301, 301.1, 301.2

• All comprehensive plans, whether municipal, multi-municipal, or county, must include:
• Statement of community development objectives
• Plan for land use
• Plan to meet housing needs
• Plan for movement of people and goods
• Plan for community facilities and utilities
• Plan for protection of natural and historic resources to the extent not preempted by state/federal law and consistent with and not exceeding requirements of acts identified in MPC Section 301(a)(6)
• Plan for the reliable supply of water containing specific statements outlined in MPC Section 301(b)
• Statement of interrelationships among various plan elements which may include an estimate of environmental, economic, and social consequences
• Short- and long-range implementation strategies
• Statement that existing/proposed development is consistent with or can be buffered against that in contiguous municipalities
• Statement that existing/proposed development is consistent with the county comprehensive plan
• All comprehensive plans may include:
• Identification of growth and development areas
• Energy conservation plan
• County comprehensive plans must identify:
• Land uses as they relate to important natural resources and utilization of existing minerals
• Current and proposed land uses which have regional impact and significance
• A plan for preservation of prime agland that encourages compatibility of land use regulations with agricultural operations
• Identify a plan for historic preservation
• In preparing a comprehensive plan, a planning agency must make surveys, studies, and analyses of housing, demographic and economic characteristics, land use, transportation, community facilities, natural/historic/ cultural resources, and prospects for future growth

301.3, 301.4, 302 & 306

• A municipality shall, at least 45 days prior to the public hearing required in the adoption process, submit its plan or amendment to the county planning agency, all contiguous municipalities, and the school district for comments; and shall consider public comments and the municipal planning agency’s recommendations
• A county shall afford an opportunity (up to 45 days) for comments by municipalities and school districts in the county and by contiguous counties, municipalities, and school districts; shall consider public comments and the county planning agency’s recommendations; and shall consult with municipalities, school districts, municipal authorities, public utilities, and the Center for Local Government Services to determine future growth needs

302

• Prior to adoption:
• Planning agency must hold at least 1 public meeting
• Governing body must hold at least 1 public hearing pursuant to public notice; if afterwards the plan or amendment is substantially revised, another public hearing must be held
• Adoption, in whole or part, is by resolution of the governing body; the resolution must refer expressly to maps, charts, and text intended to form the plan
• Within 30 days, the plan must be forwarded to the county

301.4

• For counties, preparation and adoption of a comprehensive plan is required; for municipalities, it is not required

301(c) & 302(d)

• A municipal or multi-municipal comprehensive plan shall be reviewed at least every 10 years and sent to contiguous municipalities, the Center for Local Government Services, and the county planning commission
• A county comprehensive plan shall be updated at least every 10 years

301(c), 301.4, 302(d), 306, 603(k)

• Municipal comprehensive plans and amendments shall be generally consistent with the comprehensive plans of the county and abutting municipalities
• County planning commissions shall publish guidelines to promote general consistency with the adopted county comprehensive plan
• A county shall consider amendments to its comprehensive plan proposed by municipalities to achieve general consistency between respective plans; if two or more contiguous municipalities request amendment to a county plan to achieve consistency, the county must accept the amendments unless good cause for their refusal is established
• A county and a municipality shall each consider the plan of the other to protect the objectives of each plan
• When conducting the 10-year (or earlier) review, a municipal or multi-municipal comprehensive plan must be sent to the county planning commission to determine if the plan remains consistent with the county plan and to determine where it may not be consistent

303, 304, 305

• In a municipality and/or a county with an adopted plan, certain municipal or school actions – involving public streets, grounds, buildings, or water/sewer facilities; school buildings or lands; or adoption/amendment of comprehensive plans or land use ordinances – must be submitted to the municipal and/or county planning agency for recommendations (allow up to 45 days)
• Municipal zoning, subdivision and land development regulations, and capital improvement programs shall generally implement the municipal or multi-municipal comprehensive plan
• However, no action of a municipality shall be invalid or challenged on the basis that it is inconsistent or fails to comply with a comprehensive plan