Kelly Township Board of Supervisors
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KELLY TOWNSHIP 1992 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE REPORT Kelly Township Board of Supervisors Joseph H. Hoffman Chairman William W. Haas Dallas A. Walter Vice-chairman Secretary Kelly Township Planning Commission Nancy Hazlinsky Chairperson Chia-Ching Chang Pat Hughes Vi ce-Chairm an Secretary David Hackenberg David Hassenplug Edward Meslener John Pawling Steven Ranck Don a 1d Wen ner TABLE OF CONTENTS I Preface ........ .............................................. Page 1 I Background: Past Views on Kelly Township ............................ Page 2 Foreground: Present Views on Kelly Township .......................... Page 4 Introduction ................................................... Page 6 I Existing Conditions .............................................. Page 7 Existing Land Use .......................................... Page 8 I Existing Land Use Summary .................................. Page 14 The Zoning Ordinance ........................................ Page 15 1 Zoning Ordinance Summary ................................... Page 17 Transportation ............................................. Page 18 I Water and Sewer ............................................ Page 21 Floodplain ................................................. Page 23 Prime Farmland ............................................ Page 25 I Population and Housing ...................................... Page 25 TheEconomy ............................................... Pa ge 32 1 Findings and Conclusions ......................................... Page 33 I Community Development Objectives ................................. Page 38 Community Development Goals ..................................... Page 40 I The Future Land Use and Transportation Plan ......................... Page 45 Compatibility Statement .......................................... Page 50 B Action Plan .................................................... Page 51 I Epilogue ...................................................... Page 52 Appendix One .................................................. Page 53 I Appendix Two .................................................. Page 64 Appendix Three ................................................. Page 6i Appendix Four .................................................. Page 76 I Appendix Five ............ CHARTS AND MAPS 1993 Existing Land Use Map. .Page 9 Chart One (Land Use Data Comparisons: 1966 1974 1991). Page 10 Chart Two (Land Use Data Comparisons: 1966 1991). Page 11 Chart Three (Land Use Data Comparisons: 1974 1991). .Page 12 Chart Four (Existing Zoning Ordinance: Classification of Land) . Page 16 1993 Existing Water and Sewer Service Areas Map . Page 22 1993 Generalized Soils and Floodplain Map . Page 24 Chart Five (Kelly Township Population). Page 26 Chart Six (Total Number of Housing Units). Page 28 Chart Seven (Total Number of Occupied Housing Units). Page 29 Chart Eight (Housing Units By Type: Occupied and Vacant). Page 30 Chart Nine (Number and Percentage of Housing Units By Type: Occupied and Vacant). Page 31 1993 Future Land Use and Transportation Plan Map. Page 46 Chart Ten (Future Land Use Plan: Acreage and Percent of Township Land Area) . Page 47 I PREFACE i Kelly Township . originally a part of White Deer Township . was established in 1823, and is 17.1 square miles in size. Having a population of 2,619 persons in 1990 (excluding the inmate population of the Northeast Regional Federal Penitentiary), Kelly Township is governed by a three member Board of Supervisors. A nine member Planning Commission is also in place to assist the Kelly Township Board of Supervisors in their decision-making responsibilities concerning land use, transportation, and other factors influencing the future of Kelly Township, such as the need for . and . the location of recreational facilities. The Planning Commission, during the course of deliberating its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors with regard to matters of this nature, relies heavily on the Township's "comprehensive plan". The current plan for Kelly Township was issued in 1975. In 1991, the Board of Supervisors, in conjunction with the Planning Commission, decided that the Township's 1975 Comprehensive Plan should be updated. This decision was based on two factors. First, a period of 16 years had elapsed since the 1975 Plan was prepared, and both the Supervisors and the Commission saw a need to re-review the Objectives set forth in the Plan to guide Kelly Township's future growth, while providing for the continued well-being of the Township. Second, the law in Pennsylvania dealing with comprehensive planning was modified several times since the 1975 Plan was adopted. Significant revisions to this law . known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code . became effective on February 21, 1989. Thus, in November of 1991, the Kelly Township Board of Supervisors retained the planning consulting firm of McCamant & Canan to prepare this document - the "2992 Comprehensive PZan Update Report" for Kelly Township. McCamant & Canan were advised by the Board of Supervisors to work closely with the Planning Commission while developing this Report . and . were requested to "involve the public" in order to assure that this document reflects the 1992 views of the residents of Kelly Township. "Citizen participation" has been a crucial factor in McCamant & Canan's development of this Update Report. Kelly Township's residents, elected officials, and appointed officials have contributed the "key" elements contained in the conclusions and recommendations of this Report . the key elements being their "views" on what type of community Kelly Township should be in the future. McCamant & Canan's role was to find the means to have the community comprising Kelly Township articulate their views, so that these views could be translated into sound conclusions . and. in turn, recommendations for future action. This, then, is "your" Plan. It is with pleasure that we submit this 1992 Comprehensive PZan Update Report to the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and the residents of Kelly Township on this 21st day of June, 1993. Respectful 1y Submitted, A BACKGROUND: PAST VIEWS ON KELLY TOWNSHIP Comprehensive Planning is not new to Kelly Township . in fact, today's Township residents enjoy many benefits which are the result of prior planning efforts. Examples of these benefits include the preservation of large areas of farmland, a zoning ordinance regulating the use of land, and the retention of Kelly Township's overall "quality of life". Kelly Township, along with Gregg and White Deer Townships, published a joint comprehensive plan in 1967, which set forth six Community Development Objectives for the area covered by these three municipalities. The trust of these Objectives, as they apply to Kelly Township, follows: Preserve the Township's rural character by locating development, which is "urban" in nature, along the eastern and southeastern portions of Kelly Township . and . preserve the agricultural lands in the balance of the Township. Establish attractive, well-designed, low-density residential areas . i.e., neighborhoods . rather than "strung-out" or ribbon-type residential developments. Encourage industrial development along the Route 15 corridor where the topography is suitable . and . where adequate transportation facilities are available. Concentrate commercial development in "centers" . instead of allowing the strip-type commercialism occurring along Route 15. Develop a full range of year-round, public and commercial recreational facilities, which serve the Township's population . and . which are equipped to service all segments of that population. Provide adequate water and sewer facilities to serve the more intensely developed areas of the Township. These 1967 Community Development Objectives for the Township . while 25 years old in 1992 . remain appropriate in light of what today's Township residents are saying about their community. Seventeen years ago, Kelly Township's list of Community Development Objectives - as stated in its 1975 Comprehensive Plan - were as follows: 0 Preserve the rural character of the Township by limiting urbanization to those areas where the land is most compatible for these uses . and . Discourage non-farm development on lands best suited for agricultural uses - said agricultural lands being located in the central and western portions of the Township. Encourage the development of attractive, well-designed residential areas that can function as neighborhoods, while discouraging scattered ("spot") and "strip" residential developments. -2- E Limit industrial development to the eastern part of the Township where the 1 topography is suitable . and . adequate utilities and transportation facilities are available, or are economically feasible to provide. Concentrate commercial development near existing and future residential 8 areas which such commercial development is intended to serve . and . Discourage “strip” commercial development. I Develop year-round recreational facilities that are well located with relation to the population they serve . and . which are equipped to service all segments of the population. 1 Provide for adequate water and sewer facilities to serve the urbanized and developed areas of the Township. 1 Assure that all development is in harmony with the natural characteristics of the land . and . Cause development to be in harmony with the f environment. Provide a safe and efficient transportation system for the movement of people and goods within