An existing regional plan to guide growth and land use in Lower Carbon County could be updated.

Palmerton Borough Council last week briefly discussed the Palmerton Area Comprehensive Plan.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said that Bowmanstown Borough reached out to Palmerton to see if there was any interest.

Hausman-Sell said a meeting had been planned in March 2020 that ended up getting shot down due to COVID.

Council President Terry Costenbader said he recalled a comprehensive plan between Palmerton, Bowmanstown, Lower Towamensing and Towamensing Township from years ago.

“The Palmerton area, if that’s the same (particular) plan, I know what you’re talking about,” Costenbader said.

In February, Bowmanstown Borough Council granted permission to send letters to other municipalities to see if there would be any interest in scheduling a meeting to review the plan and update as needed.

Bowmanstown has heard back from Palmerton and Towamensing Township, but not Lower Towamensing Township.

In March 2009, the comprehensive plan was approved for the four municipalities.

Urban Research and Development Corp was engaged to prepare the existing plan about 15 years ago, Charles Schmehl, of Urban Research and Development Corp., said this week.

Schmehl said the plan emphasized coordinated land uses across municipal borders, and recommendations to preserve important natural areas and prime agricultural lands.

He said Urban Research and Development Corp. has not been involved in any regional committee meetings since the plan was prepared.

Schmehl said a comprehensive plan addresses future land uses, housing, natural feature conservation, agricultural preservation, transportation, community facilities, and ways to carry out the plan.

He noted that a comprehensive plan is not a regulation by itself, but is intended to recommend policies for zoning updates.

Schmehl said the plan is an overall set of policies for the preservation and conservation of the municipalities, and had a time-frame of about 15 years.

He added that many regions do consider updating their plan after 15 years, and there is increased state funding available this year for that planning and zoning updates.