ALCS

Appalachian Land & Conservation Services Co., LLC

Where Conservation & the Marketplace Meet

ALCS President Elected Chairman of Dauphin County Planning Commission

January 7, 2026

On Monday, January 5th, 2026, ALCS president Josh First was elected chairman of the Dauphin County Planning Commission . The unanimous vote was cast by his fellow commission board members. First has served on the DCPC for many years, including several two-year terms as board secretary, and one year as Vice Chair.

“Public service is an honor, and I am proud to serve my fellow Dauphin County citizens in this volunteer role,” says First.

“Government’s sole purpose is to serve The People, and DCPC’s mission is to help our county grow and develop in an orderly way. DCPC has outstanding staffers, consummate professionals whom I have very much enjoyed working with, and who put in many, many long hours at public events and evening meetings in far distant corners of Dauphin County and the larger region, far from their own families, in service to our citizens,” says First.

First says that he is most proud of how DCPC successfully implemented the Water Resource Enhancement Program in Dauphin County.

“Long called the ‘Rain Tax’ by frustrated landowners and local government officials in Maryland and many southcentral Pennsylvania counties and municipalities, WREP stormwater management has been artfully and gently implemented by DCPC staff through the complete buy-in of local citizens, landowners, and decision makers. All carrots, no sticks, and lots of help from the PA Department of Environmental Protection, whose financial incentives take the bite out of what started as an unfunded federal mandate to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Our DCPC staff and our municipal partners continue to make a big difference in regional and Chesapeake Bay environmental quality through implementing cutting-edge stormwater management and best land use practices,” says First.

Finally, First thanked the Dauphin County commissioners for strongly supporting DCPC: “Land use is a tough subject everywhere, but our county commissioners don’t shrink from it, and by ensuring that we have the best possible professionals running DCPC, our citizens know that they are treated fairly and carefully.”

Dauphin County’s commissioners are George P. Hartwick III, Justin Douglas, and Mike Pries.

ALCS was founded in January 2004 to explore the nexus between for-profit land use and public benefit land use patterns.
This batch of black walnuts, apple cores, and Asian chestnut seeds were the last to be planted by ALCS in 2022. Anyone can do this, just collect apple cores and gather walnuts and chestnut burrs where you find them. Then pick an area that needs plant biodiversity and plant them individually.

This batch of black walnuts, apple cores, and Asian chestnut seeds were the last to be planted by ALCS in 2022. Anyone can do this, just collect apple cores and gather walnuts and chestnut burrs where you find them. Then pick an area that needs plant biodiversity and plant them individually.
A chestnut seedling grown from a chestnut seed, but constantly browsed by deer into a small shrub, instead of growing tall into a tree.

A chestnut seedling grown from a chestnut seed, but constantly browsed by deer into a small shrub, instead of growing tall into a tree.

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Appalachian is a small, nimble firm specializing in real estate projects that yield high returns in conservation value.  We are particular about the projects we work on, and are always open to new ideas.  Sometimes the most unlikely ideas work out the best!

 

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Appalachian Land & Conservation Services Co., LLC

P.O. Box 5128

Harrisburg, PA 17110

Phone: (717) 232-8335

E-mail: josh@appalachianland.us