Bath Council Short & Long-Range Planning (2022 to 2027)

Pennsylvania law requires the re-organization of Borough Council at the start of each even-numbered year (every two years). With the conclusion of the 2021 election cycle, seeing the departure of three councilpersons, this meant Borough Council was starting fresh at the beginning of 2022 with new faces and ideas.

As has been customary with Bath’s Council, the bi-annual reorganization meeting opens a timeframe for elected leaders to discuss with its constituents where Bath has been, and where it should go. The meetings help create Bath’s short and long range plans. Priorities Borough Council will begin working on; leveraging what worked in the past to tackle future problems.

The following broad concepts were discussed by Borough Council at their February 9, 2022 planning meeting to begin developing its short and long range plans. The concepts were entitled as follows; Current Threats, Negative Trends, Positive Trends, Opportunities, and Borough Assets.

CURRENT THREATS

Warehousing Development | Lack of Fire Department Volunteerism | Costs associated with MS4 Infrastructure | Increase in occurrence of Natural Disasters | Borough’s Lack of Development– Landlocked | Major Infrastructure Improvements | Truck Traffic | Lack of Parking | Lack of Control over Regional Development | Lack of an Official Map

NEGATIVE TRENDS

Increase of Traffic Congestion | Succession Planning | Lack of Affordable Housing | Financial Support and Rising Costs | Lack of Public Participation | Limited Retail | Lack of a Parks & Recreation Plan & Re-Development | Community & Police Relations | Technological Pace | Lack of Public Transportation | Lack of Inter-County Bike/Walking Trail Connectivity | Public Communications | Relationship with Bath Water Authority | Condition of Borough Road Inventory

POSITIVE TRENDS

Rich Cultural History | Increase of Public/Community Events | Intergovernmental Cooperation | Adoption and Rollout of the Rental Inspection & Licensing Program | Pennsylvania State Police

OPPORTUNITIES

Lehigh Valley Greater Area Chamber of Commerce | Additional Intergovernmental Cooperatives | Review/Amend Zoning Laws | Increase Code Enforcement Activities | PennDOT Investments | Implementation of the Borough’s Short & Long Range Transportation Improvement Plan | Daily Travelers/Access to Local Highways | Increase Branding/Borough Attractiveness | Creating Mixed-Use and/or Business Friendly Zones | Broadening Governmental/Community Communications | Number of Local Churches | Local Food Bank | Bath’s Regionally Centralized Geographical Location | Borough Council Committees

ASSETS

Monocacy Creek/Natural Resources | Open Spaces/Parks/Log Cabin | Historic District & Architecture | New Borough Municipal Building | Number of Small Businesses | Schools | Churches | Bath Volunteer Fire Department/Bethlehem Township EMS | Community Organizations and Local Non-Profits | Borough Employees/Mayor/Council/Committees

2022 Short & Long Range Planning (Conceptual)

From the discussion of the concepts, the following objectives have been identified by Council to be completed over the next few years. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive or to be specifically carried out in order of arrangement.

Year 1 to 2 Plan (Through 2023)

Roll-Out of Rental Inspection and Registry Program | Road & Infrastructure Improvements | Official Borough Map | Increasing Parking & Code Enforcement | Improving Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Infrastructure | Funding Improvements for Bath Volunteer Fire Department

Years 2 to 5 Plan (Through 2027)

Capital Improvement Fund Planning | Debt Servicing/Reduction | Reserve Funding | Maintaining Financial Relevancy | Parks & Recreation Re-development Opportunities | Public Works Investments – Road Improvements/Traffic Signalization Upgrades/Traffic Pattern Alternatives | Monitoring Policing Efforts

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Current Community Projects

1. Council set to adopt the 2022 Nazareth Area Council of Governments Comprehensive Plan (public hearing scheduled for June 6, 2022 beginning at 6:00 PM.
2. Road base and surface repairs: Double Bituminous Seal Coating Project across the borough.
3. Major Playground Improvement Project near Paw Park.
4. Creation of Official Borough Map
5. Bath Traffic Signal Optimization Upgrades (PennDOT sponsored and funded).
6. State Route 248 Realignment Project (PennDOT sponsored and funded).
7. Street Lighting LED Conversion Upgrades
8. Completion of Borough’s NPDES Permit
9. Zoning Amendments