2014 Annual Report Bedford County Planning Commission

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

March, 2015

Fred Temke, Chair Larry Wright, Vice-Chair Ernest Fuller Mary Stanley Rose Hoffman Wayne Koontz Charles Swartzwelder Joseph Barefoot Stephen Lambert

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

This was a year of transition and the beginning of movement towards the completion of several planning efforts important to the County. Terry Stacey took over from Pandora Wertz in January as CDBG Administrator, and immediately tackled the Woodbury Water Line Replacement Project. More than ½ mile of line will be replaced, solving long-term problems with the delivery of drinking water to residents. The completion of construction is expected early in 2015.

The Planning Commission was also involved with the early stages of planning on updates for several important countywide planning efforts, including:

 County Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2006) – major update  County Hazard Mitigation Plan (adopted 2012) – major update  County Natural Heritage Inventory (adopted 1998) – major update  County Municipal Waste Management Plan (adopted 2011)—minor update  Regional Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS; adopted 2012)—major update

Transportation efforts included participating in the completion of the 2015 – 2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and assisting with updates to the National Highway System (NHS) and the Federal Functional Classification System.

The Pike 2 Bike corridor project also advanced in 2014. An Economic Impact Analysis was completed by Fourth Economy, Inc. and adopted by the Bedford and Fulton County Boards of Commissioners. The study provided clear evidence of significant economic impact if the 8.5 miles of abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike and two tunnels are rehabilitated for recreational use. It is projected that as many as 200,000 visitors per year would visit this unique, world-class site upon full development. The next step in the project is the update to the existing Master Plan (2006). A committee of stakeholders from both counties will oversee this effort.

The Bedford County Agricultural Land Preservation Board continued to increase protection of farmland through its agricultural easement purchase program. The 320-acre Hershberger Farm in Woodbury Township was preserved in 2014. Late in the year, the Cook Farm in Londonderry Township (610 acres) was accepted as a bargain sale (donation) by the County Board. The easement will be finalized in 2015 and will represent one of the largest farms ever preserved in Pennsylvania.

The coming year will be challenging as the Planning Commission utilizes its available resources on the many planning efforts described above. We continue to look forward to assisting local residents.

Donald Schwartz Director 1

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR 1

COUNTYWIDE PLANNING 3-7

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 8

COMMUNITY OUTREACH 8-9

TRAILS AND RECREATION 9-12

STAFF AND COMMISSION REVIEWS 12-14

BOARD AND COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION 15

CONFERENCES AND TRAINING 15

BEDFORD COUNTY AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PURCHASE 15-16 PROGRAM

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (CDBG) 17-19

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

COUNTYWIDE PLANNING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN cycle of damage, reconstruction and repeated damage. Hazards may be natural, The Municipalities Planning Code of 1968 technological or manmade. (MPC) defines a county Comprehensive Plan as “a land use and growth management plan Local jurisdictions must comply with the prepared by the county planning commission DMA in order to remain eligible for funding and adopted by the county commissioners and technical assistance from state and which establishes broad goals and criteria federal mitigation programs. Local for municipalities to use in preparation of mitigation plans must include, at a their comprehensive plan and land use minimum, (1) an action plan to mitigate regulation.” Additionally, Section 302(d) of hazards, risks and vulnerabilities; and (2) a the MPC requires that “County strategy to implement those actions. comprehensive plans shall be updated at least every ten years.” The County adopted the Plan on April 3, 2012. The Plan identified flooding as the The Bedford County Comprehensive Plan most important hazard affecting the County, was last adopted on December 6, 2006, so it and noted that ”Because flooding has been is rapidly approaching the ten-year update the most damaging and life threatening of deadline. The six south-central counties the hazards affecting development within represented by the Southern Alleghenies the County, this Plan emphasizes flood risk Planning and Development Commission assessment and mitigation.” (SAP&DC) - Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset – have been investigating the possibility of preparing a regional Comprehensive Plan. While preserving the integrity of information specific to each county, this approach would allow the integration of planning across county lines, and also hopefully result in a cost savings versus the preparation of six, individual plans. SAP&DC staff have been leading the effort to date, and further investigation will occur in 2015.

