May 9, 2025
What is your vision for Upper Allen?
During their tenure as Commissioners; Eric and Phil have been on the look out for “model communities” in Pennsylvania to consider when making future policy decisions. Judy Bailey and Marjorie Taylor have helped in this effort as well as we all want to live in a well managed, forward thinking, community.
Here are some communities we have identified so far and some reasons why. These are living, breathing communities that we can visit and learn from.
Tax and financial data for these communities can easily be retrieved using this DCED file link:
Silver Spring Township
About the Township | Silver Spring Township, PA – Official Website
Best nearby suburban township for low taxes, financial strength and balancing development vs. preservation. Their motto is “Suburban Serenity, Urban Proximity”.
Silver Spring has been more vigorous in updating it’s Comprehensive Plan and provides a great example of factors to consider when updating the Upper Allen Comprehensive Plan:
Silver Spring is also a leader in land preservation and is on track to preserve 1,500+ acres. Silver Spring has lower taxes, lower debt, and lower population density than Upper Allen:
Land Preservation Review Board | Silver Spring Township, PA – Official Website
Silver Spring’s success has not been without opposition from the pro-development forces. This is similar to what Eric and Phil have experienced and it appears equally unethical. These folks don’t want land preservation and they aren’t going away until they are voted out.
Here is info. on Laura Brown who is running for re-election in Silver Spring. We support Laura and Mark Potteiger (both Republicans) who share similar values and message to Save Upper Allen:
https://www.markpotteiger.com/home
Monaghan Township
Best nearby rural township for low taxes, small government, financial strength (no debt!), and maintaining its rural character. Monaghan recently updated its Comprehensive Plan and they did it all in house. Monaghan is what Upper Allen used to be.
VISION STATEMENT: THE NEXT 10 YEARS
“Monaghan Township is a unique community that has proactively maintained its rural character, despite its location near regional recreational attractions and access to a busy roadway system that connects the larger urban areas of Harrisburg, York and Carlisle. The Township supports a landscape of scenic orchards, woods and streams, country roads and low-density housing that reinforces the local identity and heritage of its residents.
The people of Monaghan value their natural resources such as the Yellow Breeches Creek and take pride in their rural setting and historical agricultural economy. Importantly, Monaghan Township has worked to balance growth while providing facilities and services to meet the needs of Township residents.
Residents are proud of strong intergovernmental relationships with surrounding municipalities but acknowledge that dramatic growth in neighboring municipalities will continue to put pressure on Monaghan’s resources, especially its network of roads and ability to protect green space and preserve its pastoral quality of life.”
Carlisle Borough
Best larger boro for innovation, financial management, sustainability, attractiveness and historic preservation. Carlisle has received numerous awards. If one meets and interacts with their key staff, it is easy to understand why. They are easy to deal with vs. being bureaucratic. Their guide for historic homeowners is one of the best we have seen. A good guide should lessen the number of issues that need to go before the Historic Architecture Review Board.
Mechanicsburg Borough
Eric and Phil’s interaction with boro council members and Manager have been positive. They have energy and are fun to work with. UAT has a joint agreement with the boro for Koser Park. The boro has limited financial resources due to aging infrastructure but its finances remain solid. They have an attractive, user freindly website:
Borough of Mechanicsburg – A Good Place to Live
.
Manheim Township, Lancaster County
About Manheim Township | Manheim Township, PA – Official Website
Large suburban township (44,000 population) adjacent to The City of Lancaster.
Notable for its attractive “as built” environment, open space and historic/cultural resources such as Landis Valley Museum. The township has exceptional financial strength and well written ordinances that are easy to understand. Manheim bears watching as it seeks wide engagement in updating its Comprehensive Plan.
Getting to a Complete Community | Manheim Township, PA – Official Website
Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County
A national leader in land preservation that has now preserved nearly 40% of it’s acreage. Amazingly; despite repeated borrowings for land preservation (voted for by referendum), Upper Makefield now has no debt and 33% lower real estate taxes than it did 20 years ago. (2005 millage @ 9.41 mills; 2025 millage @ 6.45 mills).
Home Page Upper Makefield Township Bucks County PA
Open Space Plan and Land Preservation in Upper Makefield Township
If you have suggestions for other model communities to study; please let us know.
Save Upper Allen 