HERMITAGE Town center idea is proposed

The public will get a chance to comment on the proposals at a meeting April 16.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Gradually creating a town center in the area of state Route 18 and U.S. Route 62 and providing more pedestrian amenities are among the suggestions surfacing for the Route 18 North Corridor.
The city and Mercer County Regional Planning Commission are studying land-use and development options for the 2.6-mile stretch of mostly two-lane road that the state plans to widen to five lanes beginning later this year.
The city has hired the consulting firm of Gannett Fleming Inc. of Pittsburgh to help draft the plan.
What's planned: Preliminary recommendations will be unveiled at a public meeting set for 6 p.m. April 16 at Artman Elementary School.
The gradual creation of a more traditional vision of a town center in the area of East State Street, the Shenango Valley Freeway (U.S. Route 62) and Route 18 is one of those recommendations, said Dennis Puko, executive director of the regional planning commission.
The Shenango Valley Mall, Hermitage Square Plaza and Hermitage Hills Plaza could take on more of a unified design theme showing some architectural unity and pedestrian amenities that would become more of a traditional town center, he said.
Here's a concern: Access management to the widened section of Route 18 is a critical issue, Puko said, noting there are at least 100 driveways along the stretch. Persuading businesses to share driveways could ease traffic flow, he said.
Pedestrian and bicycle amenities, already part of the state widening project in the area of the city building, Hickory High School and Highland Road, could be expanded, perhaps with a series of trails that eventually will link the area with Shenango River Lake, Puko said.
There is also interest in developing east-west connector streets to link Route 18, the city's major north-south route, with other north-south roads.
Puko said one suggestion will deal with an area north of Lamor Road designated for a planned technical park.
There may not be sufficient market interest in a planned technical park, and the area might be better developed with a mixed-use approach, he said.
Commercial area: There are no suggestions to change the tone of development along the corridor, Puko added, noting it has long been targeted for commercial development and is unlikely to change.
Puko said a final version of the recommendations should be ready for city commissioners about a month after the public hearing.