Gravel Bar Obstructing Wills Creek HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN In accordance with the federal Disaster The Federal Emergency Management Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) and Agency (FEMA) requires that the County implementing regulations, the County conduct a formal update of the Plan every completed an update of its Hazard five years. Since the funding and planning Mitigation Plan in 2012. Hazard Mitigation process can take more than two years, the is a phrase that describes actions taken to Planning Commission began an prevent or reduce the long-term risks to life investigation of funding options in 2014. The and property from hazards. Pre-disaster Pennsylvania Emergency Management mitigation actions are taken in advance of a Agency (PEMA) attempted to locate 100% hazard event (such as flooding) and are grant funding for a “bundle” of counties essential to breaking the typical disaster

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION through FEMA’s Emergency Management COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC Planning Grants (EMPG) program, but this DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY effort was unsuccessful. Another FEMA program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) The six south-central counties cooperate in funding, can pay for 75% of project costs. The many ways through their relationship with Planning Commission submitted a letter of SAP&DC. One is the regional interest to FEMA in November regarding Comprehensive Economic Development this program. It is likely that formal Strategy (CEDS). As described by SAP&DC applications will be due early in 2015. a CEDs is “designed to coordinate public sector and private sector planning and FEMA also requires that the County hold an investments into a well-planned “roadmap” annual review meeting to allow for to guide initiatives for diversifying and municipal input and changes to the Plan, strengthening a regional economy.” The pending the next five-year formal update. CEDS for the Southern Alleghenies Region The annual meeting was held on November “analyzes socioeconomic data, sets forth 6, and the period for input on hazard goals and objectives, defines action plan mitigation projects was extended to strategies, and identifies performance December 1. No proposed hazard mitigation measures” to achieve the aim of projects were received by the Planning strengthening the economy. Commission. In 2014, a consulting team was retained to MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT prepare a formal update to the interim PLAN CEDS (2012-2016) that had been prepared by SAP&DC. The Planning Commission Bedford County coordinates its municipal participated in a steering committee kick-off waste management activities along with meeting in October, followed by a public Fulton and Huntingdon Counties through meeting in November and a second steering membership in the South Central Counties committee meeting in December. The final Solid Waste Agency (SCCSWA). The report will be due in 2015. County’s most recent revision to its Municipal Waste Management Plan was NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2010, Bedford County last completed a Natural and the County adopted a Municipal Waste Heritage Inventory (NHI) in 1998, and only Management Ordinance on May 24, 2011. five counties in Nine landfills were awarded ten-year Pennsylvania have disposal agreements with the three counties. similar studies that are older. As The owner of an additional landfill stated by the approached the SCCSWA and has asked to Pennsylvania be included as a facility approved to accept Natural Heritage municipal waste. DEP was contacted and the Program, “County Green Floater Mussel, Sidling Hill Creek process for public advertisement for new Natural Heritage landfills was determined. The advertisement Inventories are designed to inform the and review of submitted proposals will occur residents of a county about their living in 2015. heritage and give them a tool to use in planning the future of their communities.” NHIs include “information on important 4

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION natural areas, habitat for rare plants and committee that includes one County animals, and other important natural Commissioner from each of the four counties resources.” and staff from PennDOT and SAP&DC.

