HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 61 - 12-1-1964 - COMMISSIONERMINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. SEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS
Contents as follows:
"At its regular meeting on November 17, 1964, the Washington County
Planning Commission adopted a resolution recommending that the County Board of
Commissioners notify the Soil Conservation Service that the County fully understands (1)
the proposed Cross Creek Watershed project (under P. L. 566) as presented by the Soil
Conservation Service at its Preliminary Investigation Report meeting on October 29, 1964,
(2) that the estimated total cost of the project will be $1, 629, 000 (3) that the estimated
local cost will be $623, 000 and (4) that the County of Washington if fully willing and able
to finance the local costs.
Mr. Kittridge entered the meeting.
It was decided that this memorandum be held in abeyance until the next
regular meeting, December 3, 1964. Also suggested that a meeting be arranged with the
same individuals who were present at the October 29th meeting between now and December
3rd. We should now if the people will support the Commissioners if its discovered that a
bond issue is necessary for this project.
Mr. Flynn: If we go through with this project, it may be necessary to have the issue
brought before the electorates as to a referendum vote, or perhaps to form an authority.
Mr. Cromwell: An evening meeting has been scheduled for December 9th at the
Avella High School.
Mr. Bevec: Water conservation must be stressed especially in this area since water is
such a great problem.
Mr. Cromwell also informed the Board that the County Planning Commission
took action to create a Capital Improvement Committee which will advise the Planning
Commission and Commissioners on needed capital improvements and how they can be
financed.
Motion by Mr. Mazza, seconded by Mr. Bevec, that this meeting be
adjourned.
Meeting adjourned.
THE FOREGOING MINUTE READ AND APPROVEi3:
Dember//3 1964
ATTEST:
CHIEF CLER�
NO. 61
Office of the County Commissioners
Washington, Pa. , December 1, 1964
Special
meeting of
the Board of
County Commissioners was
convened in the
Steel Auditorium of the
California
State College,
California, Pennsylvania,
on Tuesday,
December 1, 1964, at 7:30 p.m., to conduct a public hearing on "California Urban Renewa:.
��7X MINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC,'JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS
I
Project", California, Pennsylvania, and the following representing the County Board of
Commissioners were: Commissioners Michael R. Flynn, Chairman of the Board; John P.
Bevec, and John Mazza; also A. V. Capano, County Solicitor, and Alex Debrecoeni, Jr., Chief
Clerk to the County Commissioners, and in addition, at said meeting all persons, agencies,
and organizations were afforded an opportunity to be heard on said project and after hearin;
all reports and carefully considering the Urban Renewal Plan and Redevelopment proposals
submitted to the Board and resolution of the Washington County Planning Commission appro ping
the same and recommending its approval by the Board of Washington County Commissioner;,
upon motion by Mr. Bevec, seconded by Mr. Mazza,. the following resolution was adopted:
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
APPROVING THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND THE FEASIBILITY
OF RELOCATION FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE COLLEGE
URBAN RENEWAL AREA
WHEREAS, under the provisions of Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as
amended, the Housing and Home Finance Administrator is authori2ed to provide financial
assistance to Local Public Agencies for undertaking and carrying out urban renewal project;;
and
WHEREAS, it is provided in such Act that contracts for financial aid there-
under shall require that the Urban Renewal Plan for the respective project area be approved
by the Governing Body of the locality in which the project is situated and that such approval
include findings by the Governing Body that: (1) the financial aid to be provided in the
contract is necessary to enable the project to be undertaken in accordance with the Urban
Renewal Plan; (2) the Urban Renewal Plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent
with the sound needs of the locality as a whole, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of
the urban renewal area by private enterprise; (3) the Urban Renewal Plan conforms to a
General Plan for the development of the locality as a whole; and (4) the Urban Renewal
Plan gives due consideration to the provision of adequate park and recreational areas and
facilities as may be desirable for the health, safety, and welfare of children residing in the
general vicinity of the Site covered by the Plan„ and
WHEREAS, -thej Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington (herein
called the "Local Public, Agency") has filed a Final Project Report with the Housing and
Home Finance Agency for the urban renewal project (herein called the "Project") identified
as the California State Co]}ege Urban Renewal Area and encompassing the area devajHbeU
in Exhibit "A" dated July, 1963, which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference,
in the County of Washington,
State of Pennsylvania
(herein called
the "Locality"); and
i
WHEREAS, the
-
Local Public Agency
has applied for
financial assistance under
such Act and proposes to enter into a contract or contracts with the Housing and Home
1
Finance Agency for the undertaking of, and for making available financial assistance for
the Project; and
I
i
MINUTE BOOK
255
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS
WHEREAS, the Local Public Agency has made detailed studies of the
location, physical condition of structures, land use, environmental influences, and social,
cultural, economic conditions of the Project area and has determined that the area is a
blighted area and that it is detrimental and a menace to the health, safety, and welfare
of the inhabitants and users thereof and of the Locality at large, because of the existence
of deficiencies in over 50% of the buildings, obsolete building types not suitable for rehab-
ilitation or future conversions, incompatible types of uses, unsafe, congested and poorly
designed streets, and the members of the Governing Body have been fulVy apprised by the
Local Public Agency and are aware of these facts and conditions; and
WHEREAS, there has been prepared and referred to the Board of
Commissioners of the County of Washington. (herein called the "Governing Body") for review
and approval of a Redevelopment Proposal for the Project Area, dated November, 1963, and
consisting of and Urban Renewal Plan of 4 pages and 4 exhibits and a Redevelopment Area
Plan of 2 pages and 5 exhibits supported by the following supplementary material and
recommendations, which material and recommendations are not a part of said Redevelopme: at
Proposal; Final Project Report dated November, 1963.
