Gilpin, Leechburg, Parks Township and Bethel Township are one step closer to completing a South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan.
A little over a year ago, a pre-planning committee was formed that includes Charles Stull, a Gilpin supervisor; Chuck Pascal, a Leechburg councilman; Mary Beth Girardi, of the Leechburg Planning Commission; Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal; Bethel Township Supervisors Dave Smail and Steve Dixon; and Mary Ralston, Brian Szitas and Jay Start, of the Parks Township board of supervisors and planning commission.
In the coming months, the committee will be looking for a consultant to guide the comprehensive plan’s creation.
“Initially, we were going to sit down and look at it together to see is it was something we could all do on our own,” Stull said. “As we dug deeper and saw how dated the plan was, it was ultimately determined by the committee that we approach this as a full overhaul of the plan.”
According to Stull, the existing regional comprehensive plan was completed in 2003 but not fully adopted by the communities until 2008.
He said the plan’s data and analysis reflect conditions that existed prior to 2003.
A comprehensive plan is a long-term plan for a community’s future. It guides growth and development by setting goals for land use, infrastructure, housing, economy and environment.
Shortly after its establishment, members of the committee began reaching out to state and local lawmakers, municipal engineers and local project leaders for guidance. They recommended hiring a consultant to help guide the process.
While not much changes for the residents of the communities, Stull said, as the plan progresses, residents will be asked to participate in its creation.
“Within the next year, we would be looking for public input,” Stull said. “Once this process is underway, one of the big things we’re going to be doing is public meetings, public hearings, different ways to gather public input of what they want to see for the future of our region.”
The comprehensive plan update is expected to cost between $75,000 and $100,000, based on initial estimates for professional planning services, public engagement and preparation of a final, implementable document, Stull said.
He said the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Municipal Assistance Program on Nov. 25 award $50,000 for the comprehensive plan. An additional $50,000 was awarded through the Local Share Account program on Dec. 18.
Stull said Gilpin’s representatives led the grant application process with assistance from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub.
Of the $100,000, $75,000 will be able to be used in the planning phase. The other $25,000 will be used to begin implementing the plan.