Consultant announces Lebanon County comprehensive plan update, schedules two public forums

Michelle Brummer of GFT (formerly Gannett Fleming) updated the Lebanon County Board of Commissioners on the comprehensive-plan process and announced public outreach dates.

Brummer said the comprehensive plan is a policy document intended to guide future development and county-level land-use guidance (not an ordinance) and that the team is several months into data collection and committee meetings. She said a "Lebanon County Today" milestone report is expected by the end of the year and the next phase will address projected growth and trajectories in the first quarter of 2026.

Two public forums were announced for the next week: an in-person session on Wednesday the 12th from 4–6 p.m. at the Department of Emergency Services on Cornwall Road, and a virtual session on Thursday the 13th from 6–8 p.m. Brummer said the virtual session will require registration so staff can manage breakout rooms and avoid disruptions; a registration link and a comprehensive-plan web page will be posted on the county's site.

Brummer described the forum format as short presentations followed by small-group breakout discussions organized geographically to let participants discuss what matters in their municipalities and shared regional issues such as water supply and infrastructure. She said the planning team will use a web app survey, QR codes, and accept photo submissions to capture quality-of-life issues and display county data.

Commissioners and attendees asked about emerging uses such as data centers, energy projects and regional water management. Brummer and the board discussed tools municipalities can use, regional coordination, and next-year forums with municipalities to dive deeper into local implementation tools.

Brummer closed by noting this is the first of several public-opportunity touchpoints and encouraged turnout and municipal cooperation.