In-depth look at Route 30 corridor key to Hempfield comprehensive plan

Hempfield leaders are taking a closer look at the Route 30 corridor running through the center of the township as they move forward with updating a comprehensive plan.

Supervisors this week approved creation of the Central Westmoreland Economic District Corridor Committee, or the HT30 Committee. The group will create a report looking at various factors throughout the corridor, stretching from the intersection with Georges Station Road near Unity and ending at the North Huntingdon line.

“There’s a need to do a bit more of an in-depth look at this corridor and present information that will be useful for the comprehensive plan and for this board, as well,” Supervisor Doug Weimer said during a board workshop last week.

The idea for the group stemmed from a steering committee meeting where members were tasked with marking a township map with stickers, which identified areas of need in terms of traffic issues, a need for housing or different retail entities and more, said Patrick Karnash, director of planning and zoning.

“A lot of different things came out of this map, but the one that came out that was the most prevalent was the need to look at the Route 30 corridor as it exists from east to west and what we’re doing with it currently and what that corridor should look like in the future,” Karnash said. “There’s going to be some pretty in-depth conversations about that.”

According to Weimer, the group will look into the evolution of retail and how it is changing as well as any issues related to transportation.

The corridor has been home to many changes as the landscape for retail business continues to shift.

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Westmoreland Mall has undergone transformations after Sears and Bon-Ton announced their closures before the covid-19 pandemic. Live! Casino Pittsburgh opened in the former Bon-Ton space in 2020, but the Sears storefront remains empty.

The Ramada by Wyndham Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center across from the mall was torn down to make way for a proposed Menards home improvement store.

The committee will be made up of a small business owner; a developer or commercial land owner; a member of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce; a representative from Go Laurel Highlands; officials from CBL Properties, which owns the mall, or Live! Casino Pittsburgh; a large employer and an elected official.

The final report will be presented with the comprehensive plan, but will also be able to stand on its own.

Hempfield supervisors started talking about updating the comprehensive plan last July. At the time, it had not been updated in 14 years.

In February, they hired Cranberry-based Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. to guide the township over the next year and a half while they looked at community development, revitalization of the commercial districts, parks and recreation, infrastructure and emergency services.

Officials are now gearing up to collect public comment.

The first public input event will take place during Saturday’s summer concert at Hempfield Park, 220 Forbes Trail Road. The concert, featuring the bands Pendulum and Gashouse Annie, begins at 6 p.m. Members of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic will there, as well as staff from the township planning commission and steering committee to collect data and input from the community.

“We’re trying to get as much information as possible to make plans for the future,” Weimer said. “The township’s in a good position to do that and we really need to make sure we have taken into account what everyone’s thoughts are so please engage in that.”