Staub, Feath Discuss Demographic Shifts and Impact on Local Government
Our assistant vice presidents Tim Staub and Jim Feath are both featured in the March 2019 issue of Pennsylvania Township News magazine cover story, offering some insight on how municipalities can adjust policy and prepare for the needs of an aging population.
According to the article, 235 township residents in Pennsylvania turn 65 every day, and older adults are projected to outnumber adults for the first time time in U.S. history by 2035.
“Just how well-positioned is your community to allow them to age in place?” Tim asks.
He offers a number of ideas for making sure your township can retain residents as they age:
- promoting walkability with sidewalks and connections between neighborhoods and amenities
- incorporating universal design elements into construction standards that help residents stay in their home
- permitting multi-generational living arrangements such as shared housing and accessory dwelling units
The key, he says, is to make your zoning and construction codes flexible enough to accommodate the changing needs of your community.
Jim Feath discusses how to provide recreational facilities that meet seniors’ needs, but he also recommends analyzing local population trends before making any significant changes. Some municipalities are seeing an influx of young families. Township officials will want to provide facilities that meet the need of their individual community, not just chase trends. (HRG can help and often provides this service as part of a larger comprehensive plan or comprehensive recreation plan. Two of our clients — Cranberry Township and Dover Township — are also featured in the article, sharing the ways they proactively plan for their communities’ evolving needs.)
