Residents of McKean, Potter and Cameron counties can now get a peak at how area officials hope to improve life in rural Pennsylvania over the next 10 years.
A draft version of the Northern Pennsylvania Tri-County Comprehensive Plan, which offers suggestions on how the three counties can work toward improvements, is available for viewing.
Jeremy Morey, director of the McKean County Planning Commission, is hopeful that community members will take the time to read the plan and share their thoughts.
“I really want people to look at the plan, to comb through it and give us their feedback,” said Morey. “Without the public’s buy-in, it really doesn’t mean anything. We need the public to offer their support.”
Last year, more than 2,000 area residents completed an online community survey designed to elicit public comments on areas of need. The public was able to view the results at an open house held in June in Port Allegany.
From there, the draft comprehensive plan was developed.
Links to the draft can be found on McKean County’s homepage at mckeancountypa.org, as well as on Cameron County’s homepage at cameroncountypa.com; or by going to pottercountypa.net and selecting “planning commission” under the “departments” header.
The biggest issues identified in the plan were “pretty much identical across the three counties,” said Morey, who noted the fact is both “convenient and not surprising” given the similarities between the counties.
The five issues deemed most important to address in the next 10 years are workforce development, expanding the economic base, investing in the communities, infrastructure and environment, and public health.
“Those topics came directly from public input and the online survey,” he noted.
Morey encourages the public to review the plan and make any kind of recommendation or comment — positive or negative — to help the committee come up with a good final plan.
He said they will send the draft to all municipalities, key stakeholders and steering committee members to get the word out.
The draft has been sent to anyone who was on the contact list through consultant Michael Baker International, too.
Anyone with comments can email Morey at jsmorey@mckeancountypa.org, call 814-887-2754 or send a letter to 17137 Route 6, Smethport, PA 16749.
Another public event — and open house — will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the McKean County 911 Center. Here, people will be able to interact and ask questions.
No reservations are necessary, and attendees can stop in anytime during the time of the event.
This will be the last public event on the plan, but the community can keep submitting feedback until at least the end of the year. However, Morey noted the steering committee will hold its final meeting Nov. 7, so those who want their comments to be considered by the committee should send them prior to that meeting. A 45-day public review period for the draft will follow the meeting.
He said that officials in Potter and Cameron counties are looking to finalize their plans before the end of the year.
The plan is that the McKean County commissioners will adopt a final comprehensive plan at a regular commissioners meeting in January.
Morey didn’t have a date for when the McKean commissioners would likely vote on it, but he added, “They’ll advertise that this is when this is going to happen.”
The public McKean County commissioners meetings are typically held at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Once the plan is adopted, they will begin implementing the plan immediately and continue through the next 10 years.
Morey said there “are target dates to track progress,” and noted the plan might be updated periodically to reflect new information.
The draft lists numerous actions that can be taken and entities that might help.
Government entities, non-profit groups, local and state agencies, schools and property owners are among the groups who will be tapped to help implement the plan.
“This is my first comprehensive plan in this position,” said Morey. “I’m excited to get this adopted.”
