After nearly two years of work, Hollidaysburg Borough officials have finally released the updated draft of their 2035 comprehensive plan, laying out a roadmap for borough affairs over the coming decade.

The plan was written by an eight-member Steering Committee composed of representatives from the Hollidaysburg Borough Council, Historical Architecture Review Board and Borough Planning Commission, plus borough and Blair County Planning Commission staff.

Work on the plan began in 2019, after council members tasked the previous director of community development with creating a blueprint for borough projects over the next decade, according to current Director of Community Development Andrew Holodnik.

“I inherited the plan from my predecessor,” he said.

One of the first things Holodnik did after assuming the position in July 2023 was to take the then-complete draft of the plan to Borough Council, who requested further revision and more specificity on how to implement the plan’s recommendations.

The updated plan, comprehensively revised by Holodnik, Borough Manager Ethan Imhoff and the other six members of the Steering Committee, was released for a 45-day public review period before an adoption vote by Borough Council in December.

The revised plan relies on the “embedded planning” methodology espoused by California urban planner Jonathan Pacheco Bell, who was a key consultant during several stages of the process, Holodnik said.

Bell’s approach emphasizes planners getting “out of the office into the street,” Holodnik said, which facilitates direct dialogue between municipal leaders and the constituents they serve.

“You’re immersing yourself in the community,” he said.

In this spirit, Holodnik hosted a series of informal public discussions where Hollidaysburg community members could share their thoughts on the borough’s most pressing needs and trends in order to inform the updated plan.

Many residents highlighted ongoing stormwater mitigation efforts, improving streets and sidewalks, expanded housing options and retaining Hollidaysburg’s “small town character” while promoting economic growth as priorities, he said. Each of those issues became the pillars of the borough’s comprehensive plan.

Holodnik wants the plan — and the borough’s actions — to be a reflection of residents’ needs and desires, not a top-down order where local officials dictate the agenda without public input.

“We heard a lot of input from the public, and then we took that input and really redeveloped the plan to where we have it today,” he said.

Holodnik emphasized that the plan is a living, dynamic document that will be updated to reflect changing conditions in the borough over the next decade.

These reviews would be triggered by Borough Council in order to keep the plan relevant to any unforeseen situations that may arise, Holodnik said.

Borough staff will report to the council at regular intervals to inform them of how well their respective departments are implementing the plan’s suggestions.

The plan identifies concerns such as population decline and lower enrollment within the Hollidaysburg Area School District. Balancing those realities with the high demand for real estate in the borough is one of the issues tackled by Holodnik during the draft process.

“I am very appreciative of the staff, steering committee, Council, residents and business owners who have contributed thoughtful ideas and feedback throughout the planning process,” Imhoff said. “Much work remains to accomplish the goals we have set for ourselves, but I believe the plan is a solid road map that puts the Borough on a trajectory for future success.”

Interested parties can review the plan in person at the Hollidaysburg Municipal Building during office hours or online at https://www.hollidaysburgpa.org/.