WHEREAS, said Urban Renewal Plan has been approved by the Governing
Body of the Local Public Agency, as evidenced by the copy of said Body's duly certified
resolution approving said Urban Renewal Plan which is attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, a general plan has been prepared and is recognized and used
as a guide for the general development of the Locality as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the Borough of California which
is the duly designated and acting official planning body for the Locality, has submitted to tf.e
Governing Body its report and recommendations respecting said Redevelopment Proposal for
the Project Area and has certified that said Redevelopment Proposal conforms to the said
general plan for the Locality as a whole, and the Governing Body has duly considered said
report, recommendations and certification of the planning body; and
WHEREAS, said Redevelopment Proposal for the Project Area prescribes
certain land uses for the Project Area and will require among other things the reconstruc-
tion and vacating of certain streets; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Agency has prepared and submitted a pro-
gram for the relocation of families that may be displaced as a result of carrying out the
Project in accordance with said Urban Renewal Plan; and
WHEREAS, there have been also presented to the Governing Body infor-
mation and data respecting the relocation program which has been prepared by the Local
Public Agency as a result of studies, surveys, and inspections in the Project Area and the
assembling and analysis of the data and information obtained from such studies, surveys,
256 MINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTDN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. SEVEC,'JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS
r............... -- - - -- - - .__ - -- '-- ---- - - - ----- --- -- ._
and inspections; and
WHEREAS, the members of this Governing Body have general knowledgE
of the conditions prevailing in the Project area and of the availability of proper housing in
the locality for the relocation of families that may be displaced from the Project Area and,
in the light of such knowledge of local housing conditions, have carefully considered and
reviewed such proposals for relocation; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the Governing Body take appropriate
official action respecting the relocation program and said Urban Renewal Plan for the
Project, in conformity with the Contract for financial assistance between the Local Public
Agency and the United States of America, acting by and through the Housing and Home
Finance Administrator; and
WHEREAS, .the Governing Body is cognizant of the conditions that are
imposed in the undertaking and carrying out of urban renewal projects with Federal financial
assistance under Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, including those prohibiting
discrimination because of race, color, creed, or national origin with respect to housing,
facilities related to residential use, and all public facilities proposed as non -cash local
grants-in-aid;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSION-
ERS OF THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON AS FOLLOWS:
1. That it is hereby found and determined that the Project Area is a
blighted area and qualifies as an eligible Project Area under the Pennsylvania Urban Re-
development Law of 1945, as amended.
2. That said Redevelopment Proposal for the Project aforementioned,
having been duly reviewed and considered, is hereby approved, and the Chief Clerk be and
is hereby directed to file said copy of said Redevelopment Proposal with the minutes of
this meeting.
3. That it is hereby found and determined that the objectives of the
Urban Renewal Plan cannot be achieved through rehabilitation of the Urban Renewal Area.
4. That it is hereby found and determined that the Urban Renewal Plan
for the Project Area conforms to said general plan of the Locality.
5. That it is hereby found and determined that the financial aid pro-
vided and to be provided pursuant to said contract for Federal financial assistance pertaining
to the Project is necessary to enable the Project to be undertaken in accordance with the
Urban Renewal Plan for the Project Area.
6. That it is hereby found and determined that, in addition the elimin-
ation of conditions of blight from the Urban Renewal Area, the undertaking of the Project in
C�
such area will further promote the public welfare and the proper development of the
MINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. 9EVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS
community (a) by making land in such area available for disposition, for uses in accordance
with the Urban Renewal Plan, to the California State College for redevelopment in accord -
ante with the use specified in such Plan, (and) (or) (b) by providing, through the redevelop-
ment of the Urban Renewal Area in accordance with such Plan, a cohesive neighborhood
environment compatible with the functions and needs of California State College.
7. That it is hereby found and determined that the above mentioned
Urban Renewal Plan for the Urban Renewal Area will afford maximum opportunity, consis-
tent with the sound needs of the Locality as a whole, for the urban renewal of such areas
by private enterprise.
8. That it is hereby found and determined that the Urban Renewal Plan
and the Redevelopment Area Plan for the Urban Renewal Area gives adequate consideration
to the consideration to the provisions of adequate park and recreational areas and facilities
as may be desirable for neighborhood improvement, with special consideration for the
health, safety, and welfare of children residing in the general vicinity of the site covered
in the Plan.
9. That it is hereby found and determined that the proposals for the
proper relocation of families displaced in carrying out the Project in decent, safe, and
sanitary dwellings in conformity with acceptable standards are feasible and can be reason-
ably and timely effected to permit the proper prosecution and completion of the Project;
and that such dwellings or dwelling units available or to be made available to such displaced
families, are at least equal in number to the number of displaced families, are not generally
less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercialfaciiities than the
dwellings of the displaced families in the Project area, are available at rents or prices
within the financial means of the displaced families, and are reasonably accessible to their
places of employment.
10. That in order to implement and facilitate the effectuation of the
Redevelopment Proposal hereby approved, it is found and determined that certain official
action must be taken by this body - with reference, among other things, the vacating and
removal of streets, the establishment of new street patterns, and other public action, and
accordingly, this Body hereby; (a) pledges its cooperation in helping to carry out the Re-
development Proposal; (b) requests the various officidls, departments, boards and agencies
of the Locality having administrative responsibilities in the premises likewise to cooperate
to such end and to exercise their respective functions and powers in a manner consistent
with said Redevelopment Proposal; and (c) stands ready to consider and take appropriEite
action upon proposals
and measures designed to
effectuate
said Redevelopment Proposal;
11.
That additional financial
assistance
under the provisions of Title I
of the Mousing Act of 1949, as amended, is necessary to enable the 'Land in the Project