Hempfield supervisors choose company to help craft comprehensive plan update

Hempfield supervisors chose a Cranberry-based company to help them update their 15-year-old comprehensive plan.

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. was hired unanimously by supervisors last week.

Company consultants will be tasked with guiding the township over the next year and a half while they update their comprehensive plan.

The plan will include topics such as community development, revitalization of the commercial districts, parks and recreation, infrastructure and emergency services.

An estimated cost for the project is about $180,000.

“The comprehensive plan maps the future for the township for the next 20, 30 years,” board chairman George Reese said. “It’s very exciting. We won’t have a time like this again between what we’re going to be doing with our infrastructure, things we’re doing with the fire service, things we’re going to be doing for recreation. It doesn’t happen all the time.”

Supervisors in July first decided to update their comprehensive plan. By December, they heard presentations from three companies.

According to the presentation from Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, the first phase will focus on visioning, needs assessment and strategy development. Officials will review past plans as well as progress made since a multi-municipal plan was implemented in 2004.

Residents, business owners and other community members will have various opportunities to give input on the comprehensive plan during the first phase.

Specific plan elements, as well as an emergency services plan that focuses on the fire department, will be laid out during the second phase. This phase also will prioritize future projects based on various factors including cost, complexity, impact and urgency.

“HRG has a strong and varied history, and the township felt they were the best fit to assist Hempfield in this important task,” said Patrick Karnash, the township’s director of planning and zoning. “HRG will look closely at all aspects of the township and create a plan for a responsible and sustainable future.”

The company suggested the final project could be presented to supervisors in May 2023 for passage the following month.

“This is a unique period in time to do some great things for the people of Hempfield,” Reese said.

Other projects underway

In addition to moving forward with the comprehensive plan, several township projects are underway.

Supervisors in December approved up to $33 million in bonds to complete capital projects this year such as repairing bridges, dealing with stormwater runoff, paving and more.

Money also could be spent to upgrade recreation and fire facilities and to fund projects on 43 acres the township bought last year from Excela Health.

“With this bond issue and this (American Rescue Plan) money … we’ve got a lot of big things going on right now,” Reese said.