South Whitehall staff, commissioners, township planners, consultant Thomas Comitta, and residents gathered in the forum room at Parkland High School June 18 to begin the process of preparing a new comprehensive plan.

This plan shows the direction the community wants to go and has an impact on land use, transportation, utilities, stormwater, recreation, housing, environmental and historic concerns.

Comitta guided the township through the two-year project for the 2009 comprehensive plan which remains in effect.

He reported the state Municipalities Planning Code advises municipalities to review and analyze their comprehensive plan every 10 years.

“We want to see what’s transpired since 2009 and think about the next 10 years,” Comitta said.

He stated the first step is to gather comments from residents regarding what they like and dislike about places in the township now.

His team will tabulate and record their comments at public meetings and then compile a draft of guiding principles for the new document.

South Whitehall Director of Community Development George Kinney provided a brief overview of current planning trends.

These include sustainability and climate change, eCommerce, autonomous mobility and place making.

Kinney said eCommerce may affect existing shopping centers, and retailers need to provide an “experience” to survive.

He said this may include a cafe or outdoor area where customers can sit and have coffee.

Kinney noted many people are seeking a downtown lifestyle where they don’t have to drive everywhere.

South Whitehall Director of Geographic Information Systems Dave Manhardt reported on population growth in the township.

In 1960, South Whitehall had 10,932 residents. By 2015, that had increased to 19,541. The population of the township in 2040 is projected to be 24,818.

The number of households increased from 6,943 in 2000 to 7,707 in 2015. Median age increased from 45.9 in 2000 to 48.2 in 2015.

The township includes 40.5 percent undeveloped land and 59.5 percent developed properties.

Since the 2009 plan was adopted, 964 residential units have been constructed in the township.

When Comitta asked residents what they like about the township, several mentioned farmland, open space and Covered Bridge Park.

Several recalled they moved to South Whitehall because of its appealing countryside and said they do not want that to disappear.

Some individuals spoke against high density developments such as the proposed Ridge Farm.

Traffic was another concern, along with the proliferation of trucks on the road.

Comitta distributed a large, two-sided sheet with 90 goals listed from the 2009 plan. He invited residents to rank them in order of importance for the new document.

One person in the audience asked whether anything happened to achieve those goals in the past 10 years.

Comitta said he would report on that at the next meeting.

He stated the importance of teamwork and a cooperative relationship during the process of developing the new plan.

“Whatever we’re going to do, we’re going to do it with you,” said Comitta.

The next two meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. July 16 and 30 at Parkland High School