Fayette to study zoning along expressway
Preparing for “smart” growth along the 15-mile stretch of the Mon/Fayette Expressway running from Uniontown to Brownsville, a key Fayette County office is embarking on a series of public meetings. Although the expressway section remains to be built and exists only on Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission drawing boards, the county wants to gauge input on what type of development should occur at its six planned interchanges.
Tammy Shell, director of the county Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, said the first set of meetings in early March will afford the public and key stakeholders a chance to let the county know their development preferences.
“Some municipalities have told us they want to stay a residential community. Others have told us they want growth and business,” said Shell.
To help plot what type of development should occur where, Shell’s office is overseeing a study that will focus on zoning, land subdivision and land development at those interchanges.
Funded by a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and a $10,000 county match, the land-use analysis and economic-development study is being undertaken by consultant Pashek Associates of Pittsburgh.
The interchanges under study are: Route 88, which is actually located in neighboring Washington County; Bull Run Road/Telegraph Road; Brownsville/Redstone Township; Searights; North Union Township or Route 51 connector; and the Eastern Terminus at Routes 119 and 51.
The first two public meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. at the Redstone Community Center; and Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m. in the South Union Township Municipal Building.
At those meetings, Shell’s office and Pashek Associates will gather input from county residents on what they perceive to be the planning issues related to the expressway and its interchange areas.
“We’re hoping it will poise the county for growth and development,” said Shell. “This was one of the objectives of the county’s comprehensive land-use plan.”
That plan, adopted by the county commissioners in September 2002, updated the county’s guide for land use. The process under way, said Shell, serves to augment the prior plan.
Shell said the county plans to host more public input meetings as the vision for the county’s future land use is further refined. She said the goal is to have the commissioners approve the companion zoning, subdivision and land-development plan by November at the latest.
Anyone wanting more information can call Shell’s office at 724-430-1210.