Carbon County adopts comprehensive plan and greenways trails and open-space plan

The Carbon County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a county Comprehensive Plan and a Greenways, Trails and Open Space Plan after a presentation by project manager Tim Staub and a staff review by the county planning commission.

Tim Staub, project manager for the comprehensive plan work, told commissioners the process began in January 2024, ran for roughly 16 months and included discovery, outreach and implementation-planning phases. He said two parallel planning documents were prepared; the comprehensive plan organizes themes into housing, outdoor economy, infrastructure and placemaking, while the Greenways and Trails plan focuses on connectedness, protection, recreational assets and tourism. Staub said implementation tables and grant lists accompany each plan to guide funding and lead responsibilities.

Staub said public engagement required different approaches after the pandemic and that some outreach activities included pop-up events at county gatherings and presentations to municipal bodies. He summarized select findings, including varied housing demand by geography, housing stock loss related to out-of-area buyers, childcare cost increases over five years (cited at about 12% for families and up to 40% for single parents), and that cell-phone tracking indicated roughly 60% of recreational users come from within a 50-mile radius.

The agenda listed the two adoption motions under item 25-261. The board approved a motion to adopt plan document 250115 and then approved a separate motion to adopt document 25016; Commissioners Arner, Notestein and DeFranco (as recorded on the roll calls) voted in the affirmative on both motions.

Staub said both plans have been advertised and posted on the county website as required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and were forwarded to adjoining counties and local municipalities for comment. He also noted the county planning commission recommended the documents move forward to the commissioners and that implementation tables identify priority actions, timelines and potential funding sources.

The adoptions set the county to move toward implementation steps outlined in the plans, including grant-seeking and coordinated regional work on infrastructure and recreation assets. Commissioners heard no public questions during the presentation and did not alter the documents at the meeting. The plans and supporting materials remain available on the county website for public review.