Interesting fact: York County does not have a countywide Historic Preservation Plan. It does have a comprehensive plan, which contains a number of elements and resource components, but it does not have an element that specifically addresses historic preservation.
The Dover Blacksmith Shop in Ketterman Park on Butter Road
This is a state of affairs that the York County Planning Commission (YCPC) has actively been trying to change for years, but challenges with timing and funding have kept a preservation plan off the table. In the meantime, the County Commissioners have been asked to take action - or not take action - on several contentious questions involving historic preservation, and this has kept the topic at the forefront of everyone's minds.
To overcome funding issues, the Planning Commission is drafting an Historic Preservation Plan with in-house staff. A Steering Committee was created to provide technical assistance. The Plan will serve multiple purposes. One is in line with the traditional emphasis of many historic preservation plans, that is, to identify, protect, and promote the County's historic resources.
A second plan purpose relates to the Planning Commission and the State legislation that outlines our duties and powers. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) requires that county planning commissions address historic preservation in their comprehensive planning efforts. The Plan being developed will fulfill our duties under the MPC.
Our third, and most singular, purpose is to come up with a way for decision makers to assess historic resources in light of both historic value to the County and other relevant costs and benefits that may be associated with given courses of action. Our goal is to develop an evaluation method that will allow elected officials to prioritize actions based on a standardized set of criteria rooted in good planning practice.
As the Plan progresses, YCPC staff and Steering Committee members will be posting updates here. Please follow along with us!
