Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
50-Year History

In 1952, seven municipalities of the Shenango Valley organized to form a joint planning commission and a shared professional planning staff. With the urging of Emery Sedlak of the Pennsylvania Economy League, municipal leaders saw the need to plan new growth in the Valley and help revitalize areas beginning to deteriorate.

The Shenango Valley Regional Planning Commission (SVRPC), as it was called, held its first meeting December 29, 1952 at the Shenango Inn in Sharon. Sedlak addressed the new group. "Regional planning is one of the best things ever to come to the Valley," he said. "If the job is taken seriously and politics is ignored, we can show marked progress in community development and have a jump on many areas."

SVRPC director Eric Lane in the late 1950s.

The original seven municipalities were the Cities of Farrell and Sharon, the Boroughs of Sharpsville, West Middlesex, and Wheatland, and the Townships of Hickory and South Pymatuning. Philip Angle of Sharon chaired the initial commission of 18 representatives.

Early the first year SVRPC hired its first planning director, Bob Bartels, and set up an office at 61 South Dock Street in Sharon.

In 1958, Mercer County established a planning commission (modified in 1959 to be a planning & zoning commission). It first met at the county courthouse, April 3, 1958, with nine members and Gedeon LaCroix serving as chair. The county commission did not hire its own staff, but contracted with SVRPC to provide professional planning services. In 1961, the county joined SVRPC.

SVRPC / MCRPC director Les Spaulding 
and solicitor George Mahaney at 20^th Anniversary

The two planning commissions co-existed until January 1, 1972 when a restructuring occurred. Mercer County abolished its own planning commission. SVRPC changed its name to the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.

Over the years, more municipalities joined as members. Today, MCRPC membership includes 32 cities, boroughs, or townships plus the county. MCRPC is involved in planning for community and economic development, transportation, zoning and subdivision regs, solid waste management and recycling, and more throughout the county.

Heading into its 50th year, MCRPC has had only four executive directors: Bob Bartels (1953-1956), Eric Lane (1956-1962), Les Spaulding (1962-1992), and Denny Puko (1993-present). The commission has been housed at four different offices: 61 S. Dock St., Sharon (1953-1962), 1565 E. State St., Sharon (1962-1978), Sharpsville Plaza (1978-2000), and 2491 Highland Road, Hermitage (2000-present).

Past MCRPC chairs at 35^th Anniversary – Back row: Ed Finucane, Paul Bastress, Sam Scott, Harold Hoffman, Dan Babnis, Francis Miller, Jim Rollinson, Jim Montgomery, Jim Hughes, T.D. Stewart. Front row: Arden Moyer, Howard McQuiston, Marion Takoch, Olivia Lazor, Dean Alexander, Paul Pilgram.

50th Anniversary Homepage