To solve existing traffic and rental housing problems and prepare for the future, the State College Planning Commission reviewed a plan for the College Heights area last night.

The College Heights plan is the third in a series of neighborhood plans designed to improve the borough and keep families in the area. The borough wants to retain families because two-thirds of the $8.5 million general fund budget comes from taxes -- 30 percent from property taxes, 55 percent from the earned-income tax and 15 percent from all other taxes. Most students do not own property or pay the earned-income tax.

To develop the plan, the borough surveyed 126 College Heights residents. They were most concerned with protecting property from non-residential land uses (75 percent) and regulating rental housing (50 percent). Residents complained mainly about poorly maintained properties with unshoveled sidewalks or uncut lawns.

Residents also wanted to limit traffic on North Allen Street, Park Avenue and North Atherton Street.

While traffic and rental property problems are not unusual, the College Heights area is unique because it does not border the downtown, only the University. The area also has a lower percentage of rental properties, 25 percent, said Bill Davison of the Pennsylvania Service Corps.

College Heights is a residential area in the western part of the borough.

Borough staff members presented the survey results to 40 residents at a College Heights Association meeting in December. The staff wants to meet with residents three more times to get further input.

In March, Planning Commission members will tour the area and review the second part of the plan, which will contain specific solutions. The final plan should be ready by April or May, Davison said.