An intentional path forward
In looking toward the long-range future, the question is not whether a community will change, but how. A community's Comprehensive Plan is an officially adopted document that articulates a vision, goals and objectives for future land use and development, public facilities and services and other aspects of local government. Developing the plan represents an opportunity to intentionally determine what is important to people and how to realize shared aspirations in ways that honor local values.
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Pleasant Hills Borough is creating its new plan in the Implementable Comprehensive Plan model. This approach, recognized as a DCED best practice, flips the script on the traditional way communities approach long-range planning, which all too often results in a document collecting dust on a shelf. Our project is focused on generating the capacity and momentum to take action on consensus community priorities. The process will provide the creative ideas and strategies to fuel action plans that can be readily undertaken. It makes implementation a well-supported, clear and feasible next step.
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One very important component of an Implementable Comprehensive Plan is a sound footing in public engagement. A plan's recommendations will be implementable if they are broadly supported, representing practical and well-targeted approaches to the opportunities and problems people care most about. For this reason, the first component of our planning process is all about listening!
Our future, our plan
A local Steering Committee representing officials, staff, residents and business owners will help guide the process. This group will help broaden the reach of engagement, analyze and interpret what we are hearing and determine the feasibility and priority of potential solutions.
Who's involved?
Committee members:
Mary Cook
Domenic D'Andrea
Brian Finnerty
James Funkhouser
Helen Galluppi
Jim Gillikin
Sean Greene
Mimi Haley
Stephen Harroun
Andrew Hoover
Sharon Julian-Milas
Robert Karcher
Kevin Langholtz
Bill McVicker
Todd Pritchard
Jamie Smith
Beth Sullivan
Kelly Theiss
Rachel Weaver-LaBar
...and with the assist
Pashek+MTR is working with Borough to facilitate creation of the plan. The firm is known for having pioneered the Implementable Comprehensive Plan model and has successfully worked with many Allegheny County municipalities on similar projects.
Project timeline
Summer 2023
Phase I of the Implementable Comprehensive Plan calls for listening to the community. Take the questionnaire online or on paper, and look for project pop-up events and meetings! Sign up for e-mail updates to be notified when there are new items on the calendar or draft materials to review.
Fall 2023
The Steering Committee and consultant team will review and analyze all public and stakeholder input received to determine what the plan's Key Issues will be. These are a handful of specific focus areas where the plan will go in depth to understand the context and devise detailed, actionable strategies. Once the Key Issues and visions take shape, we will return to the public to see whether we've gotten things right.
Winter 2024
Work will begin on plan recommendations and building momentum and capacity for implementation. The plan will include details for projects and how to carry them out, with cost and feasibility in mind. The public will have the opportunity to review recommendations at a public event, to review the draft plan document and to provide any final comments at a public hearing, after which Borough Council may consider the plan for adoption.