment. The commissioners intend to adopt the 10-year plan on Feb. 1, 2024.
This is the cover of the final draft of the 2023 Wayne County Comprehensive Plan Update, now available for public review and comment. The commissioners intend to adopt the 10-year plan on Feb. 1, 2024.

Having studied how the county has developed since the last plan, goals and objectives are established, as well as plans to realize the goals.

The commissioners note that the draft update is not a binding legal document. Rather, they describe it as a plan for dealing with growth and maintaining a balance between appropriate economic development and the preservation of both local culture and natural resources. It is used for the development of governmental policies for addressing growth and change in a community. It serves as a guide for the county and municipalities.

The plan takes inventory of assets, identifies potential problems, and suggests possible solutions. It also articulates the philosophy of county government concerning current topics, expected growth, and changing cultural dynamics.

It is richly illustrated with photographs and clear graphs and tables of information.

The Wayne County commissioners meet on the second floor of the courthouse annex at 925 Court St., Honesdale. Enter by the front entrance of the main, historic courthouse. Regular business meetings are held on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Meeting agendas and other information are available at waynecountypa.gov.
The Wayne County commissioners meet on the second floor of the courthouse annex at 925 Court St., Honesdale. Enter by the front entrance of the main, historic courthouse. Regular business meetings are held on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Meeting agendas and other information are available at waynecountypa.gov.

When the board of commissioners adopted the last Comprehensive Plan Update in 2010, they created a strategy known as "Wayne Tomorrow!" to organize and implement the work and recommendations so that they would have a meaningful impact on Wayne County's future. Wayne Tomorrow! includes various task forces, promoting collaboration and cooperation.

The final draft of the 2023 Wayne County Comprehensive Plan update is available for inspection online at bit.ly/483L4rt or may be read at the commissioners' office at the courthouse in Honesdale. Comments on the plan may be left on a form online, submitted by mail or hand delivered.

The final draft will be presented to the commissioners for adoption at the Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, meeting, at 10:30 a.m.

For more information visit waynecountypa.gov.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Comments welcome on draft 2023 Wayne County Comprehensive Plan Update