Planning

USPS Growth Management ProgramPDF of the United States Postal Services National Delivery Planning Standards - A Guide for Builders and Developers.

The United States Postal Service is proud to continue its vital role in today’s changing mail environment. That role includes responsibility for establishing the method or mode of delivery, the type of mailbox, and location of the mailbox for each street delivery address. Centralized delivery, through the use of Cluster Box Units (CBUs), is our preferred delivery method and box type. These CBU boxes have the advantage of being ”package friendly,” in that they are designed to accommodate the majority of packages delivered through the U.S. mail.

Online ordering of merchandise has dramatically increased package volume. Many residential delivery mailboxes in use today are designed on the basis of specifications implemented nearly a century ago and are too small to accommodate contemporary parcel volume. As a result, packages delivered by our carriers often cannot fit into residential mail receptacles and must be redelivered, retrieved at a post office, or left on adjacent doorsteps. This latter option leaves the packages insecure and susceptible to weather damage. Centralized delivery minimizes these risks.  Centralized delivery provides security for the customer with a locked mail receptacle that minimizes the opportunity of identity theft.  Centralized mail delivery also offers a secure outgoing mail collection compartment.  Additionally, a benefit to rural communities would be eliminating mail boxes along roads that can be obstacles when plowing during a snowstorm.

The Postal Service is directed by statute to provide reliable and efficient service. Centralized Delivery fulfills our responsibility to safe, efficient delivery for both the customer and the Postal Service as we move into the 21st Century. Postal Operations Manual (POM) section 631.2 reflects the guidelines used by local postal managers in determining the mode through which such delivery is to be provided, including type of equipment and location of boxes.

The attachment is a great resource for builders and developers applying for building permits.  It is important to plan for mail delivery like other utilities when planning for new growth.  To find out more information or if you have any questions, contact the local growth program coordinator by email at brian.m.hess@usps.gov.


Comprehensive Planning

PDF of Manheim Central Region Comprehensive Plan.The Manheim Central Region Comprehensive Plan was adopted by Penn Township in September 2010 to guide land use, economic development, and other aspects for the foreseeable future.

Comprehensive planning considers a number of factors like history, demographic trends, housing needs, public utilities feasibility, and resource conservation to make decisions on how and where growth should be accommodated.

View the Pennsylvania Informational Series: The Comprehensive Plan


Official Map

Penn Township Official Map Signed 2011

In 2011, Penn Township adopted an Official Map as part of the Comprehensive Plan implementation efforts. The Official Map plots existing public lands and facilities, as well as those proposed by municipal planning documents to inform affected property owners and the community as a whole. On our map, we have highlighted the following features:

  • Doe Run Road / Penryn Road and Lancaster Road Pedestrian Corridor Improvements
  • Existing Parks
  • Municipal and School District Properties
  • State Game Lands
  • Proposed Roads and Roadway Connections
  • Proposed Trails

Strategic Planning

Penryn Community Action Plan

The Community Action Plan for Penryn, Pennsylvania was adopted by the township in April 2013 after a yearlong planning process that looked at the village and surrounding areas. A strategic vision for this culturally-significant area hinges on three themes:

  • Keep Penryn’s History Alive
  • Build Upon the Community’s Sense of Place
  • Enhance Infrastructure and Utilities

Transportation Capital Improvement Plan

Currently, in production, the Penn Township Transportation Capital Improvement Plan (TCIP) will establish a five-year program for system maintenance, safety enhancement, and capacity building projects involving the local transportation network. Stay up-to-date on the plan’s progress through the Project Page.