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Our Partners

The Center of Land Use is possible through the collaborative efforts of the following partners:
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Shippensburg University

Governor's Center for Local Government Services

Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs

County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania

Further Support from our Advisory Board

Home Builders Association

County Planning Commissions inAdams CumberlandFranklin County Fulton CountyTri-County Regional Planning Commission

Funding support for the Center for Land Use from the U.S. Dept. of Education

Housed within the Geography - Earth Science Department at Shippensburg University

Welcome to the Center for Land Use

Our Mission

Shippensburg University's Center for Land Use provides conferences, workshops, technical assistance, research, and community education programs to promote sound land planning and to enhance the quality of life in the five-county service region of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, and Perry counties.

While these counties share common interests and issues, they are very diverse. The five-county area has large and small towns, suburban areas, and vast rural areas. Some communities may be trying to attract economic development, while others are dealing with complicated land development issues such as transportation, agricultural, industrial development, sewer, water, and school expansion. Center services will be of interest to elected and appointed officials, planning and zoning officials, economic development corporations, school districts, builders and developers, chamber of commerce groups, and the public.

What we do...

The center combines academic and practical aspects of land use planning including:

  • planning for the future of a community
  • future and existing land use
  • community facilities
  • recreational facilities
  • transportation
  • environmental needs
  • economic development

Areas of Interest...

Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance will be provided to communities needing assessment of how particular land use issues might be assessed. It also includes outreach and publication development on specific land use concerns of targeted counties and their municipalities.

Education

The center will offer academic and practical seminars for elected officials, planning and zoning officials, and the public.

Research Center

Research involves the ability to identify, study, and report on specific land use issues of concern in the five-county region. Research projects may provide options or solutions to specific problems.

Advisory Board

An advisory board selected from the five-county region will provide feedback and suggestions to the center's partners on a regular basis to advance center programs and resources.

University Support

The Center for Land Use is located at Shippensburg University, which provides:

  1. A neutral site to discuss and consider land use issues
  2. A location in the center of the county region
  3. Expertise and experience
  4. A primary point of contact for counties, cities, townships, and boroughs
  5. An advocate to help promote Pennsylvania's land use policies and promote smarter use of land management processes