Moscow officials expect a central theme in the borough's next long-range plan to be attracting new businesses and keeping existing ones.
By contrast, officials said the primary focus of the previous version, which was set in motion in 1999 to 2000, was upgrading the borough's infrastructure, and many of the goals laid out in that plan have been achieved.
The last plan culminated in work like the Main Street project that emphasized beautifying the borough and improving drainage along the thoroughfare.
The project included tearing out and replacing curbs and sidewalks; changing the slope of Main Street; adding plants, bushes and flowers to the streetscape; improving parking; and adding new streetlights.
Councilman Ed Gaughan said residents will soon receive surveys in the mail as the committee working on the plan continues to gather input from the community about residents' vision for the borough.
"We want community members to tell us what they'd like to see the town look like in 10 years," Mr. Gaughan said.
The councilman said the borough has some vacancies from businesses that left, and the plan is a good opportunity for people to think about what might be ideal to replace them, in addition to perhaps what new recreation opportunities residents may want.
He said the plan should be well thought out, and one consideration is the borough would not want to recruit new businesses that could drive existing establishments out of business.
After all of the input is gathered, Mr. Gaughan said the committee working on the plan will try to narrow the suggestions by consensus, determine what is feasible, and pass the plan on to the full council.
The committee next meets at 7 p.m. May 8 at the Borough Building, and Mr. Gaughan invited residents to email ideas to office@moscow borough.com.
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