JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Help Form A Community Vision With B.E.N.
Braddock, East Pittsburgh, North Braddock
What's Happening?
The Comprehensive Plan describes a community vision and the steps to make it a reality. Comprehensive Plans make recommendations that can inform land use regulations and help guide growth and development for up to a 10-year period. This three-part planning process will be the community’s opportunity to shape municipal priorities for the future.
North Braddock's last joint comprehensive plan was adopted with East Pittsburgh in December 2002.
Braddock, North Braddock, & East Pittsburgh joined forces in 2017 to begin a new joint comprehensive plan. Government funding was requested to obtain Evolve as the consulting firm for the project.
Elected officials and members of the community are invited to be a part of the process. The group held a community conversation to develop goals for the next decade within the three distinct communities.
There have been two in-person community meetings and one virtual meeting online. There will be a 45-day public comment period beginning on February 18, 2021. The plan will then be edited and submitted to each borough for council approval.
North Braddock council members Vicki Vargo & Lisa Franklin-Robinson are representing the community on the core team.
Ms. Vargo: [email protected]
Ms. Franklin-Robinson: [email protected]
North Braddock's last joint comprehensive plan was adopted with East Pittsburgh in December 2002.
Braddock, North Braddock, & East Pittsburgh joined forces in 2017 to begin a new joint comprehensive plan. Government funding was requested to obtain Evolve as the consulting firm for the project.
Elected officials and members of the community are invited to be a part of the process. The group held a community conversation to develop goals for the next decade within the three distinct communities.
There have been two in-person community meetings and one virtual meeting online. There will be a 45-day public comment period beginning on February 18, 2021. The plan will then be edited and submitted to each borough for council approval.
North Braddock council members Vicki Vargo & Lisa Franklin-Robinson are representing the community on the core team.
Ms. Vargo: [email protected]
Ms. Franklin-Robinson: [email protected]
In The News
Consultant Request (August 2017)
http://www.dbrcpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Braddock-E-Pgh-N-Braddock-joint-comp-plan-RFP-Final-1.pdf
A Shared Future: Braddock, East Pittsburgh, North Braddock eye a comprehensive plan (October 2019)
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/2019/10/02/LX-Braddock-East-Pittsburgh-North-Braddock-comprehensive-plan/stories/201910020166
Evolve Acquired For Consulting
evolveEA is a nimble multidisciplinary practice situated at the intersection of sustainability and the built environment. They firm helps individuals, communities, and organizations take strategic action. They look through three lenses of sustainability: people, process, & place.
https://evolveea.com/
Council Plan Memo (December 2020)
Council Information
Review the final report to add feedback and sign the petition (March 6 - April 19, 2021)
Read Final Report
http://www.dbrcpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Braddock-E-Pgh-N-Braddock-joint-comp-plan-RFP-Final-1.pdf
A Shared Future: Braddock, East Pittsburgh, North Braddock eye a comprehensive plan (October 2019)
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/2019/10/02/LX-Braddock-East-Pittsburgh-North-Braddock-comprehensive-plan/stories/201910020166
Evolve Acquired For Consulting
evolveEA is a nimble multidisciplinary practice situated at the intersection of sustainability and the built environment. They firm helps individuals, communities, and organizations take strategic action. They look through three lenses of sustainability: people, process, & place.
https://evolveea.com/
Council Plan Memo (December 2020)
Council Information
Review the final report to add feedback and sign the petition (March 6 - April 19, 2021)
Read Final Report
STAY CONNECTED
Comprehensive Plan Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BENcompplan
Comprehensive Plan Website
https://www.bencompplan.org/
Comprehensive Plan StoryMap Website
Residents can provide feedback on the site.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/60a86c6ef7f64b939930343a0495d8b4
Subscribe For Email Updates On The Project
Sign-Up For Email
https://www.facebook.com/BENcompplan
Comprehensive Plan Website
https://www.bencompplan.org/
Comprehensive Plan StoryMap Website
Residents can provide feedback on the site.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/60a86c6ef7f64b939930343a0495d8b4
Subscribe For Email Updates On The Project
Sign-Up For Email
Mainstreet & Mobility - Brinton-Locust Transit Oriented Development - Local Neighborhood Commercial
There can be isolated retail stores such as a corner grocery or drug store or a filling station. Seldom are more than two or three stores found in these groups and often they tend to be marginal businesses which depend upon people within the block or no more than five-minutes walking distance.
