Benatec hired for comprehensive plan
LUZERNE TWP. – Benatec Associates has been hired to prepare the comprehensive plan for Luzerne and Redstone townships. The joint project will cost $60,000 and be fully funded by a state grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development. The plan is to be completed within 15 months. Once the plan is drafted, it will be reviewed and revised over a three-month period, according to Robbie Matesic, the senior project manager for Benatec.
The plan will look at infrastructure improvements, population growth, housing and economic development stimuli.
“We’re looking for residential growth rather than industrial growth,” said Redstone Township Supervisor Ray Paris. “The county has its business parks for large industrial development and we’ll direct businesses there.”
Local officials recognized the need for the plan in light of projected development related to the Mon Valley/Fayette Expressway and construction of the new state prison in Luzerne Township.
“We know things are going to be happening in this township and we want to be ready for it in the future,” said Luzerne Supervisor Ron DeSalvo. “It’s kind of scary that all at once you have these big projects dropped in your lap. We probably should have done this (study) years ago.”
DeSalvo said Luzerne Township first starting considering the need for a comprehensive plan because of the expressway plans. One of the Benatec engineers on the expressway project, Joe Romano, who is now with another firm, suggested the need for a comprehensive plan.
“When Joe Romano saw the prison was coming in, he said we’d better consider a comprehensive plan,” DeSalvo said. “He could see where we were heading.”
The township’s first grant proposal for a comprehensive plan was rejected by the state. The joint plan with Redstone was accepted.
Matesic said Benatec will look at a variety of issues, including noting the most appropriate locations for residential, business and industrial development.
“The biggest thing that we emphasize and try to do with the townships is try to make it their plan. They know their going to grow. They have a vision. We want to give them the planning strategies to accomplish that vision,” Matesic said.