It took about two years for the city of Farrell to assemble a redevelopment plan that outlines how a $500,000 state grant will be spent.

It will take another two to three months for various city boards to have their say on the plan and a final document is produced to send to the state.

Under the plan, the Hillside Industrial Park would be expanded northward, and vacant buildings along Idaho Street between Spearman and Fruit avenues would be cleared, both moves to make the areas more attractive to developers.

Existing buildings would be demolished, four residents would be relocated, utility lines would be moved or added and the area would be replatted, eliminating the maze of small lots and combining them into much larger parcels.

The $1 million plan would be funded by the city and the state Redevelopment Capital Assistance program, also known as the Capital Budget program.

Project consultant Tom Graney said, although specific properties are identified to be bought, the city is not committed to buying them until the state money is approved.

The state awarded the grant based on a conceptual outline of the city's plans, but still has to approve the final plan before it will agree to release funds.

City solicitor Stephen Mirizio added the state required the city to identify the properties it would want to buy in the plan.

"Just because their property is in the plan, doesn't mean their property is going to be acquired," Mirizio said. "The critical point is not to mislead in any way."

The plan identifies 37 properties that could be bought, only 10 of which have buildings on them.

No property owners have been contacted about the possibility of the city buying their properties, but Graney suggested that the city should do that once the process moves along a little further.

He said residents of the four occupied houses in the proposed Hillside extension would be eligible for relocation services, including moving expenses and assistance in buying or renting a new home, Graney said.

The city already has hired Roger Winston, a Farrell Redevelopment Authority member, as relocation specialist, and Richard G. English and Associates Inc., Sharon, to appraise properties.

Engineer Ed Winslow is writing bid-worthy plans and specifications, which must be included in the application to the state.

Farrell Planning Commission, which last month declared the proposal areas blighted, approved the plan Monday. It now goes to the Farrell Redevelopment Authority before going back to the planning commission and ultimately making its way to council. At least one public hearing will be held.