Freeman proposal would simplify municipal development
Rep. Robert L. Freeman June 2, 2025 | 2:27 PM
HARRISBURG, June 2 – State Rep. Robert Freeman has introduced legislation that would give municipalities another tool to plan their communities and streamline development.
“To cut down on the complexity of the municipal permitting process, my proposal would help to expand the use of ‘specific plans.’ Currently, planners use specific plans to provide a more detailed plan for development within a certain area. When a developer proposes to develop the land consistently with the specific plan, the developer can take advantage of a streamlined approval process and proceed directly to final subdivision and land development approval,” said Freeman, chairman of the House Local Government Committee.
Freeman said specific plan authorization was originally added to the Municipalities Planning Code nearly 25 years ago as part of a larger effort to encourage planning through multi-municipal comprehensive plans. However, the MPC only allows them to be implemented through these plans and limits them to non-residential development. By adding residential development to the authorized uses for specific plans, it is hoped that the streamlined process could facilitate the establishment of more affordable housing.
“My bill would authorize individual municipalities to adopt specific plans and allow both residential and non-residential development to be covered under them,” Freeman said.
Developers would use sketch plans in presenting their proposed development to give municipalities and residents a clearer indication of how the development will look.
Expanding specific plans was part of the State Planning Board’s 2023 recommendations for streamlining local permitting and development.
House Bill 1532 was referred to the House Local Government Committee for consideration.