4 Pa. Code § 7.771 – Commonwealth land use policies.

(a) Soundly planned growth is in the best long-term interest of the Commonwealth and should be encouraged at all levels of government.
(b) Farmland and open space are valued Commonwealth natural resources and reasonable measures for their preservation should be promoted.
(c) Development should be encouraged and supported in areas that have been previously developed or in locally designated growth areas.
(d) Because land use decisions made at the local level have an impact that expands beyond municipal boundaries, regional cooperation among local governments should be encouraged.
(e) The constitutional private property rights of Pennsylvanians must be preserved and respected.
(f) The Commonwealth will work to improve the understanding of the impact of land use decisions on the environmental, economic and social health of communities.
(g) Sustaining the economic and social vitality of Pennsylvania’s communities must be a priority of State government.
(h) Infrastructure maintenance and improvement plans should be consistent with sound land use practices.