Pa. Township News

In the November 2025 Pa. Township News

Preserving Properties: Land Banks Give Townships a Valuable Tool to
Return Blighted and Vacant Lands to Productive Use
Blighted, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties pose both short- and long-term problems for communities and elected leaders. Municipalities have several options for dealing with these sites, including creating land banks, which are designed to return the parcels to productive use. Rehabilitating such sites can transform entire communities, boost neighborhood morale, and get properties back on the tax rolls.

Peace and Quiet: Townships Turn to Noise Ordinances as New Land Uses Emerge
As with many things in local government, subdivision, zoning, and development are constantly evolving, with each year bringing new land uses to townships across the commonwealth. In fact, with emerging uses like data centers, short-term rentals, and wedding barns, as well as an increase in outdoor entertainment and concerts post-COVID, many townships are passing noise ordinances to keep the sound down.

Level Playing Field: Regular Reassessment Leads to Equitable Taxation, Accurate Millage
Given the unwillingness of the legislature to address property tax reform, including mandatory property reassessment, some of the commonwealth’s 67 counties have taken it upon themselves to require routine assessments. Taxes based on long-ago assessments can be out of sync with true property values, leading to miscalculated millage and a disproportionate burden on some residents.

Townships: Plan Now for the 2026 Organization Meeting
It is the first meeting of the year, and whether accompanied by a regular meeting of the supervisors or not, the annual organization meeting typically covers a lot of ground. These tips and handy checklist can serve as a guide to developing the meeting agenda.

Gathering Input: Township Officials Must Know the Requirements and
Procedures to Hold Successful Public Hearings
Different from regularly scheduled meetings of the board of supervisors, public hearings are held when passing ordinances or making changes to the zoning map or subdivision and land development ordinance. Make sure the staff and officials at your township understand the types of public hearings, correct procedures, and how to maintain order when discussing contentious topics, such as data centers.

Testimony: PSATS Challenges Lawmakers to Consider Legal Notice Reforms
In recent testimony before the House Local Government Committee in Harrisburg, PSATS Director of Policy and Research Holly Fishel implored legislators to provide additional options for legal and public notices so that townships can be more transparent and more easily reach residents where they get their news and information.

Sharing Space: Agrivoltaics Enable Grid-Scale Solar and Farming to Use Same Acreage
One of the concerns about grid-scale installations is the potential loss of farmland. Agrivoltaics addresses that concern by using the same land for solar development and agriculture. An added benefit is that the land can be returned to farming at the end of the solar facility’s useful life.

DEP’s Recycling Technical Assistance Program Enhances Community Sustainability
Americans generate a lot of solid waste, from paper and plastic to food scraps and yard waste. Recycling, however, has stagnated in recent years. DEP wants to change that by helping municipalities find new opportunities to divert waste from landfills through the agency’s free technical assistance program.

And More …
The November edition also profiles another 2025 PMGA graduate and includes all the other columns you count on each month.