Planning Commission

The Planning Commission consists of six residents who serve as volunteers and serve a four year term. They, as well as their Solicitor, are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Commission works toward coordinated development within the Township, and functions in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors. Their responsibilities include review of subdivision and land development plans after which they forward their recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for action to approve or disapprove. They use guidelines from the Township's Comprehensive Plan, Zoning, and Subdivision/Land Development Ordinances, as well as information from the Cumberland County Planning Commission, Cumberland County Soil Conservation District and the Letort Regional Authority. Planning Commission meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Township building. If needed, a workshop meeting will also be held Tuesday at 6:00 pm prior to the regular meeting.

The Commission consists of a 6 member board, operating with a chairman, vice chairman and 4 members.

Troy Truax, Chairman for 2006, is a native of Fulton County, Pennsylvania, was first introduced to Cumberland County during his undergraduate and graduate studies at Shippensburg University in the early 1990s. Troy has been a resident of Cumberland County since 1998 and a resident of South Middleton Township since 2001. Employed as a Senior Associate with Delta Development Group, Inc., in Mechanicsburg, Troy is a community and economic development practitioner, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association. In addition to serving on the planning commission, Troy is also a member of South Middleton Township’s Emergency Services Committee and TV Cable Agreement Committee. He is also a member of the Shippensburg University Center for Land Use Advisory Board. His professional interest and experience in rural and urban planning is conveyed to his interest in serving the residents of South Middleton Township. As such, Troy is pleased to lend his expertise towards the many community planning opportunities and challenges that face the community of South Middleton. His term expires 12/31/07.

Tony Gonzalez was born in Philadelphia, and moved with his family to the Central Pennsylvania area in 1983. His interest in preserving South Middleton Township's rural and small town character led him to the Planning Commission in 1989. He was appointed to fill an un-expired vacancy on the Board of Supervisors from 1994 through 1995, then returned to the Planning Commission in 1996. During the time Tony served as a Supervisor, he was instrumental in upgrading the Township's computer system and researching the Township's first wellhead protection ordinance. Tony is employed by the PA Bureau of Probation and Parole. He was a leader in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for ten years. Serving the Boy Scouts and the Township are ways Tony has chosen to give something back to the community in which he lives. His term expires 12/31/03.

Howard Rose His term expires 12/31/06.

Tom Houf was appointed to the Planning Commission in January 2006 to fill the unexpired term of Doug Wendt. Tom's professional background is in manufacturing management. He earned a BS in civil engineering from Ohio University and has studied business, management and economics through his working career. Tom and his wife Carol moved to South Middleton Township in 1998, when Tom became president of Pennex Aluminum Company. During his professional career Tom has managed a variety of different businesses and manufacturing enterprises and has spent a significant amount of his time in business planning and development. He retired from Pennex in late 2005 and looks forward to contributing at the Planning Commission where he expects his life experiences will be beneficial. His term expires 12/31/2006.