Help support my planned community study legislation

Since I took office in 2005, I have been approached by constituents from private developments seeking financial help with water, sewer and other infrastructure projects. As I sought solutions to their problems -- problems such as aging dams that could fail and affect people inside and outside the development -- it has become apparent to me the General Assembly has little knowledge of issues facing these communities, their residents and their host municipalities. We as legislators have very little data to work with in assessing legislation or changes to funding programs that may benefit these communities. So I have introduced a resolution (H.R. 350) as a first step in learning more and possibly enabling those communities the opportunity to compete for funding in state programs. Residents of these communities support those programs with tax dollars but do not have access to them as the state has deemed these developments ineligible for many existing funding programs. My resolution would instruct the Joint State Government Commission to study the impact of private communities on local governments and the Commonwealth. It would examine challenges facing those communities as they seek to improve their infrastructure. It also would explore opportunities for the state to help both private developments and their host municipalities deliver adequate, affordable services to residents of the developments. It’s an issue that hits home. In my 189th Legislative District, there are at least 30 private communities containing approximately 16,000 homes. In some municipalities, the vast majority of residents live in those communities. But in my research and advocacy for these constituents, it has become clear that there are millions of Pennsylvanians living in common-interest communities such as condominiums or residential subdivisions, gated or otherwise. Infrastructure issues within these communities are on the rise as roads, bridges, dams, wells and wastewater systems not designed to be used by a large and growing number of full-time residents become obsolete and over burdened. Once we have the data from this first statewide study of private communities, I intend to use it to craft a series of legislative proposals to assist them and their host municipalities. I would encourage residents around the state to contact their state representative to show support for H.R. 350. Residents of the 189th District can write me at P.O. Box 1188, Marshalls Creek, PA 18335, or contact me through my Web site, www.pahouse.com/Siptroth. I intend to present your letters and comments to my colleagues as evidence of the need to approve this important resolution. John Siptroth, Representative 189th District, PA House