Comprehensive plan developers use feedback
CALIFORNIA – The Washington County Planning Commission is geared toward keeping young people in the area, and they hope that their comprehensive plan will help them achieve that. Lisa Cessna, executive director of the planning commission, said they had one round of public meetings in June that helped them find out what developments people would like to see in the area.
“During that first round, we got public feedback about what they thought our comprehensive plan should include on ways to maintain and improve housing, infrastructure, recreation, and other areas,” said Cessna. “We met with all the municipalities and the general public to find out what they thought was good and bad about the county.”
Cessna explained that during the second round of public meetings that have been held during the month of October, the planning commission has compiled the ideas that they got from the general public, and condensed them into goal statements. They are asking the public to prioritize which goals the commission should focus on.
“During these meetings we are asking the public to do a prioritization exercise that shows us where we should keep our focus,” said Cessna. “We are also taking the students aside to ask for their feedback about what we could do to keep our young people in this area and bring others here. We want to know what they think would keep them from moving away.”
Members of the planning commission met with a few students during an open house at California University of Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
The students agreed that the area would benefit most by improving the economy, as well as recreation. They said they would like to live in a place where they can make good money for the cost of living.
“There doesn’t appear to be a lot of job openings here,” said student Tim Rindt. “That is something that is really important when you are deciding where to live.”
Krystl Bucher said that agreed, but said she would like to see good jobs come to the area without disturbing its rural appeal.
“I love living in the country, and I wouldn’t want to live any other way,” said Bucher.
All the students said they would like to see better indoor and outdoor entertainment in the area, such as bike trails, indoor gyms and bowling alleys. They also mentioned that the river could be much cleaner.
Cessna said that during the prioritization exercise, people were asked to put color-coded stickers beside the goals they thought were most important.
Those who attended the open house at the university thought that developing strategies to expand the technological infrastructure and improve information access could improve public facilities and services. Also in that area, people asked for more support and enhancement of library access.
In goals for recreation and parks, the primary concern was to focus planning and investment on recreational needs of all citizens. The second major priority was to develop a program to actively recruit volunteers to develop recreational resources.
Under the category of public infrastructure, people thought it was most important to provide water and sewage to areas that have demonstrated a need, while taking steps to protect their rural character.
In relation to agriculture, the major priority was developing a county department dedicated to agricultural-based economic development, marketing and preservation. Others thought it was important to educate the public and municipal officials about farming as an industry, and what is needed to sustain it in Washington County.
In the category of transportation, the number one priority was that the county would continue to maintain and improve roads and bridges. People also liked the idea of developing a waterway transportation system on the Mon River.
On the economic side of the plan, the public indicated that they want to see an investment in existing communities and downtowns, as well as development of new industrial sites where they are likely to create the greatest economic opportunity.
In relation to housing, people asked for a requirement of green or open space as part of new subdivision and development plans. Another major priority was the improvement of school districts, which would increase the desirability of communities as a place to raise families.
In environment or open space issues, people were mainly concerned that the county should serve as a leader in sustaining natural systems. They also wanted the county to address environmental impacts of roadside dumping.
And finally, in the historical and cultural goals, the number one priority was to address the county’s aging population and loss of young people, followed by the preservation of rural landscape. People also wanted the county to identify and preserve historical and cultural assets.
Cessna said that in addition to these public meetings, the commission had sent out about 60,000
public surveys, and they have developed a Web site where the survey can be read and filled out at
www.washingtoncountyplan.com
. She said they might also spend a day at the malls to get the public’s feedback.
“We’re still working to get public input and that is the most important part of out plan,” said Cessna. “Our plan has to reflect what people want.”
She said the third and final round of public meetings will be held next spring and summer, when a draft of the comprehensive plan will be ready to review.
“We encourage people to come and let us know if we are on the right track.”