Resilient Systems - Golf Course Greenway
Grandview Golf Course makes up over 60% of the greenspace within BEN. It can provide additional public park space and a new urban agriculture that can leverage the natural flow of stormwater in the valleys by strategically investing in public trail network, and programming along the lower courses.
Housing Strategy - Hawkins Avenue Hillsides
North Braddock functions as a true bedroom community for the more industrial and commercial corridors that it borders. The residential areas are gifted with amazing views and and pretty insulated from nearby industry. Focused residential investment around the gateways to the community allow for better connection to the retail and transit assets in Braddock and Turtle Creek. This increases the viability of residential development for the entire area.
Economic Vitality - 6th + Hawkins Redevelopment
This areas serves as a fulcrum that connects North Braddock to many of its neighboring communities. In particular, 6th Avenue is a major throughway for industrial businesses that are located throughout the Mon Valley, and with the right public realm improvements, can be a fantastic entrance into North Braddock. A viable mixed used development could that include new multi-family housing, light industrial businesses, or commercial businesses.
Lifelong Learning - Jones Avenue Campus
The intersection of Jones Avenue and Bell serves as North Braddock's center for local and regionally serving Civic Institutions. Improvements to property owned by the Municipality and Woodland Hills School District will increase visibility of budding non profit organizations and provide new spaces for convening.
There can be isolated retail stores such as a corner grocery or drug store or a filling station. Seldom are more than two or three stores found in these groups and often they tend to be marginal businesses which depend upon people within the block or no more than five-minutes walking distance.
Resilient Systems - Golf Course Greenway
Grandview Golf Course makes up over 60% of the greenspace within BEN. It can provide additional public park space and a new urban agriculture that can leverage the natural flow of stormwater in the valleys by strategically investing in public trail network, and programming along the lower courses.
Housing Strategy - Hawkins Avenue Hillsides
North Braddock functions as a true bedroom community for the more industrial and commercial corridors that it borders. The residential areas are gifted with amazing views and and pretty insulated from nearby industry. Focused residential investment around the gateways to the community allow for better connection to the retail and transit assets in Braddock and Turtle Creek. This increases the viability of residential development for the entire area.
Economic Vitality - 6th + Hawkins Redevelopment
This areas serves as a fulcrum that connects North Braddock to many of its neighboring communities. In particular, 6th Avenue is a major throughway for industrial businesses that are located throughout the Mon Valley, and with the right public realm improvements, can be a fantastic entrance into North Braddock. A viable mixed used development could that include new multi-family housing, light industrial businesses, or commercial businesses.
Lifelong Learning - Jones Avenue Campus
The intersection of Jones Avenue and Bell serves as North Braddock's center for local and regionally serving Civic Institutions. Improvements to property owned by the Municipality and Woodland Hills School District will increase visibility of budding non profit organizations and provide new spaces for convening.
North Braddock Comprehensive Plan (2002)
Joint Comprehensive Plan 2002 |
GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
The goals are listed below to compare what objectives have been implemented since the plan. It has been 16 years since the adopted plan.
HISTORIC CHARACTER
GOAL: To encourage the preservation of cultural, historical, archaeological and architecturally significant sites of North Braddock.
Objective: Preserve and rehabilitate historic properties within the Borough.
Objective: Promote and enhance the history of the North Braddock area through the establishment of a historic society and appropriate signage that designates important dates, events and sites.
Objective: Identify themes that relate to the heritage of the Borough and develop a marketing effort around these themes.
COMMUNITY AMENITIES
GOAL: To provide a coordinated system of services and programs through the cooperation of the public and private sectors, which meet resident’s needs.
Objective: Provide adequate facilities and financial support for police departments to maintain and improve services to the municipalities.
Objective: North Braddock will have effective emergency response services.
1. Conduct a feasibility study to determine the possibility of regionalizing police, fire and emergency service departments.
2. Combine separate fire companies into one department recognizing that North Braddock’s geographic features may necessitate one or more fire stations to achieve a quick response time.
