Tourism plan to ensure county maintains efforts

Lancaster County already is well known for its tourism development and historic preservation efforts. But these efforts will stagnate if the county doesn't take steps to revive and improve them, a county official said.

"It's about how we keep the success going," said Scott W. Standish, director

The planning commission is leading an effort to develop two strategic plans designed to ensure that tourism and historic preservation continue to contribute to the county's economy. The county is spending a combined $237,000 on the plans.

The tourism plan will help the county's tourism industry develop goals and objectives for the future, Standish said.

The plan also will analyze how the city can attract more tourists and prepare for the proposed downtown convention center.

Standish said the county recently hired New York City-based Parter International Inc. as a consultant on the plan, which is expected to be complete in late 2004.

The county is paying the entire

$175,000 price tag for the plan, Standish said.

Lancaster County's tourism industry is facing increasing challenges from large operations, such as Walt Disney World, that can attract audiences from throughout the country, said Jim Smucker, president of Bird-in-Hand Corp., which runs several restaurant and lodging operations in eastern Lancaster County Smucker is a member of an oversight committee that "is working with the consultant.

The tourism plan likely will suggest infrastructure and other improvements that can be made to make sure that the county can continue to compete, Smucker said.

"As a destination, we've matured," Smucker said.

The historic preservation plan will examine how county organizations can improve their efforts to save historic resources.

For example, the plan will look at whether preservation efforts are coordinated and how county and municipal governments can get more involved in saving resources, Standish said.

"We need to find a system to tell the story of the rich history of the city and county," he said.

Timothy Smedick of the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County estimated that only six out of Lancaster Courtrys 60 municipalities have historic preservation codes requiring such things as municipal reviews of plans to demolish historic properties.

The county's historic preservation plan will provide municipalities with guidelines they can use to create such codes, said Smedick, the trust's executive director.

"Its a toolbox to be provided to municipalities," he said.

Standish said the cost for the historic preservation plan is expected to be about $97,000. A Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant is covering $35,000 and the county is picking up the rest, he said.

The county has hired Kise Straw & Kolodner, a Philadelphia firm, to act as the consultant for the plan.

The plan is expected to be complete late next year.

Once completed, the tourism development and historic preservation- plans will be adopted as part of the county's comprehensive plan, Standish said.

County commissioners did not return calls for comment.