Columbus Township
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN VOLUME 1 June, 1991 Prepared by the Columbus Township Supervisors, the Columbus Township Planning Commission, Assisted by the Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission consultant Adams, Graney and Associates New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Franklin, Pennsylvania The preparation of this report was financed, in part, through a State Planning Assistance Grant from the Department of Community Affairs under the provisions of Act 9A, approved July 3, 1988, as administered by the Bureau of Community Planning, Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs. IT I I, I I Columbus Towns hiD- Supervisors I David Goodwill, Chairman I William Silvis Lawrence Miller I Betty L. Wawrejko, Secretary I I. Columbus Township PlanninP Commission 1. William Kibler I Michael Snow Lyle Hotchkiss I Mary Ann Burge James Nelson I I I I 1 1 I' I TABLE OF CONTENTS I ColumbusTownship ....................................... 1 I Preface ........................................... 1 I PartI-LandUsePlan ..................................... 2 Preface ........................................... 2 Physical Geography ................................... 2 I Existing Land Use .................................... 3 Agricultural/Cleared ................................... 5 Residential ......................................... 5 I Commercial ........................................ 5 Industrial .......................................... 6 I PubliclSemi-Public .................................... 6 StateGameLands .................................... 6 Wooded .......................................... 6 I Roads and Right-of-Ways ............................... 6 Existing Land Use Summary ............................. 6 I Existing Land Use and Zoning ............................ 7 Housing .............................................. 9 Background ........................................ 9 I 1980Census ....................................... 9 1990 Census Data ................................... 10 I Affordability Index .................................. 11 Housing Survey .................................... '12 Seasonal and Vacant Housing ............................ 17 I Conclusion ....................................... 17 Recent Activity ..................................... 17 1 Community Facilities ..................................... 19 I Utilities .............................................. 19 SanitarySewers .................................... 19 Water ........................................... 19 I Electric .......................................... 20 Telephone ........................................ 20 I Gas ............................................ 20 I Recreation ............................................ 20 I Community Facilities ..................................... 21 Township Building ................................... 21 The Dutton Library .................................. 21 Columbus Elementary School ............................ 22 Recommendations for Columbus Township ........................ 23 Preface .......................................... 23 Housing ......................................... 23 Special Priorities .................................... 24 Community Facilities ................................. 26 The Dutton Library .............................. 21 Township Building .............................. 27 Parks and Recreation ................................. 21 LandUse ............................................. 29 Tables Table 1 - Existing Land Use - 1971-1991 - Columbus Township I’ (All Values in Acres) .................................. 4 Table 2 - Key 1980 Housing Statistics - Columbus Township - Warrencounty ..................................... 10 I I Table 3 - Key 1990 Housing Statistics - Columbus Township - Warrencounty ..................................... 11 Table 4 - Housing Affordability in Selected Pennsylvania Places ........................................... 12 Table 5 - Columbus Township - Warren County - Conditions of Housing Survey ................................... 15 County Location .................................. Frontispiece Columbus Township .............................. Follows Page 2 Development Constraints ........................... Precedes Page 3 Existing Land Use ............................... Follows Page 5 Existing Zoning Map ............................. Follows Page 7 Sanitary Sewer Service Area ........................ Follows Page 19 Water Service Area ............................. Precedes Page 20 Future Land Use Plan ............................ Follows Page 29 L. ...... .._ .. ........ ........... I I I I 01 -I CoLuMBus/TOW NS~HIP II .............................................................. I O1 I I I I #i I I I Note: All recommendations contained in Part I of the Columbus Comprehensive 1. Plan are subject to possible revision by Part II. I I 1. 1. I I I I I I I I COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP I Preface: This document may be considered "Part I" of the Columbus Township 1 Comprehensive Plan. Overall, this is a two-year effort, with the current document involving the critical elements of Land Use, Housing, and Community Facilities. As this portion of the Plan was being prepared, results from the 1991 Census were being I released. Although a detailed demographic analysis is reserved for Part II of the effort, recent Census information is valuable for elements of the current work. Consequently, some elements were delayed as more complete information was published. This was I particularly critical in preparing the section on housing. In the ensuing year, as final and complete Census results are available, minor technical changes to this report may be I warranted. I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I' I PART I - LAND USE PLAN I Preface: Land use is a reflection of man's impact upon nature; how he uses, abuses, and develops the earth and his environment. "The purpose of the land use section.. is to I describe existing land use patterns of the community and to recommend land use policies for future development that are compatible with the general character of the communhy. " I (THE SMALL TOWN PLAN"G HANDBOOK, Daniels, Keller & Lapping, Planners Press, 1988). That goal is the purpose of this Plan. I Obviously, land use is a mirror which reflects the character of a particular community. Land use patterns within an urban setting are quite different from those in rural America. There is a differing conceptual approach also. In the urban setting, land use generally I focuses only upon the particular use to which land is devoted. Is a parcel residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, etc.? In rural areas, while this approach is cednly I valid, it also must be broadened to consider land as a resource. Consequently, the horizons of the Land Use Plan are stretched as it considers not only appropriate places for activities but how land can be put to productive uses, viz-a-viz such activities as I farming or mineral extraction. Finally, land must be considered as a unique resource - one that is environmentally sensitive. So, in total, the Columbus Land Use Plan has three I challenges it must meet to best serve the needs of the community. Physical Geography: The Township is located in the extreme northwest comer of I Warren County. Erie County forms its western border, while New York State lies along the northern boundary. In Warren County, the Borough of Bear Lake and Freehold Township are east of Columbus, while Spring Creek Township is located to the south. I According to the U.S. Census, Columbus Township contains 41.9 square miles. The climate is classified as cool and humid. I Physiographically, Columbus is considered part of the Appalachian Plateau Province, though not far from the Lake Plain. However, in contrast to other areas of Warren I County, Columbus and its immediate neighbors were more affected by glaciation which filled in the steeper valleys, as well as smoothing its hills. In relief, the elevation in Columbus varies +I- 400 feet. Lower reaches of Brokenstraw Creek are approximately I 1,370 feet above sea level, while there are some hilltop elevations which reach over 1,800 feet. Generally, topography becomes more elevated, and is steeper, in the I southeast quadrant of the Township. I I 2 I COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP Wamn CO. Pennsyivmnla Nt - I Streams and slopes have greatly influend settlement patterns in Columbus. The Brokenstraw Creek is its major stream, with Hare and Coffee. Creeks its primary tributaries. There are two significant swamps in the Study Area; Tamarack and Bensen. These areas, along with stream-associated floodplains, have discourage development in I much of the Township. While prehistoric glaciation generally served to moderate the area’s topography, steep slopes still limit development in the Township. Ancient stream beds have cut channels I which often form steep slopes. Although slopes in excess of 16 percent generally preclude development in Western Pennsylvania, even those greater than 8 percent discourage building. This is especially true where there is no intense demand for the I land. Such is the case for Columbus Township. It is quite apparent these two physical restraints (wetlands and slope) have had a limiting effect upon development. Historically, slope has apparently been the most significant. The only intense urban development has occurred in the region of Columbus Vigeand the area to its immediate south. These sectors offer relatively flat to rolling land, with little impediments to construction. Beyond this area,