The historical importance of Route 30, Westmoreland County's primary east-west highway, cannot be overstated. From the time of the French and Indian War, it has played a significant role in economic growth locally and expansion westward.

But what about the future? The Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County wondered. How can the rural landscape be preserved, its towns be revitalized, and the benefits of growth be enjoyed while avoiding negative consequences -- soaring housing prices, clogged roadways and vanishing open space?

In its continuing effort to answer those questions the Partnership last week hosted a weeklong design charrette at the University of Pittsburgh's Greensburg campus, where it is housed. A charrette is a final, intense push to complete a project that often includes public workshops or an open house. More than 150 people -- municipal officials, developers, residents and students -- provided suggestions on what they'd like to see as a prototype development for a 30-acre parcel on Route 30 in Unity.

"It was a wonderful week. There was lots of participation and, I think, great ideas and a lot of energy to get moving forward and get things going on Route 30," said Alex Graziani. He's director of the partnership, a community-based nonprofit that seeks to encourage community growth that improves the quality of life for residents and businesses.

"The goal is to raise the level of civic engagement," Mr. Graziani said. "This isn't planners telling everyone what to do. This is very different, asking the community 'What do you want to see happen?' "

Among the concepts developed by the group, with the expertise of a retained "dream team" of design professionals, engineers, architects, urban planners and landscape architects, were:

• Mixed use development with the highest density centered on Route 30.

• Public open spaces providing gathering places throughout the site.

• A gateway at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 981 serving as an "arrival point" to Latrobe and the Laurel Highlands.

• Retaining the Route 30 corridor as a regional connection with parallel roads providing local "circulation."

• Greenways defining the development areas as well as connecting the rural context of the development.

The prototype for safe, efficient, attractive and connecting land use -- available at www.route30plan.com -- is part of a master plan for Route 30. The plan spans 40 miles from the growing suburbs east of Pittsburgh to the Laurel Highlands and includes 12 municipalities, eight of which have frontage on Route 30. The four-year study, which began in 2005, is funded with about $400,000 in grants.

A final plan, utilizing a best-use strategy for transportation and land development, is expected to be completed in April, allowing for one full year of implementation until April 2009, when funding ends.

When completed, the Route 30 Master Plan, which builds upon numerous transportation and land use planning efforts conducted over the past several years, will become a strategic blueprint for what is considered the county's economic growth corridor.

First Published: November 1, 2007, 10:45 a.m.