It is frustrating to be stuck in traffic on a stretch of road which used to be relatively easy to travel, especially when you are late for work, to a doctor’s appointment, or to pick up your kids from school.
 
Throughout Pennsylvania, mega-real estate developers are turning agriculture and open spaces into road-clogging warehouses and other uses that hurt taxpayers through costly infrastructure nightmares. Even worse, residents now must question their own quality of life as they experience more traffic, higher levels of pollution, and land deterioration.
 
This is happening because local leaders in host municipalities do not have the tools and resources they need to determine what impact these projects will have on their community. It is time to give local leaders the chance to protect the quality of life, health, and infrastructure of the people they were elected to represent.
 
My legislation, recommended by the Joint State Government Commission, would amend the Municipalities Planning Code to:
 

• require mega-development developers to provide a detailed analysis of the impacts of development, including the real cost on traffic, future infrastructure costs, emergency management services, sewer, storm water, damage to agricultural lands, parks and open space, impact on neighborhoods, natural resources and wildlife and harm to neighboring properties;
• allow the host municipality to use this analysis to consider conditions which address the impacts and costs of the development; and
• give neighboring municipalities the opportunity to have their concerns addressed.

 
Reasonable and responsible development is expected in life as it creates jobs, expands economic opportunities, and supplies needed housing in growing regions.  But that development needs to take into account the impact it has on the rest of us.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0731: P.L.805, No.247, P.L.1198, No.418
Printer's No. 3410: P.L.805, No.247, P.L.805, NO.247, P.L.1242, NO.428, P.L.1198, No.418