From the Borough of Hollidaysburg (PA) Comprehensive Plan 2035 draft, out now for 45-day public comment period:
EMBEDDED PLANNING
A common theme that emerged from extensive community dialogue was the public’s desire to be engaged, acknowledged, and involved in local matters. Residents expressed a need for Borough Staff to be more responsive to the diverse needs within the community. Considering this feedback, Borough Staff and Blair Planning recognized an opportunity to collaborate with Southern California-based consultant Jonathan Pacheco Bell, the urban planner and change-agent who created Embedded Planning Praxis. A new method and philosophy of practice, Embedded Planning is a praxis in which planning is done from within the community itself, not solely from an office, and planners work on- the-ground to understand people’s needs, build trust and authentic relationships, participate in daily community life, increase community participation through street-level engagement, and ultimately advance equity through targeted and locally responsive planning initiatives. This approach encourages Borough Staff to step out from behind their desks and connect directly with the community they serve.
Beginning in Early 2025, Jonathan consulted directly with Staff and the Steering Committee to provide guidance and ensure that the revision and implementation of this plan posits members of the community not just as participants, but as leaders who are continuing to spearhead the plan’s momentum. Embedded Planning serves as both an inspirational throughline and implementation goal for this comprehensive plan.
The Borough’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met virtually with Jonathan throughout the implementation planning process in order to ensure consistency with the praxis. The Steering Committee hosted various meetings and workshops in early 2025 to address revisions of the initial draft. Following these workshops, additional interviews were conducted with entities responsible for various aspects of implementation in this plan including the department of public works and emergency service departments.
Read the comprehensive plan October 2025 draft here: https://hb2035.my.canva.site/
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