Greensburg seeking consultants to help update comprehensive plan
Jul. 8—Greensburg leaders want a team of consultants to help update the city's 14-year-old comprehensive plan.
City officials this week issued a request for proposals for a consultant to help the planning commission produce a user-friendly document that can be utilized by a variety of public and private stakeholders to guide decision-making and development through the year 2040.
"We want this plan to be something usable, that speaks to the needs and opportunities identified by the people that live there," said Jeff Raykes, city planning director.
The update will include goals of eliminating blight, making government accessible, promoting investment, maintaining services and capitalizing on existing assets including walkability, history, culture, education and recreation.
Two focus areas — parks and recreation and blight mitigation — will be integrated into the plan, resulting in the development of a Comprehensive Recreation, Park and Open Space Plan and a blight mitigation strategy for the city. Both plans will be adopted alongside the city-wide plan, but will have the ability to stand on their own if necessary.
In all, the project is expected to take 15 months to complete, with an expected adoption date planned for December 2022.
City officials previously secured $150,000 for the project, including a mix of funds from a Community Development Block Grant, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and city funds.
Greensburg's nine-member planning commission will lead the project. Once a consultant is hired, members of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee — made up of stakeholders from across the city — and the planning commission will meet monthly.
"Our goal is to engage people at the neighborhood level to ensure that all voices are included in the plan," said Kelley McVay, Greensburg's project coordinator.
Proposals must be submitted to Greensburg's planning and development office by 4 p.m. on July 26. Proposals will then be evaluated based on capacity and capability, relevant experience, quality of proposed work, the plan and budget, understanding of local context and innovation and creativity.
The selected consultant will be announced in August.
Megan Tomasic is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 724-850-1203, mtomasic@triblive.com or via Twitter .
