Comprehensive Plan of Monroe County, Pennsylvania (1981).
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Alternative Futures |
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County Planning |
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Monroe County has traditionally relied on township scale planning and decision making. In recent years, however, it has begun to operate more and more as a County. An example is the Comprehensive Plan, shown below, which the County prepared in 1981. The Map '1993 Developed, Not Included in Plan 2000' shows in red where today there is development in areas that were not planned for growth by the year 2000. This represents almost half of the total development in Monroe County. In contrast, one quarter of the land planned for development by the year 2000 has not yet been developed. For example, at Chestnuthill Township, private and township decisions are not following the County Plan. Unless the processes and policies of planning-decision making are altered, this trend may continue. |
Beautiful natural scenery and year-round recreational opportunities have made the Poconos an ideal destination for tourists and honeymooners for over the last hundred years. More recently, these same valuable resources have attracted new residential development. The quality of the landscape is not only a consideration for judging your quality of life, but also a business necessity. Conservation of natural resources is a theme that will be re-visited several times in this report. The map 'Conservation Priorities: 1993 Land Cover' shows the most sensitive landscapes of Monroe County. In orange, are those already lost to development. This represents one-quarter of the most sensitive landscapes in the County. It may already be too late to conserve much of the Monroe County's landscape character and the source of its public image of "country-side and wilderness." There are few "scenic" roads left. Willingness to invest in protecting Monroe County's landscape now is a key to future benefits. |
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Comprehensive Plan of Monroe County, Pennsylvania (1981). |