New Castle council to vote on land-use plan

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council intends to vote at its public meeting tonight whether to adopt a proposed comprehensive land-use and development plan.
Chris Brown of Environmental Planning & amp; Design, the Pittsburgh firm hired to develop the proposed plan, presented an overview of the document earlier this week during a public hearing at the city building.
He said the proposed plan would serve as a guide for the city's future land use and development. The city planning commission recommended approval of the proposed comprehensive plan earlier this month.
Brown said once the plan is adopted, his firm, working with a steering committee made up of city officials, could move forward with revising the city's zoning ordinance and developing a zoning map.
Brown said strengthening the city's status as a regional center, making use of the river frontage, and maintaining single-family neighborhoods are among the goals and objectives included in the plan.
He said it emphasizes the downtown area and calls for the creation of several new parks and a nature trail.
The city agreed to pay Environmental Planning & amp; Design $50,000 more than a year ago to develop the plan. The city's last comprehensive plan was put together in the 1960s.