Elizabeth Township ready to start on comprehensive plan

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Work will start soon on the comprehensive plan for Elizabeth Township.

The plan had been discussed last year, but hiring a firm to carry out the process was put off until this year. The contract was awarded to Environmental Planning and Design of Pittsburgh.

“I had two goals when I ran for commissioner: to get the 537 sewage plan and to get a comprehensive plan going,” said Kyle Walk, chairman of the commissioners.

Walk said six companies submitted proposals, and the commissioners and township department heads reviewed them and participated in Zoom interviews.

“Every one of the 11 people selected this firm first,” he said.

Walk said township officials decided they wanted a planning expert, not an engineer, developing the comprehensive plan. 

EPD was founded in 1939 as Simonds and Simonds. The firm’s website identifies the company and landscape architects, community planners and urban planners. Previous comprehensive plan experience includes plans for Derry Township, a multi-municipal plan for Etna, Sharpsburg and Millvale, and the Indiana County greenways plan.

Dr. Bart Rocco is heading up the commissioners’ comprehensive plan committee.

“I’ve lived here 33 years and I don’t think we’ve ever had a comprehensive plan for the community,” Rocco said. “We want to take a look at how to make the best use of what we have in the township.”

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