On the April 28th agenda for the Borough of Ambler’s planning commission are two items. The first involves updating the 2013 Borough Comprehensive Plan.

A comprehensive plan is a policy document intended to guide a municipality’s long-term growth, development, and infrastructure over two to three decades. Municipalities are mandated to produce these plans, review them every 10 years, and update them if they are found to be inconsistent with current conditions. For example, a decade ago, large apartment communities were not a reality surrounding the train station. Today, they are.

The agenda item states that “Input is requested on updating the 2013 Borough Comprehensive Plan” and that “Draft sections on Sustainability and Economic Development Trend and Background to be discussed.” You can find support documents on this agenda item starting on page 2.

The second item is a potential motion to “Recommend to Council Ordinance amendments to require recreation area or open space for all new developments or subdivisions. This would also include provisions for a fee in lieu of in the event recreation area or open space is not feasible that can be put towards existing park improvements.” Essentially, this means the borough can require developers to dedicate a portion of the property to public use or open space, or pay a fee that the borough can use to improve its parks. The draft ordinance does not set the fee amount, but allows for the borough council to set an amount on a periodic basis. You can view the draft ordinance starting on page 15.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Ambler’s borough hall.