Lititz Borough Council was looking for a resident willing to serve as a volunteer on the borough planning commission in February 2016, according to council president Karen Weibel.
“We’re desperate for somebody who wants to take on the planning commission,” Weibel told LititzDailyNews.com.
No experience required
The four-year volunteer appointment did not require professional planning experience. The person selected would attend “some education sessions in order to get up to speed with what exactly the planning commission does,” Weibel said.
Planning commissions operate under Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code, the state’s enabling law for local planning and zoning.
“It’s a big learn, I will admit. It’s a lot to learn about. It takes a good year or so to get up to speed, but we have a vacancy, and we need somebody,” Weibel said.
The time commitment
The position typically required a few hours a month, possibly more in a meeting week or during large projects, such as the Moravian Manor expansion, which had been under review for more than two years.
“There can be some time involved, but not everybody needs to aspire to be the chair of any of those committees,” Weibel said.
How to apply
“Go online, or drop in downstairs at Borough Hall, get an application, fill it out, and return it,” Weibel said. “Then it goes to the personnel committee, and they will speak to whoever is chairing that committee.”
Applicants were evaluated on their capabilities. Some appointments, such as planning and zoning, are more technical than others.
“We have people in this community who have those skills, and they volunteer, so it’s super,” Weibel said. “We are really, really fortunate.”
A town of volunteers
More than 90 people served on borough committees at the time, Weibel said. “And that’s just borough committees, that’s not the service clubs.”
Residents serve on boards overseeing many parts of community life, from the park committee to the Historical Area Advisory Committee.
“People are highly committed, but it’s a small group of people out of the 9,200 people who live here,” she said.
What a planning commission does
A borough planning commission reviews subdivision and land development plans, recommends changes to zoning and other ordinances, and helps prepare the comprehensive plan that guides growth. Its recommendations go to borough council, which makes the final decisions.
In a historic, growing town like Lititz, those reviews shape everything from new housing and senior living to downtown parking and the preservation of historic streetscapes.
Get involved
Residents interested in borough volunteer roles can find applications on the Lititz Borough website or at Borough Hall, 7 S. Broad St., and can call the borough office at (717) 626-2044.
What the planning commission does
In Pennsylvania boroughs, the planning commission is an advisory body created under the Municipalities Planning Code. Members review subdivision and land development plans, recommend changes to the zoning ordinance and help prepare the comprehensive plan that guides long-term growth.
The commission’s recommendations go to Borough Council, which makes the final decisions. But the commission’s careful review often shapes the details of projects, from parking and sidewalks to stormwater management and how new buildings fit their surroundings.
Who should apply
Planning commissions benefit from members with a range of backgrounds, including business owners, retirees, engineers, architects and residents who simply care about how their town grows. No special training is required, and new members typically learn on the job.
Why it matters in Lititz
With a busy downtown, historic neighborhoods and steady development pressure, Lititz relies on volunteers to help balance growth with the character that draws residents and visitors. Serving on a board is one of the most direct ways for residents to shape that future.
This article was originally published in February 2016.