2007-2008 Annual Report of Service - Shippensburg University

30 Shippensburg University
Planning and Community
Development Workshops
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors and
the Governor’s Center for Local Government
Services, several workshops have been sponsored,
organized, or coordinated. Recent
workshops include:
❚ Innovative Bridge Design for
Pennsylvania Communities
❚ How to Select a Consultant
❚
What’s the Big Deal About Zoning?
❚ Planning Duties of the Newly Elected
Official
❚ Tax Increment Financing
❚ The Municipalities Planning Code
Made Easy
Outreach to Community
Organizations and Schools
Presentations relating to land use and
community planning are made to representative
community and school groups. Representative
groups include Big Spring High School and
the Rotary Club of Shippensburg. Emphasis
is placed on the positive role that average citizens
and future voters may play in determining
their community’s future.
Other leadership efforts include a periodic
guest essay for local newspapers in the
service region and service on several planning
advisory committees. In each of the last several
years, the Center for Land Use has been featured
in presentations at the annual meeting
of the Association of American Geographers
(AAG).
Student Centered/Course Projects
Borough of New Cumberland “South
New Cumberland Revitalization Project.”
This is an internship appointment based
project involving the cooperation of the
Cumberland County Redevelopment and
Housing Program (CCRHA). The project
relates to a series of sub-initiatives, including
incumbent upgrading of housing, review of local
government planning ordinances and other
documents, and the planning for new market
rate homes. Rebecca Genua is the cooperating
student and is being directed by Christopher
Gulotta, director, CCRHA.
Smart Growth Audit of Borough of New
Cumberland, Pennsylvania. This course-based
outreach project consisted of a project where
students conducted an audit of planning
documents for “smart growth” relevance. The
project was completed in collaboration with
Cumberland County Planning Department
and Cumberland County Housing and
Redevelopment Authority.
Geographic Information System
(GIS) Laboratory and Library
Materials.
In cooperation with the Geography –
Earth Science Department, there is continued
access to a GIS laboratory and research room
for workshops and guided student research.
The computers housed in the lab are equipped
with the latest editions of ESRI ArcGIS software.
A library of materials accessible to those
involved with local planning efforts has also
been established.
Workshops
Innovative Bridge Design for
Pennsylvania Communities (July 29,
2008)
This workshop profiled how local communities
can use innovative bridge design to
more effectively plan for transportation. The
workshop focused on design, implementation,
and maintenance issues of timber glue
laminate hybrid bridge design and used a
Shippensburg University bridge project as a
model. A further advantage of the bridge is
that it uses Pennsylvania wood products. In attendance
were a variety of township and transportation
officials from all parts of the state.
There were approximately thirty participants
at the workshop.
What’s the Big Deal About Zoning?
(April 3, 2008)
This workshop was held in cooperation
with Hopewell Township, a smaller, rural
township in western Cumberland County. The
workshop outlined what zoning is and how it
works, as well as a balanced perspective of the
pros and cons. The township is considering
zoning and residents were very interested in
finding out more – to the tune of more than
ninety people in attendance!