(a) To ensure that all program (see glossary, section 620.13 of this Part) development projects ultimately requiring an operating certificate from OPWDD are included in the plans (see glossary) of statewide, regional and county authorities.

(b) To affirm that planning is considered to be a long-term and continuous process.

(c) To affirm that plans are to be developed at the county level, integrated at regional levels (B/DDSO service areas and health system agency [see glossary, section 620.13 of this Part] regions), and coalesced in the statewide 5.07 plan and OPWDD operational planning documents (see glossary).

(d) To clearly establish that an application for certification of need is a controlling mechanism to ensure that a project, as proposed, conforms with the parameters as specified in the planning process.

(e) To clearly establish that, as a controlling mechanism, the requirement for the submission of an application for certification of need provides the commissioner with the opportunity to modify any parameters of the proposed program, including type, capacity, or even continued inclusion in the statewide plan (see glossary, section 620.13 of this Part).

(f) To expedite the review of projects that are in conformance with the statewide plan to allow for the development and operation of needed and appropriate programs without undue delay.