C 0 A4 P R E HE N SI YE P L A N ENGINEERS for WALKER TOWNSHIP PLANNERS Schuyudll County, Pennsylumia SURVEYORS- ~ ENGINEERING CO. INC. READING, PENNSYLVANIA Rockwood Center, P. 0. Box 157, Pottsville, PA 17901 I I I I I I I I COIMPREHENS IVE P- I I FOR I WALKER TOFJPJSHIP I Schuylkill County,Pennsylvania I I I I I I I I I COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I Walker Township, Pennsylvania I Page Chapter 1. Introduction/Comparison ................... 1 I Chapter 2. Existing Land Use Characteristics......... 3 A. Historical Background B. Geology I C. Topography D. Soils E. Water Impoundment Site& I F. Wetlands Chapter 3. Existing Land Use......................... 12 I A. Survey Data B. Existing Land Use Inventory C. Developed Land I D. Undeveloped Land Chapter 4. Population ................................ 17 I A. Population Trends B. Population Projection I C. Age Distribution Chapter 5. Social and Economic Characteristics....... 20 I A. Municipal Revenues B. Municipal Expenditures C. Housing I D. Per Capita Income/Labor Force Chapter 6. Community Facilities...................... 24 I A. Transportation B. Schools C. Cultural Facilities E. Refuse Collection I F. Utilities G. Recreation I H. Public Buildings I I I I I Chapter 7. Relationship of the Plan to Surrounding Municipalities ............................ 30 I Chapter 8. Goals and Objectives ...................... 33 A. General Township Goals I 1. Residential 2. Agricultural 3. Industrial 4. Commercial I 5. Conservation I Chapter 9. Recommendations........................... 38 A. Land Use B. Community Facilities I Recreational Areas Fire/Police Protection Library I Municipal Building C. Sewage, Water and Solid Waste Removal I Sewage Requirements Water Requirements Solid Waste Disposal I D. Implementation Capital Improvements Planning Land Use Regulations I Municipal Ordinances Flood Plain Management Ordinance I CONCLUSION I I I I I I I I I Chapter 1. Introduction In 1974, Walker Township, with the assistance of Penngast I Corporation, Tamaqua, drafted and adopted their first Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the Pennsylvania State I Municipalities Planning Code Act 241. This revised Comprehensive Plan will analyze the previous plan and provide an update to that document. I Several sections dealing with invariable items such as the history of the township, geology, etc., will be incorporated into this update in its present form. Other sections such as I population, housing, etc., will likely change. At this time, thanks should be given to the Walker Township I Planning Cammission and Supervisors for their guidance. The Schuylkill County Planning Commission and PennBast Corporation should also be given credit for providing basic data which is I made part of this revised Comprehensive Plan. I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I Comparison of 1974 and 1991 Comprehensive Plan I Although concepts contained in Walker Township's Comprehensive Plan of 1974 have been retained, updates and additions to these concepts have been incorporated to reflect the seventeen years I which have passed since revisions have been made. Existing land uses have been altered to reflect a more factual overview on current uses. Right of ways for utilities have now I been included into the category on which they are granted such as agricultural or woodlands. I Locations of wetlands as defined by Wetland Inventory Maps have been included. The use of Comprehensive Plan mapping for accurate delineation of wetlands cannot be accepted as a general I practice for absolute delineation of Wetlands, but should be a guideline in the development of Walker Township. Population projections of past Comprehensive Planuing have fallen I short of actual population increases; therefore, the arithmetic projection only has been utilized in this Comprehensive Plan update of 1991. Furthermore, age distribution figures have been I introduced and are a vital planning tool that can be used to forecast future needs within a comunmity. The Comprehensive Plan of 1974 places no emphasis on development I of recreational areas or added police protection. The new updated comprehensive Plan of 1991 addresses the recreational possibilities more thoroughly and includes the idea of a I Recreation Committee being established. New recreational facilities and the addition of a police chief in Walker Township reflects the Townships willingness and ability to provide more I services to its residents. Road jurisdiction of Walker Township has been increased and places an added responsibility on current road maintenance I finding considerations and practices. I I I I 2 I I I I Chapter 2. Existing Land Use Characteristics I A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - SCWYLKILL COUNTY Schuylkill County, located in eastern Pennsylvania, was formed fram portions of Berks, Lancaster, and Northampton I Counties on March 18, 1811, by an act signed by Governor Synder. This act joined