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STEUBENVILLE -- An updated comprehensive plan is critical to Steubenville's growth, Urban Projects Director Chris Petrossi told City Council Tuesday.
"It's a vision for growth in a community," said Petrossi, speaking during a planning committee meeting. "It's not a guide for specific areas, it's a guide for overall growth in the community. Although it can focus on specific areas, the primary goal is (to identify) what the governing body's vision is for how to grow in future."
The city's current comprehensive plan was adopted in 2013. With many of the activities identified in the 2013 plan either completed or in progress. Petrossi said it's time for council -- and the Steubenville community -- to think about what they want to see happen next.
"While there are numerous items from the 2013 Comprehensive Plan that have been completed, there have also been and there continues to be significant changes in the characteristics of the community, including residential and commercial, downtown and in the West End area," he said. "This change, along with new active planning efforts -- including the South End plan, the Steubenville North Plan, the Sunset Boulevard corridor study and the Market Street Bridge replacement/rehab planning -- need to be tied together and viewed using a comprehensive, city-wide approach."
He said a "new and more progressive City Council, along with active residential and business involvement, may also produce a different and more enlightened vision for the future of the community."
He pointed out the last council earmarked up to $175,000 in ARPA funds for the update, pointing out the process "has to have extensive community involvement."
"You can't listen to the community with your ears closed," he added. "You have to listen with an open mind. You can't go in with preconceived notions ... it's all about consensus-building and getting people involved."
He said an updated comprehensive plan is an invaluable development tool, pointing out "the legal basis for the decision-making it establishes is invaluable."
"The future of our community isn't in this room," he added. "It's at Big Red and Catholic Central and all the kids being homeschooled. We want to be as inclusive as possible to try and make sure it's accepted by all."
During its business meeting, council signed off on legislation authorizing City Manager Jim Mavromatis to seek bids for the 2024 street pavement parking program and Phase 9 of the street sign replacement program.
Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon sunshined legislation authorizing Petrossi to apply for $750,000 through the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program.
In 2023 Petrossi applied for a Bruhn grant to do façade and roof preservation in the historic business district, but application got a thumbs down. This time around he'd said they were "going to try to make the city's application more competitive, try to target the commercial district and the North End districts as eligible areas."
The grant, if awarded, would not require a cash match, Petrossi said.
Hernon also sunshined legislation involving the city's table of organization related to the percent pay raise given non-union AFSCME employees as well as emergency legislation ratifying a new three-year contract with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1.