Civic & Town Centers Included in Plum Borough Comprehensive Plan

After three years of preparation, a comprehensive plan for Plum Borough now is available to the public.

Planner Lee Mueller presented the 10-year plan to council and residents at a public hearing on Monday.

The plan should act as the borough's blueprint for actions that will retain and attract businesses and jobs, improve the borough's housing stock, preserve and protect its natural and manmade environment, improve its transportation network and enhance the quality of life for its residents and businesses.

Preparation of the plan began in 2009, and the borough planning commission and a 13-member steering committee helped along the way.

The comprehensive plan addresses issues such as housing, development, transportation, land use natural and historic resources, environment, and facilities and services.

Mueller said the plan addresses issues such as where the community is now, where it should be and how to get there.

Though communities should have comprehensive plans drafted every 10 years, it's been 30 years since Plum Borough has had a new one.

The entire comprehensive plan can be found on the Plum Borough website.

Here are some of the goal highlights:

Economic Development

• Promote the development of borough property in Renton as a new civic center and redevelop the current municipal complex on New Texas Road as a commercial town center.
  
• Maintain/expand efforts to attract, retain and expand businesses.
• Promote commercial/industrial development.
• Encourage development along Leechburg, Saltsburg and Old Leechburg Roads; and routes 366, 286 and 909.

Transportation

• Solicit help from the county and state for the widening of Route 286.
• Develop more walking and biking trails throughout the borough.
• Require bike racks at commercial developments and public buildings/facilities.
• Encourage public transportation and support commuter rail traffic through Plum—seek a stop in Plum.
• Improve access to the Allegheny River for commercial, mixed use or recreation usage.

Housing

• Provide a variety of housing types for all income levels.
• Promote development of special needs housing—elderly/handicap.
• Construct new housing.

Community Facilities & Services

• Maintain an efficient and effective police department, fire departments and emergency management services department to meet the municipality’s needs.
• Expand recreation facilities and programs available—develop a recreation facility in the proposed town center.
• Establish a parks and recreation committee with volunteers, as well as a Parks and Recreation Department with a full-time director.

Historic and Cultural Resources/Environment

• Preserve identified historical and cultural resources—continue development of coal miners memorial and preserve the Carpenter Log House in Boyce Park.
• Preserve Oakmont Country Club Historic District and Logan’s Ferry Powder Works Historic District.
• Continue waste management and recycling.

Councilman Keith Nowalk said he was happy with the plan.

Councilman Steven "Skip" Taylor said a lot of people have been concerned about having a town center in the borough and inquired whether or not it would increase the revenue.

According to the plan, population in Plum only is set to increase by 5 percent over the next 10 years. Taylor wondered whether it would be worth it to invest in the town center.

Mueller said a town center would generate revenue because of the commercial development that would be included.

"You still have residents living here," he said. "It's about improving the quality of life for your residents."

Mayor Rich Hrivnak said he would be in favor of adding a town center to the borough because of the impact it would have on borough revenues.

Officials are going to review the plan and resident comments before they approve it in March.