Canal Place Heritage Area Management Plan Update Public Open House And Agency Scoping

Date: April 11, 2012
Contact: Peggie Gaul, 301-491-1743

Cumberland, MD -- Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, in partnership with the National Park Service, and the City of Cumberland, will host a public open house and agency scoping on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM for the Canal Place Heritage Area Management Plan Update. The meeting will be held at the Western Maryland Railroad Station (second floor), 13 Canal Street, Cumberland, Maryland. Interested parties may stop in at anytime during the posted hours. The project is being undertaken to develop recommendations for project areas and opportunities associated with Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority. In conjunction with the Plan Update, the National Park Service is undertaking an environmental assessment that will look at potential park projects within the Cumberland area and the City is updating their Downtown Development Plan. The Public Scoping Period for the project will be open for 31 days, beginning April 18 through May 18, 2012.

In 1993 the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority was created by the State of Maryland to oversee the management of the Canal Place Preservation District. In 1996 the Canal Place Heritage Area Management Plan was developed, which identified major rehabilitation and restoration projects. With the 1996 plan expiring, a new plan must be undertaken. The scoping meeting will afford the public the opportunity to learn about potential plan components, comment on those elements, and suggest other components for consideration within the plan. Project team members from the National Park Service, Canal Place Authority, the City of Cumberland and project consultants will be on hand at the meeting to answer questions and provide further information. Comments received during this scoping meeting will be used to develop project alternatives.

The open house will also function as the agency scoping meeting as required for the National Park Service, under the National Environmental Policy Act, pursuant to section 1501.7 of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508).

Only written comments will be accepted. Project information for the Heritage Area Plan Update, Downtown Design and Development Plan, and Boatyard and Rewatering Environmental Assessment can be found on the National Park Service's website "Planning, Environment, and Public Comment" at https://parkplanning.nps.gov "Canal Place Heritage Area Management Plan Update and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP Cumberland Boatyard and Rewatering Environmental Assessment." It is preferred to receive comments electronically;

however, hardcopy comments may be addressed to the project consultant: Brandi Rosselli, AICP, Manager of Planning Services at Mackin Engineering at RIDC Park West, 117 Industry Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275.