Objective: Explore additional opportunities for inter-governmental cooperation and implementation when feasible such as establishing joint purchasing agreements to lower the cost of materials and equipment.
Objective: Establish a community crime watch program.
Objective: Enhance existing recreational amenities and provide additional neighborhood-based sites where possible.
Objective: Increase collaboration between East Pittsburgh and North Braddock to achieve the identified goals of the comprehensive plan.
Objective: Improve communications with county officials in order to move projects identified in the plan to completion.
Objective: Identify priority areas for incoming grant money in order to make the best use of these funds.
GOAL: Provide needed social services to residents based on need.
Objective: Encourage and assist religious institutions in providing social services for the residents of the borough by creating an inventory of social services available to Borough residents.
Objective: Inform and educate Borough residents about municipal activities and functions by organizing regular community forums.
GOAL: Enhance recreational opportunities throughout the Borough.
Objective: Create a Parks & Recreation Board to do outreach and encourage sponsorship for recreational activities. Such a board should at a minimum be organized to approach recreation efforts for both boroughs although a more regional approach is encouraged.
Objective: Complete a Comprehensive Park, Recreation and Open Space plan that will identify the need and potential for accessible and appropriate recreation areas. The plan should include identifying potential river access points and trails.
Objective: Adopt an official map pursuant to Article IV of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code that identifies specific properties for future parks and recreation sites.
Objective: Increase the amount of green space and recreational facilities in the Borough through the reuse of vacant properties or demolished buildings. One such option is to create tot lots or community gardens on lots where houses have been demolished thereby improving the aesthetic value of neighborhoods and providing needed recreation.
Objective: Develop specific recreation programs to meet the needs of the elderly, teens, and the youth.
Objective: Expand the role of the community center and other organizations to provide activities for younger residents including recreational and educational programs.
Objective: Work with the COG to hire a joint recreation director.
GOAL: Enhance the image of North Braddock.
Objective: Develop “Gateways” to the communities in a manner that provides a “positive” impression to visitors and residents.
Objective: Work with Pennsylvania Cleanways to reduce litter in targeted areas of the municipalities.
Objective: Implement an “Adopt a Highway” program at the municipal level.
Objective: Implement an “Adopt a Lot” program.
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE & GOODS
GOAL: To provide a viable, logical, and safe inter-modal transportation network.
Objective: Create a sidewalk maintenance program, which would create a yearly plan for sidewalk development and upgrade.
Objective: Encourage the expansion of the Martin Luther King Busway and / or light rail.
Objective: Develop multi-modal bus stops that are connected to alternative means of transportation (bicycle, pedestrian, park and rides, etc.
GOAL: To improve the transportation infrastructure within North Braddock.
Objective: Coordinate with PennDOT through the L-TAP Program and the Turtle Creek Valley COG to develop a schedule for road maintenance, including rehabilitation of bridges and roadways.
Objective: Identify projects that can be included on PennDOT’s twelve-year program and SPC’s long-range transportation plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania.
HOUSING
GOAL: To provide current and future residents with safe, affordable, attractive homes that meets the needs of residents of all income levels.
Objective: Protect established single-family neighborhoods from conversion to higher density housing and the public health and safety by implementing uniform municipal codes and ordinances.
GOAL: Rehabilitate (or demolish) dilapidated housing units throughout the Borough.
Objective: Focus Rehab for Resale program efforts to target redevelopment areas.
Objective: Continue with, and encourage, the current demolition program.
GOAL: Increase single-family homeowner opportunities and maintain existing owner-occupied housing by providing home ownership counseling services.
Objective: Develop a database to analyze housing data for the Borough to identify such things as: absentee landlords, owner-occupancy, number of homes converted to divided units, age and condition by street and status of tax and fee payments. Such a database system will improve the Boroughs’ ability to readily provide information about low interest loans and mortgages.
Objective: Designate areas of the communities for new single-family residential dwellings, and make sure that the utilities necessary for development are available.
Objective: Establish a program with local real estate agents to promote the communities’ location in regard to transportation access and regional job centers.
Objective: Maintain the quality of existing housing stock by providing access and information on programs (e.g. weatherization).
