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Washington Township residents asked for input on comprehensive plan

By Mark Soroka for The 3 min read

Residents of Washington Township will have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of their community by voting on what they think should be prioritized in a draft of the municipality’s comprehensive plan.

The Fayette County community’s plan will be displayed during an open house on Friday, March 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Washington Township Fire Hall. The plan is meant to cover priorities for the township over the next 10 to 20 years.

Mackin Engineering Company, an engineering consulting firm that is helping the township develop the plan, will be facilitating a discussion with residents to get their input about issues ranging from zoning to infrastructure to recreation.

“This is a great way to get people involved in the planning process and make sure their voices are being heard,” said Jenni Easton, senior planner for Mackin. “We want to get feedback about what’s important to them and get a sense of where the township should be allocating its resources. The comprehensive plan is a blueprint for the future of Washington Township.”

According to Washington Township Supervisor Jam Amoroso, a comprehensive plan has been in the works for some time.

“Our zoning plan is from 1966 and a lot has changed in our township since then,” she said. “However, our zoning office has had to work with ordinances that are outdated. If we want our township to grow and attract new businesses, we need to update our zoning ordinances and we need a comprehensive plan.”

Amoroso said the township, by law, has to designate places where it can locate businesses.

“Some businesses, like insurance offices, can be mixed within a residential area. The comprehensive plan is important so residents can have some input with the zoning map, especially in regard to where those businesses might be a better fit for the township,” said Amoroso.

Other topics will also be brought up at the open house, said Amoroso.

“Many issues are not under ordinance, so there is no way to enforce them,” she said. “For instance, tiny houses are a new trend, but we don’t have any zoning/ordinances for them. We also need to resolve issues such as burning in the township and chickens in residential areas. In addition, we will touch on other subjects, such as utilities, public facilities, recreation and our local police and fire departments.”

Mackin Engineering will collect information from the open house and make final recommendations to the township’s planning commission. The township will then hold a public hearing before the final plan is made available for public review during a 45-day period. The board of supervisors is expected to vote on the comprehensive plan later this spring.

Amoroso hopes that residents of Washington Township will come to the open house, look at the proposed maps and comprehensive plan and help draft the planning for the township’s future.

“If only one or two residents show up, then the planning for Washington Township will be done by just a few people,” said Amoroso, who noted that a fish fry will be held in conjunction with the open house. “That’s why we want everyone to get involved.”

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