Beaver officials to review neighborhood proposal

The purpose of a
neighborhood plan is to improve a specific area
of a community.

By VIRGINIA ROSS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NORTH LIMA — A preliminary copy of the proposed North Lima Neighborhood Plan has been placed in the hands of Beaver Township officials for their review.

Christopher Kogelnik of Herbert, Rowland and Grubic Inc., the Pennsylvania firm hired to prepare the plan, recently asked the township trustees and zoning inspector Rick Martin to read the document and provide him with any changes or corrections they feel would be appropriate.

He also asked them to provide any additional information that they would like to see included in the plan.

“It is in book form, easy to read, with information about how we got where we are in the planning stages,” Kogelnik said.

He said once he has obtained remarks from township officials he intends to meet with the core committee that helped him develop the plan, possibly within the next few months, to get committee members’ comments on the draft.

The plan will then be presented at a trustees meeting. The trustees must approve the plan before it can be executed.

“A lot of work has been put into this, and I think — I hope — everyone will be happy with the results,” Kogelnik added.

In 2006, trustees appropriated $15,000 for development of the plan and hired HRG to help with the project. The township has been working with the HRG’s office in Hermitage, Pa.

Essentially, the purpose of a neighborhood plan is to improve a specific area of a community, rather than the community at large, and focus on ways to improve that area, township officials said.

The township has explored the concept of developing a neighborhood plan for North Lima for the past several years.

The core committee made up of township residents and business people met with township officials and Kogelnik several times to discuss aspects of the plan, including choosing a neighborhood theme and possible beautification projects.

The neighborhood design is being developed to supplement the township’s comprehensive land-use plan adopted in 2003, officials said.

Kogelnik said once the plan is finished the township can look more thoroughly at funding sources that may be available to help get the job done. He said one option likely will be working with the Ohio Department of Transportation on various streetscaping projects.

“There are grants and funding sources available,” he said. “It helps when you’re prepared to give those potential sources as much information as possible and a plan that’s as complete as possible. That way it’s clear where you want to go and shows that you’ve put time and thought and consideration into it.”