Objective: Organize funding workshops through lending institutions and non-profit organizations to provide program information to community residents.
Objective: Create a reference library of home ownership and housing programs at the municipal building.
GOAL: Promote the development of new housing opportunities in the Borough.
Objective: Identify areas within the Borough that would support owner-occupied residential housing units and implement such programs that would encourage development and purchase of housing units. Such programs could include tax forgiveness or abatement programs by taxing bodies (county, borough, school district), low interest loans, or grants.
Objective: Develop a partnership with Mon Valley Initiative (and other organizations) to build new houses on vacant lots in the Borough.
Objective: Continue participation in the state / county collaboration addressing housing and community development needs through the Neighborhood Tool Box Advisory Board. Implement projects consistent with those supported by the Advisory Board and compete for grant funds to address the housing needs of low and moderated income groups.
Objective: Establish a program to encourage combination and reuse of multiple small lots for in-fill development.
Objective: Reduce the number of rental properties and absentee landlords to achieve a better balance of single-family houses and homeowners through rental fees and strict enforcement of property maintenance ordinances.
Objective: Promote North Braddock as “front yard – front porch” community through the enforcement of property maintenance codes and by promoting private property maintenance by individual landowners.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GOAL: Preserve and promote community businesses and encourage the development of new businesses in the area.
Objective: Work closely with the County, RIDC, and the greater Braddock Regional Enterprise Zone to attract new business and industry as well as market the communities and promote niche markets that are not available elsewhere in the region.
Objective: Establish a regular meeting schedule between mayors, borough councils and the Community Development Corporation (CDC) to discuss the status of the Keystone Commons and other economic development opportunities.
GOAL: Address public concerns regarding nuisance bars and the negative affects on community atmosphere and potential threat to the communities’ safety and welfare
Objective: Meet with the Borough solicitors to establish a procedure for not renewing liquor licenses when current bars close or change ownership.
Objective: Develop regulations for the location of bars in relationship to one another.
GOAL: Improve the streetscape of the business district.
Objective: Create a Business Association which will provide both technical and organization support, and will maintain information regarding potential funding opportunities for small businesses.
Objective: Develop a plan to for aesthetic improvements that are consistent with heritage themes and community character. Such improvements include lighting, signage, sidewalk furniture and plantings.
Objective: Establish a Main Street Manager Program that will oversee the community goals of economic revitalization, generate employment within the communities, promote the preservation and adaptive reuse of existing structures, and develop public-private partnerships
LAND USE ANALYSIS
GOAL: To increase inter-municipal cooperation between East Pittsburgh and North Braddock by encouraging communication and shared services.
Objective: Create a regular forum where municipal officials, residents and the business community from both communities come together to discuss community events and establish a partnership to coordinate community projects.
Objective: Examine the current levels of service along with the capabilities of service providers and determine where the municipalities may benefit from shared / combined services
OVERALL GOAL: To promote flexible highest use development in the Borough and protect existing functional neighborhoods from inappropriate development.
Objective: Consider an update to the municipality’s current zoning ordinance and map that will be reflective of the recommendations of the comprehensive plan. Or, prepare and adopt a joint zoning ordinance.
Objective: Update or adopt a subdivision and land development ordinance that will be reflective of the recommendations of the comprehensive plan. Allegheny County’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) governs North Braddock and can be used as a basis for developing a joint SALDO for East Pittsburgh and North Braddock.
Objective: Provide financial incentives, tax abatement incentives, and other municipally supported programs to encourage redevelopment.
Objective: Rehabilitate and improve underutilized properties.
Objective: Support the proposed development around the Grand View Golf Course through such programs as tax abatement, low interest loans or rezoning.
The goals are listed below to compare what objectives have been implemented since the plan. It has been 16 years since the adopted plan.
HISTORIC CHARACTER
GOAL: To encourage the preservation of cultural, historical, archaeological and architecturally significant sites of North Braddock.
Objective: Preserve and rehabilitate historic properties within the Borough.
Objective: Promote and enhance the history of the North Braddock area through the establishment of a historic society and appropriate signage that designates important dates, events and sites.
Objective: Identify themes that relate to the heritage of the Borough and develop a marketing effort around these themes.
