Mercer County could be the first county in Pennsylvania to put state legislation on multi-municipal planning into action.

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code -- under Act 67 of 2000 -- allows two or more municipalities to work together to prepare a comprehensive plan.

Mercer County Commissioners adopted a resolution Thursday promoting an effort to make a comprehensive plan for most of the county.

"It's untried, untested and confusing legislation," said David Miller, associate dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public & International Affairs, which will coordinate the effort of local communities.

"Mercer County has a long history of working together. It's a likely place to see if the legislation works," Miller said.

"Mercer County is leading western Pennsylvania and arguably the entire state to find ways to work together," Miller said.

According to a University of Pittsburgh study, the state legislation address traditional planning issues like finding the best location for housing and industries and improving infrastructure.

It also allows cooperating municipalities to designate areas where growth is desired and rural character preferred, zone across municipal boundaries and make joint decisions on projects that have large-scale impact, the study said.

"More and more, state funding decisions are favoring municipalities who plan for the future and plan cooperatively," Miller added.

Denny Puko, director of the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, said the county plans to seek state funding this summer to cover consultant fees. The study could take 18 months to complete, he said.

Puko said a 20-member committee of Mercer County leaders representing municipalities, schools, development, conservation and business have been studying the legislation since late 2000.

Puko said the county will be divided into five subregions for the planning effort. The Shenango Valley, which is currently studying the possibility of a merger or consolidation, will not be a part of the countywide effort.