McCandless seeks input for rezoning through online mapping activity

Only a few more weeks remain to participate in an online zoning activity that could help shape the future of McCandless.

The “Preserve, Enhance, Change! Mapping McCandless” is an online, interactive website that allows residents and other community stakeholders to “drop a pin” on places in town they’d like to be modified or stay the same.

Users have three pin choices: green, for where they want to preserve an area; blue, for where they want to see improvements; and yellow, for where they want to see transformative change.

This allows people to show where they want to see growth, development and preservation in the town, according to RJ Susko, planning and development director for the Town of McCandless.

“We’re giving residents and stakeholders the ability to share their thoughts about specific areas around town in order to build a better picture of a few different things,” Susko said.

With the “enhance or change” categories, or blue and yellow pins, officials are looking for what the community perceives as “neighborhood nodes,” or hot spots for opportunity or dynamic change, Susko said.

“With the ‘preserve’ category, we want to hear what’s already working so we can continue to allow that type of community character in our redesigned ordinances. That can be anything from an existing park to a residential neighborhood – if you like it the way it is, use a preserve pin,” she said.

The mapping activity can be found at www.mccandlessandme.com. Officials are still finalizing an end date, according to Susko.

This is one step in a year-long, full overhaul of the town’s zoning modernization project, being completed by town staff, a community task force and a consulting team from Michael Baker International, an engineering and consulting firm with offices in Pittsburgh.

The team from Michael Baker is scheduled to provide an update on the project at the next town council meeting, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the town hall on Grubbs Road, according to Susko.

Council President Michael Tarle, Ward 3, asked Susko to provide the community ways to communicate other than online.

“Not everybody is technically savvy to use McCandless and Me, so how are we reaching them via print material?” he said.

Susko said the McCandless Town Crier mailer is going out to residents to update them on the project as well.

The online map activity should be very easy to use, according to Susko. Just a couple of clicks or taps allows a user to drop a pin with comments, which can be as anonymous as the person wants. A display name is required to drop a pin, but users can choose whatever word or name they want to use there.

“We don’t see your email or any other identifying info unless you’re already a registered user of McCandless and Me,” Susko said.

The activity is open to residents and community stakeholders.

“We’re fortunate that many businesses and major institutions call McCandless home, and they also depend on our infrastructure and amenities, so their input is important too,” she said.

The community should get involved because it’s helps the town’s project team understand what gets people excited about the future of the town, she said.

“It’s OK to dream big here. Having a thoughtfully crafted zoning plan lets developers know that you care about what happens in your community and helps to draw the good stuff in, rather than crossing your fingers and hoping somebody decides to build something nice. When new developments come through, people often wonder ‘how the sausage was made’ for what is and isn’t allowed – now’s your chance to have a say in that,” she said.

The mapping activity will be one of several of projects featured at the Town of McCandless Zoning Modernization Open House on June 23, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Town Hall on Grubbs Road.

The McCandless land-use code has remained in place since its original adoption in the late 1970s, and no longer suits the needs of the community, according to Susko.

Part of the 2019 comprehensive plan included policy focus areas of smart redevelopment, walkability and pedestrian connectivity and sustainable preservation of green space, according to the McCandless and Me! Website.