Plan for Washington Borough prepared with the planning board for the citizens of the Borough of Washington
Creators: name: No Name Supplied
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 1960

description: To a great extent Washington Borough is a self-contained community surrounded by a rural farming area. The process by which it became an urbanized center with a diversified economic base was completed decades ago. The Borough's population, development and the expansion rate of its facilities have followed a relatively even trend in the past 25 years. These facts are the main reason that Washington Borough has not been confronted with many of the serious problems many communities in the State have been faced with in the past decade as a result of sudden and unprecedented rates of growth. Washington's moderate rate of growth has undoubtedly contributed toward a tendency to defer action on the development of major community facilities. Old facilities have become obsolete while the development of new ones has not kept pace with increasing needs.In preparing this Master Plan, special emphasis has been given to the renovation and development of major community facilities such as parks, playgrounds, schools, library, community center and the street system. The plan recognizes the need for the municipality to catch up with growing demands and to provide adequate municipal services in the future. Special attention has also been given to the promotion of commercial and industrial development to broaden the tax base of the Borough.The Master Plan Report for Washington Borough is the result of many months of study by the Planning Board. After appropriate time for public hearings and discussions, this plan, along with any revision or amendments, should he adopted as the Master Plan for Washington Borough.The scope of the Master Plan Report embraces the following major elements:(1) An analysis of the history of the community as it reflects past and present development trends.(2) A study and analysis of all available information on existing conditions of development, physicalfeatures, highway and street patterns, population, housing, schools, parks and the economy of the area in order to form a basis for the proposals.(3) A reasonable estimate of future population based on past and expected conditions for the next 20to 30 year period. This most characteristic index of growth will become an important factor in determining and evaluating future municipal needs.(4) A Plan for municipal services and facilities such as schools, streets, parks, utilities, and fire and police protection.(5) A Plan for the most desirable and appropriate use of land throughout the entire Borough.(6) A program for capital improvements in relation to a stable tax charge to cover future needs.The Master Plan must be a comprehensive study taking all the factors pertinent to the development of the community into consideration. All the elements related to the community must be recognized, studied and planned together as related components of the entire plan of development.When adopted the Master Plan will provide Washington Borough with an effective guide for its future development. In itself, however, the Plan will work no magic. The practical value of any Master Plan depends on the degree to which it is used by the officials and citizens of the Borough. This means that the planning program of Washington Borough does not end, but begins with the adoption of the Master Plan. It is similar to a blueprint for building a new house. The blueprint in itself is of little value until it is used to construct the house. The Master Plan is of little value until it is used to develop and redevelop the community.