'Imagine Franklin 2035' aims to make growing Franklin County a better place to live

The Franklin County commissioners recently approved the county's 10-year comprehensive plan.

Titled "Imagine Franklin 2035," the 119-page plan serves as the official policy guide on short- and long-term decision-making relating to growth and land management over the next decade.

“Imagine Franklin 2035 identifies and prioritizes the county’s strategic goals and objectives, creating an easy-to-follow roadmap for the county’s future,” Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller said in a county news release. “This comprehensive plan highlights opportunities for county leaders and other stakeholders to build upon existing assets while outlining a proactive approach to addressing the needs and future challenges our communities and residents could face in the years to come.”

Imagine Franklin 2035 includes seven focus areas, describing the background and issues behind each and a recommended action plan. Each focus area creates, supports or enhances one or more of the comprehensive plan’s three themes: quality of place, quality of life and quality of growth.

Below is each category, listed with the problem the plan aims to address.

Land use and natural resources: "Franklin County’s goal to balance growth with its desire to protect natural resources and its agricultural economy may be challenging and will require coordination between the County and all of its municipalities to achieve those goals."

Housing: "Fluctuating housing prices and increases in demand to live in Franklin County will continue to strain the balance of housing within the county."

Workforce and education: "Workforce shortages across Franklin County limit employers’ ability to fill open jobs, both now and into the future. While the county has a focused, engaged network of professionals actively addressing workforce and education barriers, more can be done to support those efforts."

Community facilities: "Demand for community services increases with the county’s population. New and expanding households need basic services such as water, sewer, public safety, transportation, recreational opportunities, broadband and similar services. The County, municipalities and utility agencies must be prepared to meet those demands through proper planning and extension of services to areas deemed appropriate for growth."

Supporting urban centers: "... due to aging infrastructure, carrying costs of denser development patterns, changing demographics, and in some cases population decline, these urban centers have challenges that differ greatly from their more rural, municipal counterparts. As the county continues to grow, reinvesting in these areas will be important to maintain economic opportunities and provide various levels of housing options for new and expanding county residents. However, as new residents enter the county, identifying areas appropriate to locate that growth is a primary consideration of the County and Imagine Franklin 2035. Balancing the pressure of growth with the desire to preserve natural and scenic resources and preserve farmland is critical."

Human services: "...areas of affordable and quality childcare and access to alternative modes of transportation were identified as an unmet need. Although the Human Services division may play a role in supporting these needs, most are within the purview of other community partners that Franklin County will need to engage with in order to address these issues."

Chambersburg plan: After wording disagreement, Chambersburg has a new comprehensive plan

Police chief: Chambersburg PD needs more money to keep up service

Looking at childcare, only 18% of Franklin County's childcare options meet the state's high-quality standards (the state average is almost 25%). In order to support expanding workforce needs and ensure children are ready and able to effectively learn, Franklin County will need to advocate for expanded and high-quality (childcare)," the report reads.

“Our county continues to experience tremendous growth and change, and signs indicate that trend will continue into the future,” Commissioner John Flannery said in the release. “It’s up to all of us to preserve what we love about Franklin County while creating thoughtful strategies to accommodate and anticipate the needs of our residents and our communities in the coming decades.”

Imagine Franklin 2035 includes a three-year implementation strategy that incorporates short-term steps toward the plan's long-term goals. This will allow staff to evaluate progress and make changes as needed.

While the county and its departments will be responsible for the majority of the work to carry out the plan's recommended actions, other stakeholders will be needed to reach some goals.

“Achieving the Imagine Franklin 2035 recommendations cannot be accomplished in a vacuum,” Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski said in the release. “These goals will require a collaborative effort by the county, local municipal officials, leaders within our economic development and human services sectors, representatives at the regional, state and federal levels, community stakeholders and our residents. By working together, we can use our strengths to achieve the vision we have for Franklin County.”

Check out the full comprehensive plan at franklincountypa.gov.

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin County comprehensive plan: Goals for land use, workforce, more