COMMUNITY AMENITIES
GOAL: To provide a coordinated system of services and programs through the cooperation of the public and private sectors, which meet resident’s needs.
Objective: Provide adequate facilities and financial support for police departments to maintain and improve services to the municipalities.
Objective: North Braddock will have effective emergency response services.
1. Conduct a feasibility study to determine the possibility of regionalizing police, fire and emergency service departments.
2. Combine separate fire companies into one department recognizing that North Braddock’s geographic features may necessitate one or more fire stations to achieve a quick response time.
Objective: Explore additional opportunities for inter-governmental cooperation and implementation when feasible such as establishing joint purchasing agreements to lower the cost of materials and equipment.
Objective: Establish a community crime watch program.
Objective: Enhance existing recreational amenities and provide additional neighborhood-based sites where possible.
Objective: Increase collaboration between East Pittsburgh and North Braddock to achieve the identified goals of the comprehensive plan.
Objective: Improve communications with county officials in order to move projects identified in the plan to completion.
Objective: Identify priority areas for incoming grant money in order to make the best use of these funds.
GOAL: Provide needed social services to residents based on need.
Objective: Encourage and assist religious institutions in providing social services for the residents of the borough by creating an inventory of social services available to Borough residents.
Objective: Inform and educate Borough residents about municipal activities and functions by organizing regular community forums.
GOAL: Enhance recreational opportunities throughout the Borough.
Objective: Create a Parks & Recreation Board to do outreach and encourage sponsorship for recreational activities. Such a board should at a minimum be organized to approach recreation efforts for both boroughs although a more regional approach is encouraged.
Objective: Complete a Comprehensive Park, Recreation and Open Space plan that will identify the need and potential for accessible and appropriate recreation areas. The plan should include identifying potential river access points and trails.
Objective: Adopt an official map pursuant to Article IV of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code that identifies specific properties for future parks and recreation sites.
Objective: Increase the amount of green space and recreational facilities in the Borough through the reuse of vacant properties or demolished buildings. One such option is to create tot lots or community gardens on lots where houses have been demolished thereby improving the aesthetic value of neighborhoods and providing needed recreation.
Objective: Develop specific recreation programs to meet the needs of the elderly, teens, and the youth.
Objective: Expand the role of the community center and other organizations to provide activities for younger residents including recreational and educational programs.
Objective: Work with the COG to hire a joint recreation director.
GOAL: Enhance the image of North Braddock.
Objective: Develop “Gateways” to the communities in a manner that provides a “positive” impression to visitors and residents.
Objective: Work with Pennsylvania Cleanways to reduce litter in targeted areas of the municipalities.
Objective: Implement an “Adopt a Highway” program at the municipal level.
Objective: Implement an “Adopt a Lot” program.
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE & GOODS
GOAL: To provide a viable, logical, and safe inter-modal transportation network.
Objective: Create a sidewalk maintenance program, which would create a yearly plan for sidewalk development and upgrade.
Objective: Encourage the expansion of the Martin Luther King Busway and / or light rail.
Objective: Develop multi-modal bus stops that are connected to alternative means of transportation (bicycle, pedestrian, park and rides, etc.
GOAL: To improve the transportation infrastructure within North Braddock.
Objective: Coordinate with PennDOT through the L-TAP Program and the Turtle Creek Valley COG to develop a schedule for road maintenance, including rehabilitation of bridges and roadways.
Objective: Identify projects that can be included on PennDOT’s twelve-year program and SPC’s long-range transportation plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania.
HOUSING
GOAL: To provide current and future residents with safe, affordable, attractive homes that meets the needs of residents of all income levels.
Objective: Protect established single-family neighborhoods from conversion to higher density housing and the public health and safety by implementing uniform municipal codes and ordinances.
GOAL: Rehabilitate (or demolish) dilapidated housing units throughout the Borough.
Objective: Focus Rehab for Resale program efforts to target redevelopment areas.
Objective: Continue with, and encourage, the current demolition program.
GOAL: Increase single-family homeowner opportunities and maintain existing owner-occupied housing by providing home ownership counseling services.
