Planning Commission

Mission

The Bucks County Planning Commission (BCPC) assists the County Commissioners and all 54 constituent municipalities with the introduction, establishment, and administration of sound land use practices and policies that serve to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all County residents, equally, without prejudice, and in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

History

In accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code (Act 247, as amended), the BCPC reviews plans for all subdivision, land development, and municipal proposals (e.g., ordinance amendments, comprehensive plan updates, school construction or sale, street vacation, or sewage facility plan updates) proposed in the County's 54 municipalities.

In 1961, Bucks County was the first county in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth to enact a comprehensive plan. In 1970, we completed our first inventory of Bucks County's Natural Resources using a main-frame computer. The Bucks County Comprehensive Plan was revised in 1977, 1993, and 2011. Over the years, the BCPC has developed innovative guidance documents and has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives such as:

  • 2018 to 2028 Bucks County Municipal Waste Management Plan (2018)
  • Agricultural Preservation
  • Bucks County Natural Resources Plan (1999)
  • Bucks County Open Space Preservation Program
  • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
  • Model Design Guidelines for Main Streets and Commercial Corridors
  • Municipal Economic Development Initiative
  • Performance Zoning (1973)
  • Stormwater Management Planning
  • Village Planning Handbook (1989)

Services

The BCPC and its staff offer a wide variety of services, information, and data to county and municipal officials, as well as county residents and businesses. Our team of professionals include specialists in planning, landscape architecture, graphic design, transportation and trails planning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Our staff has assisted many of the county’s 54 municipalities in preparing ordinances and planning documents, comprehensive plans, demographic analysis, economic analysis, farmland preservation, GIS services, grant preparation, municipal waste management, open space preservation, ordinance preparation, park master plans, parking studies, revitalization plans, trail master plans, and transportation planning.

BCPC Library

The BCPC’s resource library is maintained by the staff at our office in the Neshaminy Manor Center. The resource library is open to municipal officials, residents, and students for research on a wide variety of planning topics. A collection of current and archived comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision and land development ordinances are maintained by staff and available for in-office reference.