There's no doubt Grove City has changed significantly since the 1960s. Borough officials will soon know just how much.

Within the next couple of weeks, borough residents will receive a survey from the consulting firm of Graney, Grossman, Ray, Colosimo and Associates. Its goal is to update the town's Comprehensive Plan, which is some 40 years old.

Borough Manager Terry Farren stressed the importance of this questionnaire in planning the future of Grove City.

"It will take a look at all aspects of the community," Farren said. "It will consist of two parts. The first is a short income survey. The second asks questions specifically concerning the community, like what the residents feel needs to be done, their likes and dislikes."

The survey will be hand-delivered door to door by Graney, Grossman, Ray, Colosimo and Associate representatives. Included in the survey will be a self-addressed, stamped envelope for its return to the firm's office. Those delivering the surveys will be identified with a photo badge, said Rick Grossman.

"They will not be entering houses," Grossman said. "They will be knocking on doors and explaining the process."

Grossman said a deadline for their return has yet to be determined, but it will likely be three weeks after they've been received.

Farren stressed that the surveys will be strictly confidential, so residents should respond honestly.

"This affords everyone a chance to comment on a number of things in the borough," he said. "They should express their feelings. We need to know what the community and residents believe we should be doing, and what needs we are meeting and not meeting in the community."

The survey was put together by the borough's planning commission, Farren, and Graney, Grossman Ray, Colosimo and Associates. They began working on it late last fall, and pushed it along in January, Farren said. Redoing the Comprehensive Plan is being funded through the Community Development Block Grant program, which was approved last year.

Farren said the income survey portion will enable the borough to determine areas of town that will be eligible for CDBG funding.

"If there are pockets within the community with low to moderate incomes, we can do things other than just housing rehabilitation," Farren said.

Options would be water line work, sewage, or street improvements, Farren said.

"Without knowing the income of the areas, we aren't able to do that," he said. "The income survey is very important to know where to utilize these funds."

The remaining part of the survey will become a "planning document" for borough officials, Farren said.

"It will tell us what the community believes we should be doing with different projects, improvements, housing, recreation facilities and roads," Farren said.

Grossman said he would like to get an 80- to 90-percent return on the first, shorter, survey.

With the second portion, which is a little longer, he expects about a 40- to 60-percent return.

"It's a little more involved, but if people really want to participate in the future of the community, it's way easier to fill out a survey than it is to vote, not to take away the importance of voting," Grossman said. "A few minutes of the residents' time can help council make important decisions."

Farren concurred.

"This is so critical," he added. "We need to update the comprehensive plan. It's long overdue."