The Planning Commission, representing the County Commissioners and working in concert with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC), applied for funding from the Commonwealth’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program to update the NHI. A grant award of $20,000 was received late in the year. The grant will be combined with $94,000 from the WPC and a $5,000 contribution from the County’s Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund. WPC will begin the project in 2015, with completion anticipated The Southern Alleghenies RPO Region in 2017. Together with PennDOT, the Southern TRANSPORTATION PLANNING Alleghenies RPO helps to rank and program projects for the State Transportation Bedford County is a member of the Southern Improvement Program (TIP which is the Alleghenies Rural Planning Organization first four – year listing of projects to be (RPO). RPOs, created by the Pennsylvania completed with federal and/or state funds), Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the State Twelve Year Program (TYP), as are responsible for transportation planning well as to develop and implement the and project programming in rural areas. The region’s Long Range Transportation Plan Southern Alleghenies Planning and (LRTP). Development Commission (SAP&DC) entered into an agreement with PennDOT to ACT 89 of 2013 act as the RPO for Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset counties. House Bill 1060, legislation on Pennsylvania (NOTE: Blair and Cambria Counties are transportation funding, was signed by the separate Metropolitan Planning Governor on November 25, 2013 and became Organizations (MPOs), created by Federal Act 89 of 2013. Act 89 will generate law in urbanized areas of 50,000 or more additional revenue for various modes of people, to undertake similar transportation transportation for the five- year period that planning and project programming activities began on January 1, 2014. Some of the as the Southern Alleghenies RPO). provisions in the Act that affect the County and local governments are: The Southern Alleghenies RPO completes its work through two committees, the Rural  Increases the Prevailing Wage Law Transportation Technical Committee (RTTC) threshold from $25,000 to $100,000 and the Rural Transportation Coordinating for local transportation projects Committee (RTCC). The RTTC is the  Additional Liquid Fuels Allocations advisory committee that the four county for local roads and bridges planning directors serve on and includes  Funding to coordinate traffic representatives from PennDOT, SAP&DC, signals to alleviate traffic and other agencies. The RTTC is the policy congestion

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

 Allocates additional funding for the TIP UPDATES Dirt and Gravel Roads program  Allow savings of local matching The TIP is a list of priority transportation funds under a new bridge bundling projects to be funded over the next four year initiative period. It is a living document, updated  Allows counties the option to access every two years through a public a $5 vehicle registration fee for involvement process, and is the first four transportation purposes or years of the Twelve Year Program. A project allocation to political subdivisions cannot receive federal or state funding unless it is on the TIP. NHS & Functional Classification System Update Projects on the TIP usually proceed in phases (preliminary engineering, final Beginning in late 2014 and continuing design, relocation of utilities, right-of-way through mid-2015, PennDOT District 9-0 is acquisition, and construction). Each project coordinating a six-county, two-step update of phase is listed on the TIP, funding for that the National Highway System (NHS) and phase, and an anticipated schedule. When the remaining Federal Functional funds are made available for the final Classification System. The NHS system construction phase, a project will no longer serve major population centers, meet appear on future TIP documents even national defense requirements, serves though the project may not yet be completed. interstate and interregional travel, among Projects must be completed or removed from other criteria. U.S Route 30 from Bedford to the TIP in order to add new ones. The TIP is Breezewood, S.R. 1007 from U.S. 30 to PA fiscally constrained and includes only those 26, and PA 26 from S.R. 1007 to the Bedford/ projects with a source of funding. Huntingdon County line were recommended as proposed additions to the NHS system A project’s placement on the TIP means that one or more project phases (e.g. preliminary engineering, totaling 41.2 miles (see map below). final design, relocation of utilities, and acquisition of rights-of way) are funded in one or more fiscal years. Getting a project to the construction phase could take a few years.

The State Transportation Commission approved the proposed FFY 2015 TIP for Pennsylvania on August 14, including the Southern Alleghenies RPO component. On September 30, 2014, the Federal Highway Administration approved the FFY 2015 Southern Alleghenies TIP. The map on Page 7 shows the approved FFY 2015-2018 TIP highway and bridge projects for Bedford County.

