DCED officials visit Waynesburg to announce comprehensive plan
WAYNESBURG — Members of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development joined local government leaders and the president of Waynesburg University earlier this week to publicly announce a comprehensive plan for Waynesburg Borough, the product of an ongoing partnership between the borough, county and university.
The announcement was made Tuesday during a conference at the university’s Stover Center. University President Douglas G. Lee welcomed those in attendance and spoke about the comprehensive plan – which considers issues such as zoning, transportation, parking and the economic growth and stability of the borough, among other things – and said the announcement is a sign of the interdependence between the university and outlaying community.
“This plan is the recognition of the longstanding relationship between the borough, county and university and how interrelated their success is with ours,” Lee said.
Michael Cortez, DCED’s acting deputy secretary for Community Development, noted that partnerships like this aren’t easy to accomplish because of divergent views on issues; but said he hopes to see more communities and colleges working together throughout the commonwealth in the future.
“The idea that you all have been able to sit there and reach a consensus on what you should be doing, how you should do it and consolidate your resources is, in my mind, an example to what every community in this commonwealth should be applying,” Cortez said. “If every community, university, county and borough was like what you have here, I think we’d have much better success in the commonwealth in getting things accomplished.”
According to a press release issued Tuesday by the borough, initial funding for this comprehensive plan includes a $45,000 grant from the DCED’s Municipal Assistance Program, $30,000 from Waynesburg Borough Council and $20,000 from Waynesburg University. Additionally, the county will provide staff resources as needed for the project.
A “robust” public involvement process will also include many stakeholders and community leaders, the release states.
The project “will soon be underway as representatives from Waynesburg Borough Council, County of Greene and Waynesburg University lead an effort to identify the most critical challenges facing the County seat, and ultimately identify the vision for the future, ” the release states. “These three parties often work together on projects and again are contributing funds and man-hours in an effort to demonstrate the importance of regional cooperation for the advancement of community and economic development.”
The release adds that “as part of the planning process, Waynesburg Borough Council will evaluate and seek better zoning options in order to develop a more attractive downtown and a more livable community.”
During the conference, Waynesburg Borough councilman Mark Fischer outlined the various issues the comprehensive plan will seek to change and how Waynesburg’s historic tie to the energy industry and 60-year decline in population have impacted the borough’s current status. According to Fischer, the borough has identified zoning, transportation, parking, economic opportunity, the revitalization of downtown and housing as priorities.
Fischer expressed that this comprehensive plan is in its beginning stages and more funding is needed to move forward and execute specific action.
“There’s not enough money here to completely solve all of this,” said Fischer, adding that much of the initial funding provided will fund consultants who will research and compile data on the borough, something typical of municipalities trying to execute a strategic plan.
Beyond that, the next step is for the borough council to draft a contract for this comprehensive plan during the winter, according to Fischer.
Fischer said the first issue to be solved is likely the borough’s zoning options in an attempt to revitalize some of the empty buildings and unused spaces in downtown Waynesburg.
“We want to see downtown utilized in a positive way. We don’t like seeing empty spaces,” said Fischer, adding that a more attractive, lively downtown could impact the university community as well.
Fischer noted zoning concerns in the council have stemmed from a recent request to build a storage shed for a lawnmower that required one resident to complete more than 80 pages of paperwork.
“If we get zoning to a point where folks understand the process, we can get more things done,” Fischer said.
In the release, Fischer also stated that “we have seen many recent wins in the Waynesburg area – more business activity, the streetscape, Safe Routes to Schools, transportation improvements, huge investment on the Waynesburg University campus, etc. – but we are still constrained by parking, infrastructure and the need for amenities. As the energy industry surges forward, so shall the county seat. We are engaging to assure that happens.”
Chuck Morris, chairman of the Greene County Board of Commissioners, said he is excited about the possible changes this plan could bring to the county, but said it requires an equal, positive effort from all parties involved.
“The leadership and contribution of ideas for strategic planning doesn’t stop with these three organizations,” Morris said. “This strategic planning effort is about engaging many leaders in our community, actively participating, contributing many ideas and resources and investing our best efforts to revitalize the County’s seat, at this critical time in our history.
“If we have the input of everyone, I think in years from now we’ll be able to look back and say this was a really big day in the history of Waynesburg and Greene County,” he added.
The conference was one of the first stops on Gov. Tom Corbett’s and DCED’s “Jobs1st On The Road Tour.”
During their tour of Waynesburg, officials also visited Community Action Southwest (CAS) during their stop in Greene County, where CAS representatives shared the agency’s accomplishments and were given the opportunity to illustrate the use of DCED’s grant funding.
During the visit to the organization’s Waynesburg headquarters, CAS highlighted services, community partners and program participants who have succeeded in reaching economic self-sufficiency, as well as mark the agency’s upcoming 50th anniversary.
DCED administers the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which are federal funds designated for community action agencies to address local community needs. CAS utilizes the grant locally to leverage other federal, state and local sources to impact poverty in Greene and Washington counties. For every $1 in federal CSBG funds, CAS leverages an additional $21 in funding to provide multiple services which are quilted together to help low-income people achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Those services include early childhood education, nutrition, financial literacy, asset building, case management, housing and home ownership, job development, adult education and senior services.