together several townships to form the County. Additional territory was added to Schuylkill County on March 3, 1818, from Columbia and Luzerne Counties I and was designated as Union Township. At the time of the formation of the County the original townships included Schuylkill, Brunswick, wanheim, Norwegian, Upper and Lower I Mahantongo, Pine Grove, West Penn and Rush. In 1880, small areas of Columbia and Lehigh Counties were also added to I Schuylkill County. The first people to settle in Schuylkill County were the "Pennsylvania Dutch," who settled in the southern and Western parts of the County, just north of the Blue Mountain. I These people raised products such as potatoes, rye, wheat, and corn to supplement the natural foods growing in the area. I In later years came the development of the coal mining industry. This industry occurred south of the Broad Mountain and Mahanoy basin. Agricultural operations Were not a dominant feature in or directly adjacent to the coal mining I areas. The lumbering industry made its debut prior to 1800 and I before the development of the coal mining industry. The lumbering industry developed along the Schuylkill River which proved beneficial in transporting the raw material to I downstream markets. With increased operations of the coal mining industry came greater demands for lumber and wood products. I The coal mining industry enjoyed great prosperity as the "black gold" was found useful for the manufacture of iron and I the heating of homes. The depression of the 1930's saw a major decline of the coal mining industry. Coal began an upswing during World War I1 I but shortly thereafter, started declining again. The great canal building era of the 1800's provided for the transportation of coal, lumber, and agricultural products to I downstream ports and in return, the delivery of products to the County. The canals that were located in Schuylkill County were later taken over by the railroads and soon became I the prime mode of transportation for marketing the County's products. I 3 I I I REG10 NA1 POSITION I I I I I I HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - WALKER TOWNSHIP Walker Township was formed from the southern section of Schuylkill Township in 1878. Schuylkill Township was one of the I original townships in the County, being detached from Berks County in 1811. The Township is located in the eastern portion of Schuylkill County. It is contiguous with the Borough of I Tamaqua and the Tamships of West Perm, East Brunswick, West Brunswick, Blythe and Schuylkill. The Township contains an area of 22.6 square miles. The population in 1880 and 1890 according to the census was 510 and 560 respectively. In 1880, the I taxation revenue of Walker Township was a total of $1,467.56. I PHYSICAL FEATURES The terrain within Walker Township is diversified - being mountainous, hilly and in some areas, level. Sharp Mountain I transverses the T0Vnsh.i~ in an east-west direction through the northern portion. Wildcat Mountah runs in an east-west direction through the center and southwestern portion of the Township. Between these two mountains lie the agricultural lands I of the Lewistown and New England Valleys. To the south of the Wildcat Mountain lie hilly agricultural lands. I The eastern boundary of the Township is formed by the Little Schuylkill River which finds its origin in the mountains north of Walker Township. Beaver Creek originates in approximately the geographic center of the Township and flows in a southwesterly I direction. This creek joins Cold Run in the southern portion of the Township and both creeks eventually flow into the Little Schuylkill River. The Wabash Creek, located along the northern I boundary of the Township, flows in an easterly direction and empties into the Little Schuylkill River in Tamaqua. I Brushy Run and Stump Run originate in the Wildcat Mountain and flow in a southerly direction into the Little Schuylkill River at Webster and Reynolds respectively. I EARLY SETTLEMENTS The first settlement in Walker Township, which was at that time I still a part of Schuylkill Towhip, was made in the Lewistown Valley in 1802. The settlers were Gelplans and New Englanders whose well cultivated and fertile f- attest their thrift and energy. A portion of the territory was productive coal land, I north of Sharp mountain, which was owned and partially operated by the Philadelphia, Reading Coal and Iron Company. The villages of Schuylkill Township came into existence, principally, in I recognition of the needs of this industry, and have declined or grown, according to the transitory character of the inhabitants. I 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I SCHUYLKILL COUNTY I I I I I I I I The only settlement of importance in Walker Township during the I early years of its formation was Lewistown Village. Lewistown was a postal village and contained ten dwellings; one store, an Evangelical Church built in 1866, and a Union Lutheran and I Reformed Church built in 1834.