The Pennsylvania Governor's Economic Development Cabinet this week announced a set of principles and criteria that will be used by state agencies to guide investment and support local growth and economic development across the Commonwealth.

The principles and criteria were developed over two years by the Interagency Land Use Team, a working group of the Economic Development Cabinet. Agencies now will begin implementing the principles and criteria by applying them to significant programs over the next six months and eventually expanding their application to all relevant programs.

The 10 principles are:

Redevelop first -- Support revitalization of Pennsylvania's many cities and towns and give funding preference to reuse and redevelopment of "brownfield" and previously developed sites in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Provide efficient infrastructure -- Fix it first: use and improve existing infrastructure. Make highway and public transportation investments that use context sensitive design to improve existing developed areas and attract residents and visitors to these places. Require private and public expansions of service to be consistent with approved comprehensive plans and consistent implementing ordinances.

Concentrate development -- Support infill and "greenfield" development that is compact, conserves land, and is integrated with existing or planned transportation, water and sewer services, and schools. Foster creation of well-designed developments and neighborhoods that offer healthy lifestyle opportunities for Pennsylvania residents.

Increase job opportunities -- Retain and attract a diverse, educated workforce through the quality of economic opportunity and quality of life offered in Pennsylvania's varied communities. Integrate educational and job training opportunities for workers of all ages with the workforce needs of businesses. Invest in businesses that offer good-paying, high-quality jobs, and that are located near existing or planned water & sewer infrastructure, housing, existing workforce, and transportation access (highway or transit).

Foster sustainable businesses -- Strengthen natural resource-based businesses that use sustainable practices in energy production and use, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, recreation and tourism. Increase our supply of renewable energy. Reduce consumption of water, energy and materials to reduce foreign energy dependence and address climate change.

Restore and enhance the environment -- Maintain and expand land, air and water protection and conservation programs. Conserve and restore environmentally sensitive lands and natural areas for ecological health, biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

Enhance recreational and heritage resources -- Maintain and improve recreational and heritage assets and infrastructure throughout the commonwealth, including parks and forests, greenways and trails, heritage parks, historic sites and resources, fishing and boating areas and game lands offering recreational and cultural opportunities to Pennsylvanians and visitors.

Expand housing opportunities -- Support the construction and rehabilitation of housing of all types to meet the needs of people of all incomes and abilities. Support local projects that are based on a comprehensive vision or plan, have significant potential impact (e.g., increased tax base, private investment), and demonstrate local capacity, technical ability and leadership to implement the project.

Plan regionally, implement locally -- Support multi-municipal, county and local government planning and implementation that has broad public input and support and is consistent with these principles. Provide education, training, technical assistance, and funding for such planning and for transportation, infrastructure, economic development, housing, mixed use and conservation projects that implement such plans.

Be fair -- Support equitable sharing of the benefits and burdens of development. Provide technical and strategic support for inclusive community planning to ensure social, economic, and environmental goals are met.

Accompanying the criteria for investment are project-specific measures in nine categories that will help achieve the state's development and conservation goals. They are to be used to evaluate various project proposals in all agency programs. The criteria supplement, but do not replace, agency program guidelines.

Also announced was a joint agreement among 10 state agencies detailing how they will work with local governments when there are issues of consistency related to county and local or multi-municipal plans and ordinances. The land-use agreement creates a process to ensure that consistent county and local planning and zoning are considered in state agency permitting and funding decisions. This has long concerned county and local governments.

Agencies that signed include: the departments of Community and Economic Development, Conservation and Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Transportation, Agriculture and Education, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, the Public Utility Commission, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

10/28/2005