Royersford Borough Council voted Tuesday to begin updating the borough's comprehensive plan, a long-range planning document last revised in 2017.
Council President Anil Dham said he brought the matter to Borough Manager Donna Ziegler’s attention because comprehensive plans are generally recommended for review about every 10 years. Dham, who has served on borough council since 2014, noted that the group's current members either participated in developing the 2017 plan or joined council around the time it took effect.
“That is, I think, probably the most consequential thing that we've done since I've been at this table for the better part of the last 14 years,” Councilor Matt Stehman said of the 2017 comprehensive plan.
Governed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, a comprehensive plan is not itself a regulatory document. Instead, it provides a long-term policy framework for zoning, land use, and infrastructure decisions. It can help guide where different types of development are encouraged, how land is planned for residential or commercial uses, and which public improvements are prioritized, while zoning ordinances ultimately determine what is permitted.
What Happens Next
Dham described a two-step process. First, the borough will advertise for a professional planner to lead the comprehensive planning process. He said council would not be required to accept the lowest bid and could instead select the applicant it considers the best fit.
The borough would then form a committee of residents, business representatives, and others in the community to participate in the planning effort.
Dham acknowledged that Montgomery County would likely have its own ideas for the plan but said he would prefer to keep the process focused on the borough's priorities.
“I don't really care what the county says,” Dham said. “This should be what us in Royersford Borough want and not what the county wants.”
Council approved a motion to advertise for a planner to help develop the next comprehensive plan. Dham said two council members would join him in interviewing applicants, while up to three council members could serve on the comprehensive planning committee next year. He invited interested council members to contact him.
Dham said the update would also provide an opportunity to identify more people who can help guide Royersford over the next 10 to 15 years.
“We can start thinking about the future,” he said.
The process is expected to move forward once proposals from planners are received.
Across the Schuylkill River, Spring City Borough is also expected to begin updating its comprehensive plan in 2027. While Royersford last updated its plan in 2017, Spring City has not completed an update since 1992.
