Officials from Catasauqua, North Catasauqua, Hanover Township (Lehigh County) and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission met May 23 to discuss the development of a joint comprehensive plan between the three municipalities. Such a plan would allow all communities involved to determine their long-term development goals - both as individual municipalities and as a region - and then find ways to reach those goals cooperatively.

Among those in attendance at the meeting, held at the North Catasauqua Municipal Building, were Peter Paone, president of North Catasauqua Borough Council; Steve Travers, manager of Catasauqua Borough; Christopher Garges, manager and zoning officer of Hanover Township; and Peter Barnard, director of community planning for LVPC.

The group has met twice previously, and discussions have moved smoothly so far, according to Paone. Subjects broached in past meetings have included an inventory of re-developable land and properties of historical significance, the inclusion of a freight study and the union of the three municipalities being tentatively called River Central. All representatives agreed upon the importance of advertising future meetings to build awareness and welcome public input.

In expressing Hanover Township’s interest in conducting a comprehensive plan on its three public parks, Garges suggested inventory and analysis of parks be included in the multi-municipal comprehensive plan.

Travers said Catasauqua would similarly benefit from a look at its parks and supported adding it to the plan.

Analysis of public parks is not typically included in LVPC’s multi-municipal comprehensive plans, but Garges and Travers said the cost of its inclusion would be worth the benefit brought to their communities. Conducting inventory and analysis now, they said, will remove the need to collect data before future park development.

The written proposal for the plan is nearing its final stages, with Paone saying he’d like to present the plan to North Catasauqua Borough officials and have it approved in July. With that timeline in mind, the three municipalities intend to begin implementing the collective plan by September.

The group’s next meeting will be held 6 p.m. June 18 at Catasauqua Municipal Complex, 90 Bridge St., where officials plan to determine their method of voting on group decisions.