North Huntingdon OKs comprehensive plan study

North Huntingdon residents can provide input on a blueprint for future development in township as a firm will begin to study the municipality and develop a comprehensive plan.

The township commissioners awarded Environmental Planning & Design of Pittsburgh a $59,710 contract to develop the plan, incorporating the changes that have occurred in demographics, land use, public safety, housing, economics and quality of life since the current plan was adopted in 2000.

The township planning department and commissioners will work in conjunction with the firm.

Commissioners also decided to create a comprehensive plan advisory committee and the township is accepting applications from residents who want to serve. The number of committee members has not yet been determined, said Harry Faulk, township manager.

The proposal calls for three neighborhood workshops, an open house and a public meeting.

While the township will apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Municipal Assistance Program for a grant to cover 50% of the cost of the plan, Commissioner Eric Gass said there are no guarantees the municipality would get the grant and he did not want North Huntingdon to pay the entire expense.

“I don’t think we need an outside agency to tell us what we need,” Gass said.

Faulk previously told commissioners the comprehensive plan is necessary for North Huntingdon to apply for certain type of grants in the future. The state would not provide any reimbursement for the comprehensive plan without the municipality having a firm do the work.

Commissioner Lyndsay Wengzryn questioned the cost of the study.

Only three firms submitted proposals, Faulk said. Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. of Cranberry submitted a bid of $73,600, and Dinocrates Group LLC of Rockville, Md., estimated a cost of $91,740.