Commission hears flood-mitigation easement progress; public urges North End planning

Borough staff told the Planning Commission that phase one of the borough's flood-mitigation project is moving toward construction while environmental permitting continues.

Joe, Staff member, said nearly all easements for phase one construction are in place, with one landowner temporarily out of the country but supportive. "Essentially all the easements are in place which was really an accomplishment that we got all those proper to sign off," Joe said, noting an extensive D-plan environmental review that includes the Army Corps and the Conservation District.

At public comment a resident urged the commission to plan the North End corridor (parking locations, the railroad bridge and phase-two flood mitigation) and to put those items on the Planning Commission agenda. The commenter said much of phase two's work and the Port Authority bus-garage corridor lie in Bridgeville and asked for proactive municipal planning rather than waiting until construction funding is available.

Commissioners and staff said phase-two planning is tied to permits, funding and coordination with neighboring municipalities and county agencies. One member said the county has been slow to advance design funding and urged continued pressure on county engineers and PennDOT to move the design forward.

Why it matters: Staff said the flood project is a prerequisite to North End redevelopment; securing permits and funding for phase one and then phase two will determine the buildability of the corridor and the schedule for potential commercial and transportation improvements.

What comes next: Staff expects permitting and grant-administration processes to determine the start of construction; commissioners asked staff to continue intergovernmental coordination and to place North End planning items on future agendas for phased implementation work.