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I . BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PLANNING COiMMITTEE Talmage Johnson, Chairman Gale L. Brosious Fred D. Rebuck John R. Kopp Earl R Dobson William H. Renn, Sr. Robert C. Shipe Leisa A. Klock Francis G. Strause SECRETARY/TREASURER Karen L. Campbell , TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR Joseph C. Michetti, Jr. Trevorton, Pennsylvania TOWNSHJP PLANNING Light-Heigel& Associates, Inc. HaWc, Pennsylvania COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA PLANNING CONSULTANT LIGHT-HEIGEL& ASSOCIATES, MC. HALIFAX, PA 17032 Adopted by the Lower Augusta Township Board of Supervisors April 1998 Introduction FOREWORD Lower Augusta Township is a community of rolling farmland and well-established forests with great scenic beauty. It also includes attractive and very liveable residential areas, including farm- steads, old single family dwellinys and newer developments. These homes are not far from many excellent opportunities for employment. These features make Lower Augusta a very special place. But our Township faces growth that can either respect or neglect these qualities that make Lower Auyusta so special. We have prepared this Comprehensive Plan to carehlly guide change in our Township during the remainder of this decade and into the next century. This Comprehensive Plan’s theme is simple, yet compelling: respect the Township’s unique natural environment and agricultural heritage while carehlly accommodating new residential, business, and other development. The Lower Augusta Township Planning Committee 1 i Con tents INTRODUCTION Foreword ............................................................ 1 Lower Augusta Planning Program ......................................... 2 Scope of the Lower Augusta Planning Program ............................... 2 The Importance of the Comprehensive Plan .................................. 3 THE PLAN .A PLAN FOR GROWTH AND PRESERVATION .I Goals for Lower Augusta’s Future ......................................... 4 Land UsePlan ........................................................ 9 Community Facilities Plan .............................................. 16 Circulation (Transportation) Plan ......................................... 20 EnergyUsePlan ...................................................... 27 ACTION PROGRAM .ACTIONS TO MOVE THE PLAN’S RECOMMENDATIONS CLOSERTOREALITY ..................................................... 31 BACKGROUND STUDIES .A SUMMARY OF MAJOR FMDMGS Regional Location and History ........................................... 36 Natural Features ...................................................... 40 Development Pattern and Existing Land Uses ................................ 45 Community Facilities .................................................. 46 Population Characteristics .............................................. 48 Housing Conditions ................................................... 50 EconomicConditions .................................................. 52 Transportation Characteristics ........................................... 56 Zoning in Adjacent Municipalities ........................................ 58 MAPS Maps have been incorporated into the text at their logical location as follows: Comprehensive Plan ............................................. 15 Steep Slopes and Woodlands ...................................... 41 Soils of Concern ................................................ 43 Production Agricultural Soils ...................................... 43 Ridge Lines and Drainage Basins ................................... 44 I997 Existing Land Use .......................................... 47 Traffic Circulation and Conditions .................................. 57 LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP PLANNING PROGRAM This is Lower Augusta Township's Comprehensive Plan for its future growth and preservation. It is divided into three major parts: A Summary of Background Studies which was used to help prepare the Plan. A Plan for Growth and Preservation which contains policies for hture land use, open space and agricultural preservation, community facilities, and transportation. An Action Program which identifies actions that must be undertaken to carry out the Plan. SCOPE OF THE LOWER AUGUSTA PLANNING PROGRAM The Planning Program involved four major phases: Problems, Background Opportunities Com;;;Ensive Action Studies 0 and Guidelines 0 0Program for the Plan Backgound Studies - The Planning Committee and its Consultant traveled together throughout Lower Augusta to observe and discuss existing and potential assets, problems, and opportunities. Maps were prepared and studies were conducted to determine factors which will influence present and future improvements and land development patterns. Problems. Otmortunities and Guidelines for the Plan - Residents were involved