Over the past 45 years, zoning has been a controversial issue in many Pennsylvania municipalities.

Some people don't like to be told how they can use their land, but many people in communities that have steered clear of zoning have come to recognize some of zoning's advantages, particularly when land next to theirs became the site of something that brought down their property value.

Thirty or 40 years ago, when many zoning plans were in the process of being drawn up, zoning opponents were asked the question, "Do you want to leave open the possibility that a slaughterhouse could move onto the property next to yours?"

The opponents also were told, "A zoning ordinance would prevent that from happening."

With zoning ordinances now in place in many communities, the passage of time has revealed advantages to having uniform zoning rules in adjoining municipalities. That's what those working with the Butler Area Multi Municipal Plan planning group currently are weighing.

But from the start it must be pointed out — and no doubt the planners understand — that their vision will possiblty take a few years to accomplish, if they're able to accomplish it at all.

An article in Monday's Butler Eagle told why.

Beyond the scrutiny and possibly the public opposition to bringing some of BAMM's zoning ideas into play in all five of the participating municipalities — the city of Butler, East Butler Borough and Butler, Penn and Summit townships — there would be an extensive review and approval process to bring uniformity to zoning.

Even if planners from the five municipalities were able to agree on a multi-municipal zoning proposal, the plan would require approval by local planning commissions, local zoning boards as well as units of government — Butler City Council, East Butler Borough Council and the three townships' governing boards.

Presumably, since whatever plan was devised might impact the county's comprehensive planning efforts, the zoning proposal also would require concurrence by the county planning commission.

Accomplishing all of the necessary approvals could be accomplished expeditiously, over a protracted period of time, or possibly never.

Unfortunately, the odds favor one of the latter two outcomes.

For now, the five municipalities will have the task of coordination and information-sharing to help determine the best areas for industrial, commercial, residential and recreational use. How long that will take is an unknown.

The only real "known" is that it's not going to be an easy task, considering the diversity and land characteristics of the five municipalities. In addition to the diversity is the fact that zoning in Butler, East Butler and Summit Township goes back to the 1960s; bringing them up to the needs and realities of 2010 and years beyond could be a formidable task, although the city has been trying to update its ordinance over the years.

Nevertheless, the challenges and difficulties inherent in what the BAMM planners are trying to do should not discourage them. What the planners are trying to accomplish has the potential to be good for the participating municipalities in the long run.

But those who are not committed to sticking with the hard work that lies ahead would do well to bow out now in favor of someone with the needed persistence and foresight.

Everyone involved would do well first to look back on zoning's history in this state to help them anticipate the questions, issues and public perceptions with which they undoubtedly will be dealing as they engage in their formidable task.