Best Practices in Planning 

By Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner 

A Pennsylvania non-profit, PennFuture, recently developed guidance for communities for siting warehouses called Putting Warehouse Development in its Place: A Community Toolkit. The toolkit is intended to be used by jurisdictions as a complement to the organization’s report and model ordinance, Living with Logistics: A Model Logistics Use Zoning Ordinance for Pennsylvania Municipalities.

The purpose of Living with Logistics is “to help municipalities encourage sustainable development practices and mitigate the environmental impacts of the logistics industry [warehouses primarily related to the rise in e-commerce], before the industry comes to town.” 

The Community Toolkit, provides:  

• An overview of the model ordinance; 
• Information on the basic components of the municipal ordinance amendment process; and  
• Tips for encouraging municipal leaders to pass the model ordinance. 

PennFuture created the guidance and model ordinance to address a problem it perceived with the growth of warehouse distribution centers, which may have a million or more square feet and operate 24/7 with hundreds if not thousands of truck trips in and out of their sites each day. As a result of this constant moving of goods, the concern is that they “can also bring increased air, water, noise, and light pollution and other impacts that can threaten the health of [the] environment and communities.” 

Further, the concern is that some municipalities, which may not have updated their zoning ordinances in years or even decades, are being caught unprepared for the 21st-century logistics industry. The manual and sample ordinance are intended to help jurisdictions catch up and be prepared should a company or companies seek to build such a fulfillment center(s) in their community.  

The Community Toolkit breaks down how zoning ordinances work, the importance of having an ordinance that addresses these types of facilities, and the process by which an ordinance and accompanying zoning maps get developed and/or updated including educating and advocating local municipal governments, engaging local communities and other stakeholders.  

Many of the principles and practices discussed are relevant regardless of region or state and may be applicable to Maryland jurisdictions interested in developing their own ordinances and guidance. 

Are you aware of any similar ordinances in Maryland or is there another best practice for which you have resources or that you would like to see discussed in Planning Practice Monthly? Please send comments and ideas to Kristen Humphrey, Local Assistance and Training planner at .