Richmond Township Is Last to Vote on 3-Town Growth Plan

Richmond Township's supervisors will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, on adopting the 2026 Fleetwood-Maidencreek-Richmond Joint Comprehensive Plan, then vote on it at the regular meeting that follows, according to a notice on the township's website and the meeting agenda. Richmond is the last of the three governments to take up the plan. Maidencreek Township scheduled its hearing for Sept. 10 and Fleetwood Borough scheduled one for Sept. 14. The same Richmond agenda has the supervisors reviewing a draft data center ordinance.

A comprehensive plan is a municipality's written policy for where homes, businesses, farms and roads should go over the coming years. The Berks County Planning Commission describes the current three-town plan as "the official policies for conservation, development and future public improvements" for the area; it guides zoning and land-use decisions rather than changing zoning itself.

What is being adopted

The Richmond notice says the board "will consider the adoption of the Fleetwood-Maidencreek-Richmond Joint Comprehensive Plan" and that a full copy is available to read free, or to copy at cost, at the township building at 11 Kehl Drive during office hours. Richmond has not posted the plan online. Maidencreek's legal notice for its own hearing describes the 2026 plan's contents: an introduction and sections on historic resources, housing and economic development, natural features, community facilities and energy conservation, a transportation plan, a land use plan, an action plan, definitions and acknowledgements.

The plan it would replace was adopted by all three municipalities in September 2011, according to its acknowledgement page, and its introduction says it was written to guide the three municipalities "over the next ten years." The county's planning commission page still posts that plan and its maps. Richmond's vote Monday is on Resolution 2026-18.

The other two votes

Maidencreek posted its notice Aug. 19 for a hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the township building, 1 Quarry Road, Blandon, where the supervisors were to "conduct a public hearing and will consider a Resolution to adopt the 2026 Fleetwood Maidencreek Richmond Joint Comprehensive Plan," the notice says. Fleetwood's Sept. 14 council agenda set a public hearing at 6:15 p.m. on the plan's adoption and listed "Adopt joint comprehensive plan" under its legal items. Whether either body adopted it is not in any posted record: Maidencreek's newest posted minutes are from Aug. 13 and Fleetwood's from July 6.

Data center rules move to the board

Under the solicitor's report, the agenda lists "Review Data Center Ordinance Draft." No draft is posted on the township's ordinances page, and the agenda lists no vote. Richmond would join more than a dozen Berks municipalities writing data center rules, tracked in our Berks County data center tracker. Neighboring Maidencreek's Oct. 8 agenda asked its supervisors to advertise a Nov. 12 hearing on its own data center zoning amendment, and Perry Township adopted its ordinance in September.

Also on the agenda

• A motion to extend the temporary certificate of occupancy for a solar farm until April 13, 2027.
• Appointing Ross Wolford as a sewage enforcement officer, and a payment plan for one delinquent sewer account.
• A sketch plan for 13994 Kutztown Road and a sewage planning module for a minor subdivision at 15 Gift Road.
• A discussion of a public sewer inquiry for 4 Lincoln Road, and a 2026 roadwork update from the engineer.
• Scheduling the 2027 budget meeting and filling an opening on the Planning Commission.

How to weigh in

The meeting is at the Richmond Township Municipal Building, 11 Kehl Drive. Public comment is limited to five minutes per person per session, and the township records its meetings for viewing on YouTube afterward. Richmond's regular meetings are the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. Our guide explains how to find any Berks municipality's meeting schedule.

Questions or corrections: corrections@berksbeat.com.