Pennsylvania HB 1532: An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in comprehensive plan, providing for municipal specific plans; and, in intergovernmental cooperative planning and implementation agreements, further providing for specific plans.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1793 PRINTER'S NO. 1904
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1532
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, K.HARRIS, NEILSON, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, FLEMING AND KHAN, MAY 30, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 11, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), entitled
"An act to empower cities of the second class A, and third
class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of the first
and second classes including those within a county of the
second class and counties of the second through eighth
classes, individually or jointly, to plan their development
and to govern the same by zoning, subdivision and land
development ordinances, planned residential development and
other ordinances, by official maps, by the reservation of
certain land for future public purpose and by the acquisition
of such land; to promote the conservation of energy through
the use of planning practices and to promote the effective
utilization of renewable energy sources; providing for the
establishment of planning commissions, planning departments,
planning committees and zoning hearing boards, authorizing
them to charge fees, make inspections and hold public
hearings; providing for mediation; providing for transferable
development rights; providing for appropriations, appeals to
courts and penalties for violations; and repealing acts and
parts of acts," in general provisions, further providing for
definitions; in comprehensive plan, providing for municipal
specific plans; and, in intergovernmental cooperative
planning and implementation agreements, further providing for
specific plans.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "specific plan" in section
107(a) of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as
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the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, is amended and
the subsection is amended by adding a definition to read:
Section 107. Definitions.--(a) The following words and
phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to
them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
* * *
"Sketch plan," a simplified, preliminary drawing that
outlines the basic layout of a proposed development project,
providing a conceptual overview of the land use, lot
configuration and potential street alignments.
* * *
"Specific plan," a detailed plan for [nonresidential]
development of an area covered by a municipal or multimunicipal
comprehensive plan[, which, when approved and adopted by the
participating municipalities through ordinances and agreements,
supersedes all other applicable ordinances] under section 308 or
1106.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 308. Municipal Specific Plans.--(a) A municipality
shall have authority to adopt a specific plan for the systematic
implementation of any portion of the municipality's own
comprehensive plan. A specific plan shall meet the requirements
of and have the legal effects specified in section 1106.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, when a
municipality adopts a specific plan implementing the
municipality's comprehensive plan, the terms of the plan shall
be deemed an amendment to the comprehensive plan to the extent
that the terms are inconsistent.
20250HB1532PN1904 - 2 -
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(c) Notwithstanding section 1106(e), a municipality may
establish a reasonable fee to recover the cost of adopting and
implementing a specific plan under subsection (a).
Section 3. Section 1106 of the act is amended to read:
Section 1106. Specific Plans.--(a) [Participating
municipalities] A municipality shall have authority to adopt a
specific plan for the systematic implementation of a county or
multimunicipal comprehensive plan for any [nonresidential] part
of the area covered by the plan under this article or municipal
comprehensive plan under Article III. Such specific plan shall
include a text and a diagram or diagrams and implementing
ordinances which may specify [all of the following in detail]:
(1) The distribution, location, intensity, extent of
area and standards for land uses and facilities, including
design of sewage, water, drainage and other essential
facilities needed to support the land uses.
(2) The location, classification and design of all
transportation facilities, including, but not limited to,
streets and roads needed to serve the land uses described in
the specific plan.
(3) Standards for population density, accommodation of
expected new housing, dwelling types, land coverage, building
intensity, housing densities for households of various income
levels and supporting services, including utilities. HOUSING
STANDARDS MAY INCLUDE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE OR BELOW-
MARKET HOUSING.