McDonald plan moving forward

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

McDONALD — After more than three decades since its last update, a new comprehensive plan for the village is moving forward.

The plan between village officials and the Trumbull County Planning Commission was the main topic at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The plan’s last major update was in 1973, and the new one will have as a primary component a focus on business and residential growth in the village, Councilman Scott W. Seitz noted. A heavy emphasis will be on redeveloping the McDonald Industrial Park and beautifying the village, Seitz said, adding that repaving an access road to the park could help entice some businesses to move in.

The commission will likely look at the 1973 plan and see what can be included in the new one, Seitz said.

Other key parts include money for storm sewer lines, as well as giving McDonald greater access to a few major bike trails nearby, Mayor Glenn W. Holmes noted.

Toward that end, village officials would like to see a spur and other possible links to the trails, the mayor said. One of the trails, the Greater Greenway Bike Trail, connects Chicago to Washington, D.C.

Another part of the plan would be greater access for residents to local government via the Internet, which would allow them to have a more proactive role, Seitz and Holmes noted. People’s comments will be considered when drawing up the plan, Holmes said.

Holmes added that officials are about to enter into the second of the plan’s three phases. A public meeting to get residents’ and others’ input about the plan is set for 6:30 p.m. March 12 in the administration building, 451 Ohio Ave.