Input from county residents and officials is requested at an open house being hosted by the planning and economic development department.

Mark Gordon, director of that department, said the Smart Moves for a Changing Region open house will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday on the first floor of the county government center on South Jackson Street.

The Southwest Pennsylvania Commission is holding a meeting in each of the 10 counties represented in the commission as they work to recreate their long-range transportation and development plan and their transportation improvement plan.

Those who have an interest in transit and the development of the county, Gordon said, should come to the open house and share their thoughts on what the region should look like in the coming decades.

“A great problem to have would be an overwhelming number of people attending and we can't accommodate them all,” Gordon said.

He said the SPC will have professionals on hand with illustrative tools such as maps, large white boards and digital displays to effectively interact with those who attend the event.

He said while all ideas and thoughts will be considered, the views of millennials in particular will be sought.

“Their view of where they want to live is maybe different from (an older demographic),” Gordon said, “so this is a forum for all generations.”

He said communities within the county, like Butler, Mars and Zelienople, are currently engaged in downtown revitalization projects, and would benefit from the views of millennials.

“There's a move away from malls and shopping centers and a resurgence of the local downtown,” Gordon said. “How does that play out in the digital world?”

He hopes residents of the northern part of the county will attend, as he has heard Baby Boomers from that area lament the lack of condominiums and other neighborhoods where residents could remain in their community but avoid maintaining farms, lawns and homes.

“We're hoping to get some of those folks into this because it's a great way to voice some of those ideas,” Gordon said.

Gordon is looking for township supervisors and borough council members in addition to regular citizens in the interest of getting the widest possible panorama of the region's future regarding transportation and development.

Regarding transportation, Gordon said the SWP's ongoing long-range plan includes not only a vision for new roads and bridges, but incorporates the use of ridesharing apps, transit services, driverless cars and other forms of transportation that should be considered moving forward.

“This is a way to get the communities engaged in that and give them a chance to provide input,” Gordon said.

Because the event is set up as an open house, those interested in attending can arrive and leave at will during the two hours.

Abby Stark, the SPC's public involvement specialist, said the commission has so far held open houses in three of the 10 counties.

“With the development of the long-range plan, we are looking to gather input and thoughts about the region for the next 25 to 30 years,” Stark said.

At the information-gathering events in Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties, trails, bridges and how projects are funded were some of the subjects discussed.

After the 10 meetings are completed, the SPC will gather all the information and hold meetings with stakeholders to talk about what input was given, where it will fit into the final long-range plan, what funding would be available to carry out projects, and other points, Stark said.

Once a tentative plan is created, Stark said a formal 30-day public comment period will allow residents of the 10 counties to view it and give their suggestions.

Finally, the SPC board of directors will vote to approve or reject the plan, she said.

Gordon hopes everyone who cares about the success of Butler County's future will attend the event Oct. 25.

“It's aimed at getting public participation and public involvement,” he said.