1858 Consolidated plan public meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Consolidated Plan Public Meeting

[35 Pa.B. 5535]

   The Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) proposes to adopt the Commonwealth's Action Plan for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2006 (Plan) and the program year that starts on January 1, 2006. The 2006 Plan is an update of the Commonwealth's Consolidated Plan for FFY 2004-2008 (Consolidated Plan). The Plan discussed herein is the second annual update of the Consolidated Plan submitted by the Commonwealth.

   The Plan updates documents that have been previously submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These documents include the nonhousing community development plan and any changes that the Department may have implemented concerning the four programs administered by the Commonwealth. The programs administered by the Department are the Community Development Block Grant, the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) and the Emergency Shelter Grant programs. The Department of Health administers the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program.

   This summary is designed to provide an opportunity to citizens, local governmental officials and interested organizations of this Commonwealth to comment about the Plan. Written comments should be submitted to Karen Overly Smith, Center for Community Building, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Written comments must be received by October 28, 2005, to be included in the Plan.

Public Meeting

   The public meeting will be conducted electronically by means of the Internet. The format will be more accessible in that persons who wish to make a comment or discuss policy may participate directly from their personal computer or from a computer location at their public library. Access to the discussion by means of the Internet will occur between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on October 27, 2005. This more widely available personal computer access will replace the usual public meeting.

   Individuals or organizations may give testimony or comments by means of the Internet. Comments will be accepted about topics related to community development, housing, the content of the Plan and the process by which the public input is gathered. The Commonwealth encourages public participation in this process.

   Persons who want to participate must register in advance online by means of the Internet. Contact Karen Overly Smith at [phone] to receive registration instructions for the Internet meeting at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date. Internet public meeting access will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 27, 2005. During the meeting, if support is required, call [phone].

Purpose

   The Plan is the second update to the 5-year Consolidated Plan. This Plan will describe how the programs will be administered in 2006. HUD must approve this Plan for the Commonwealth and organizations within the State to receive funding under most HUD housing and community development programs. Applicants for funding from Federal housing programs must obtain certification that their proposed use of HUD assistance will be consistent with the applicable Plan for the area. The Consolidated Plan creates a unified strategy for housing and community development programs as well as the necessary linkages for building successful neighborhoods and communities.

   The Plan will have a major impact on the types, location and number of affordable housing units generated and preserved in this Commonwealth as well as the infrastructure and public facilities, services and other economic and community development initiatives that communities in this Commonwealth will undertake.

Content

   The Consolidated Plan will be updated by means of this document. Updates include a revised set of the priorities for funding housing programs and a process change for distributing the HOME funds with a greater involvement of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).

Public Review

   The Consolidated Plan is available on Internet website or in hardcopy for public comment October 1, 2005, through November 8, 2005, at the following locations:

   1.  County Offices.

   2.  Department Regional Offices:

   Southeast Regional Office, 908 State Office Building, Broad and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19130, [phone].

   Northeast Regional Office, 409 Lackawanna Avenue, 3rd Floor, Oppenheim Building, Scranton, PA 18503.

   Northcentral and Southcentral Regional Offices, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone].

   Southwest Regional Office, 413 State Office Building, 300 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, [phone].

   Northwest Regional Office, 1200 Lovell Place Apartments, Erie, PA 16503, [phone].

   3.  27 District Libraries:

B. F. Jones Memorial Library, Aliquippa
Allentown Public Library, Allentown
Centre County Library, Bellefonte
Bethlehem Area Public Library, Bethlehem
Conococheague District Library, Chambersburg
Clarion District Library, Clarion
Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown
Easton Area Public Library, Easton
Erie County Library, Erie
Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg
Cambria County Library, Johnstown
Lancaster County Library, Lancaster
Delaware County Library, Brookhaven
Monessen Public Library, Monessen
New Castle Public Library, New Castle
Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library,
   Norristown
Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
Pottsville Free Public Library, Pottsville
Reading Public Library, Reading
Scranton Public Library, Scranton
Warren Public Library, Warren
Citizen's Library, Washington
Chester County Library, Exton
Osterhout Free Library, Wilkes-Barre
James V. Brown Library, Williamsport
Martin Memorial Library, York

   4.  Audio Cassette copies of the Consolidated Plan can be obtained by contacting the Tri-County Branch of the Pennsylvania Association of the Blind, Patricia Summers, Coordinator, Harrisburg Area Radio Reading Services, 1800 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, [phone].

   5.  The Draft Plan can be viewed at www.newpa.com. The Plan will be made available again at these same locations following HUD approval.

DENNIS YABLONKSY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-1858. Filed for public inspection October 7, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]