early on in the planning process by being asked to respond to a Community Survey. Better than 90% percent of the respondents felt that Lower Augusta Township should take an active role in planning land development within its boundaries. These resident insights helped reconfirm and identifjl additional Township problems and opportunities. They also helped identifjl goals and other guidelines to use in preparing a Comprehensive Plan to guide the growth and preservation of Lower Augusta Township. Comprehensive Plan - A Preliminary Comprehensive Plan was prepared based on' comments and discussions at Planning Committee workshop sessions. All sessions were advertised and open to the public. This Plan provided recommendations on preserving open space and the agricultural heritage of the Township, developing appropriate land uses and community facilities, and improving roads and highways. A public hearing was held on the Preliminary Plan, revisions were made and the Board of Supervisors adopted a Township Comprehensive Plan. Action Program - Recommendations were selected from the final Comprehensive Plan which require immediate action. The Township will develop and implement a Zoning Ordinance and a Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance to carry out this Comprehensive Plan. 2 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN This Comprehensive Plan provides policies for guiding the growth and preservation of Lower Auyusta Township over the next IO to IS years. Its real value to the Township will be in evaluating each proposed community chanye ayainst the Plan’s policies for public facilities and services, land uses, and roads. The test of each change affecting any one of these subjects should be a question: “Does it conform with our Comprehensive Plan?”, or “Does it carry out the goals I of our Plan?” 3 A PLAN FOR I’l<liSIXVA’TION & CiKOWl’tI . The Plan Well-planned, controlled growth is the Plan’s overriding theme. The overall development policy calls for most of Lower Augusta Township to retain its predominantly ruraVagricultural character while limited growth would be provided for in areas best able to support development dependent upon on-lot sewage disposal and potable water supplies. The Plan strongly encourages farmland preservation and keeping floodplains and steep slopes in open space. Concentrations of development are encouraged rather than rural sprawl along Township roads. Circulation recommendations include making intersection improvements and classifLing roads according to their purpose. A pathways system for pedestrians and bicyclists is also recommended. The remainder of this section describes Lower Augusta’s Comprehensive Plan. The Plan is described in 5 parts: Goals for Lower Augusta’s Future Land Use Plan 0 Community Facilities Plan 0 Circulation (Transportation) Plan 0 Energy Use Plan GOALS FOR LOWER AUGUSTA’S FUTURE Six goals underlie Lower Augusta’s Comprehensive Plan. They are listed below as well as the objectives which indicate ways to reach these goals. Goal 1: RETAIN LOWER AUGUSTA’S RURAL CHARACTER AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE Objectives 1. All development should be related to natural features. Unusually scenic elements of the natural environment such as dense woodlands, water bodies, stream valleys, steep slopes and hilltops should not be bulldozed out of existence by unimaginative development plans. 2. Population density and the types and intensities of land uses should be determined and regulated. 3. Farmland should be protected from development so that the agricultural heritage and economy of the area may be preserved. Establishment of Agricultural Security Areas pursuant to Pennsylvania Act 45 of 198 I should be encouraged. 4 4. The location and appearance of scenic detriments such as junk yards should be controlled through elimination, isolation, or screening from view. 5. Utilities should not detract from the overall quality of the environment. If underground installation is impractical, facilities should be of an attractive design and should blend with the landscape. 6. Pleasing views should be protected. 7. Signs should be controlled to ensure that they are reasonable in size, attractive in design, and appropriate situated. Goal 2: RECOGNIZE, RESPECT, AND DERIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THE NATURAL FEATURES IN THE AREA SO THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCE WILL NOT BE DRASTICALLY UPSET Ob-iectives 1. Streams and their floodplains, ponds, wetlands, and areas of severe high water tables should not be encroached upon to such an extent that the natural conditions of their waters and banks are degraded. Development should be restricted or prohibited in these areas. 2. All direct causes of water pollution should be eliminated, and the pollution potential of all future developments should be

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