Hazleton

This Citizens' Guide describes the Hazleton City Government Study Commission, established by voter referendum in May 2025, which will conduct a nine-month study of the city's current Optional Plan B government structure. The Commission will review Hazleton's form of government, compare it to eight comparable Home Rule municipalities (Altoona, Carlisle, Easton, Lancaster, Nanticoke, New Castle, Pittston, and Wilkes-Barre), and interview Hazleton's Mayor, Council President, Council Members, and Department Heads to assess structural strengths and weaknesses. Meeting twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday, the Commission will then vote on whether to draft a home rule charter; if approved, it will have an additional nine months to draft the charter before it goes to voter referendum. The guide emphasizes that Home Rule authority allows cities to take any action not prohibited by law, whereas without Home Rule municipalities can only do what state law permits.

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The "Thrive 2035" comprehensive plan is a multi-municipal planning document for the Greater Hazleton area, developed collaboratively by the City of Hazleton, Borough of West Hazleton, and Hazle Township. The plan establishes a shared vision and overarching goals while addressing five priority areas: Housing, Economic Vitality, Youth, Services and Amenities, and Resilient Systems. The document includes community outreach efforts, a catalyst project, and an implementation strategy to guide regional development through 2035.

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This document presents a community profile and statistical overview of Greater Hazleton, Pennsylvania, including demographic and economic data. Key figures show Greater Hazleton has a population of 86,432 within Luzerne County's 317,343 residents, with a 20-mile commute radius encompassing 343,000 workers and 693,450 people. The profile highlights the region's accessibility to major markets, employment trends showing growth in management and service sectors while production jobs declined from 28.0% to 17.7% between 2010-2017, and details on four business and industrial parks totaling significant acreage for commercial development.

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Hazle Township's 2003 Zoning Ordinance, as amended through October 2016, establishes comprehensive land use regulations for the township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The ordinance defines nine zoning districts (R-1 and R-2 residential, B-1 and B-2 commercial, I-1 and I-2 industrial, M-1 mining, C-1 conservation, and BP business park), along with a healthcare overlay district, and includes regulations for accessory structures, setbacks, special exceptions, and planned residential developments. The document serves as the primary tool for managing growth and development while addressing community development objectives through dimensional requirements, use restrictions, and procedural standards for development applications.

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