Objective: Develop a database to analyze housing data for the Borough to identify such things as: absentee landlords, owner-occupancy, number of homes converted to divided units, age and condition by street and status of tax and fee payments. Such a database system will improve the Boroughs’ ability to readily provide information about low interest loans and mortgages.
Objective: Designate areas of the communities for new single-family residential dwellings, and make sure that the utilities necessary for development are available.
Objective: Establish a program with local real estate agents to promote the communities’ location in regard to transportation access and regional job centers.
Objective: Maintain the quality of existing housing stock by providing access and information on programs (e.g. weatherization).
Objective: Organize funding workshops through lending institutions and non-profit organizations to provide program information to community residents.
Objective: Create a reference library of home ownership and housing programs at the municipal building.
GOAL: Promote the development of new housing opportunities in the Borough.
Objective: Identify areas within the Borough that would support owner-occupied residential housing units and implement such programs that would encourage development and purchase of housing units. Such programs could include tax forgiveness or abatement programs by taxing bodies (county, borough, school district), low interest loans, or grants.
Objective: Develop a partnership with Mon Valley Initiative (and other organizations) to build new houses on vacant lots in the Borough.
Objective: Continue participation in the state / county collaboration addressing housing and community development needs through the Neighborhood Tool Box Advisory Board. Implement projects consistent with those supported by the Advisory Board and compete for grant funds to address the housing needs of low and moderated income groups.
Objective: Establish a program to encourage combination and reuse of multiple small lots for in-fill development.
Objective: Reduce the number of rental properties and absentee landlords to achieve a better balance of single-family houses and homeowners through rental fees and strict enforcement of property maintenance ordinances.
Objective: Promote North Braddock as “front yard – front porch” community through the enforcement of property maintenance codes and by promoting private property maintenance by individual landowners.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GOAL: Preserve and promote community businesses and encourage the development of new businesses in the area.
Objective: Work closely with the County, RIDC, and the greater Braddock Regional Enterprise Zone to attract new business and industry as well as market the communities and promote niche markets that are not available elsewhere in the region.
Objective: Establish a regular meeting schedule between mayors, borough councils and the Community Development Corporation (CDC) to discuss the status of the Keystone Commons and other economic development opportunities.
GOAL: Address public concerns regarding nuisance bars and the negative affects on community atmosphere and potential threat to the communities’ safety and welfare
Objective: Meet with the Borough solicitors to establish a procedure for not renewing liquor licenses when current bars close or change ownership.
Objective: Develop regulations for the location of bars in relationship to one another.
GOAL: Improve the streetscape of the business district.
Objective: Create a Business Association which will provide both technical and organization support, and will maintain information regarding potential funding opportunities for small businesses.
Objective: Develop a plan to for aesthetic improvements that are consistent with heritage themes and community character. Such improvements include lighting, signage, sidewalk furniture and plantings.
Objective: Establish a Main Street Manager Program that will oversee the community goals of economic revitalization, generate employment within the communities, promote the preservation and adaptive reuse of existing structures, and develop public-private partnerships
LAND USE ANALYSIS
GOAL: To increase inter-municipal cooperation between East Pittsburgh and North Braddock by encouraging communication and shared services.
Objective: Create a regular forum where municipal officials, residents and the business community from both communities come together to discuss community events and establish a partnership to coordinate community projects.
Objective: Examine the current levels of service along with the capabilities of service providers and determine where the municipalities may benefit from shared / combined services
OVERALL GOAL: To promote flexible highest use development in the Borough and protect existing functional neighborhoods from inappropriate development.
Objective: Consider an update to the municipality’s current zoning ordinance and map that will be reflective of the recommendations of the comprehensive plan. Or, prepare and adopt a joint zoning ordinance.
Objective: Update or adopt a subdivision and land development ordinance that will be reflective of the recommendations of the comprehensive plan. Allegheny County’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) governs North Braddock and can be used as a basis for developing a joint SALDO for East Pittsburgh and North Braddock.
Objective: Provide financial incentives, tax abatement incentives, and other municipally supported programs to encourage redevelopment.
Objective: Rehabilitate and improve underutilized properties.
Objective: Support the proposed development around the Grand View Golf Course through such programs as tax abatement, low interest loans or rezoning.