CRANBERRY TWP — Better highways, a vision for parks and greenways, open space preservation and traffic management are all major themes in the nearly completed Cranberry Plan, the township's new 25-year comprehensive plan.

That long-range planning document is poised to be adopted this spring by the township supervisors.

A number of underlying themes dominated the plan that was developed by the citizens advisory panel, which has more than 80 volunteers, by the comments from residents and staff.

A major point of the plan is that the township must continue to pursue all funding programs for road improvements.

The priority projects identified include the replacement of the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridges on Rochester and Freedom roads, improvements along the Route 228 and Freedom Road, and additional connections to Interstate 79 and the Turnpike.

For parks and recreation, a priority is to develop a master plan for parks, recreation, open space and greenways, while exploring opportunities for open space preservation.

The plan also looks to establish an overall traffic management plan.

Once the plan is adopted, regular updates will be given to the supervisors and the community on progress made, and an annual "report card" will be developed, said John Trant, the township chief strategic planning officer.

John Morgan, a planning advisory commission member, questioned Trant at the planning commission meeting Monday how the plan could be adjusted since development in the next few years is expected to slow due to the recession.

Trant said Western Pennsylvania, including Cranberry, has weathered the economic storm far better than many regions.

Although the township is not unaffected, it has been bolstered by Westinghouse Electric's development of a new headquarters at Cranberry Woods on Route 228.

Bill Thompson, a planning advisory commission member, lauded the efforts of the citizens advisory panel, the township staff and the residents who participated in the planning process.

"There hasn't been a plan put together in all of Western Pennsylvania. It (the Cranberry Plan) really sets Cranberry apart from other townships," he said.

The township's planning advisory commission Monday evening approved the 260-page document.

It now goes onto the township supervisors for their final review. A public hearing on the final draft is set for March 24. The supervisors are expected to adopt the plan on April 2.

The plan contains a series of recommendations from Cranberry's land use and development strategies through 2030. That includes the land use map that has been developed from discussions with the citizens advisory panel and comments gathered in the nearly two-year process.

The new plan will succeed the current township comprehensive plan that was adopted in 1995. Copies of the draft will be available at the township offices and will be posted online at the township's Web site: www.cranberrytownship.org.

Copies also will be mailed to member of the citizens advisory panel, the Seneca Valley School District, surrounding municipalities, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the Butler County Commissioners and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

The public comment period will run from Feb. 6 to March 24. Those comments will be incorporated into the final document.