A packet of information will be mailed to municipalities, agencies, and individuals interested in transportation in early 2015 that will start the 2017-2020 TIP process. Red = Existing Yellow = Proposed

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE appeared at the end of the year that funding would be awarded early in 2015. SPECTRA ENERGY PIPELINE BEDFORD COUNTY HOUSING The Director was notified in April of the PARTNERSHIPS proposed Spectra Energy natural gas pipeline. The route for the $4-billion pipeline Bedford County Housing Partnerships began at the existing compressor station (BCHP) was created with the support of local adjacent to State Route 220 south of Bedford agencies having a common interest in Borough, and continued for 427 miles to increasing housing options for low income, North Carolina. The route passed along the disabled, and homeless persons in the west side of the highway to a point north of County. On April 3, Planning Commission Centreville (Cumberland Valley Township), staff attended a presentation sponsored by then east over Evitts Mountain to Beans BCHP regarding the Fair Housing Act. The Cove (Southampton Township), before Planning Commission continues to support turning south into Maryland. BCHP in its efforts to provide housing for underserved populations in Bedford County. The proposal resulted in significant public interest, and the Director initiated contact COMMUNITY OUTREACH with Spectra Energy officials to assure that that residents would have the opportunity to OUTREACH TO MUNICIPALITIES address their concerns in a public forum.

Spectra notified the Director in August that The Director continued an outreach effort to the project had been suspended, prior to identify local needs and potential assistance. meeting with the public. Contact will be Meetings were attended this year in reinitiated with Spectra if the project moves Hopewell Borough and Southampton forward in the future. Township.

COALDALE-SIX MILE RUN WATER BEDFORD TOWNSHIP – CRS CORPORATION METER

REPLACEMENT PROJECT At the request of the Director, Bedford Township staff attended a meeting of the The Coaldale-Six Mile Run Water County Planning Directors of Pennsylvania Corporation serves customers in Coaldale on April 25 and described their success with Borough and Broad Top Township. The FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS). Board of Directors asked for assistance from This program allows municipalities to the Planning Commission late in the year in achieve lower rates for federal flood preparing an application for approximately insurance if they achieve specific flood $20,000 in grant funding from the federal protection milestones, both structural and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to non-structural. Bedford Township is one of replace all of the system’s 130 customer the lowest (if not the lowest) population meters. Many of the meters are more than municipalities in the Commonwealth that 40 years old, and some are not operational. participates in CRS. It is hoped that the The Director prepared the application and it Township’s success will be transferrable to other municipalities.

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

PRESENTATION TO SENATE The SFHAs are depicted on Flood Insurance DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE Rate Maps (FIRMs). New FIRMs became effective for Bedford County on March 2, The Director gave a presentation to the 2012. Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee Roundtable on Economic Development and Implementation of the new FIRMs meant Tourism on January 22. The presentation that a number of properties in the County focused on efforts to develop trail projects as were now impacted by the flood insurance tourism attractions in the County. requirement. In 2014, Planning Commission staff continued to provide assistance to FLOOD INSURANCE AND SFHAs property owners and realtors seeking guidance on whether buildings and parcels The Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management were in a SFHA. Act of 1978 (Act 166) requires that each municipality which has been notified that it TRAILS AND RECREATION has been identified as having an area or areas which are subject to flooding shall HUNTINGDON AND BROAD TOP participate in the National Flood Insurance RAILS TO TRAILS Program (NFIP). The Broad Top Township Supervisors have Under the federal Flood Disaster Protection acquired ownership of 10.6 miles of the old Act of 1973, as amended, flood insurance Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain must be purchased by property owners Railroad right-of-way and are working seeking any federal financial assistance for cooperatively with the non-profit Rails to construction or acquisition of buildings in Trails of Bedford County Inc. to develop it Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), i.e., for free public use. Rails to Trails of Bedford where there is a 1% chance of an annual County Inc. has established a website and is flood (“100 Year Floodplain”). This financial accepting memberships and donations to assistance includes certain federally support the project. The website is: guaranteed mortgages and direct loans, http://www.railstotrailsofbedfordcounty.org. federal disaster relief and loans, as well as The northern trailhead is in Riddlesburg. other similarly described assistance from The trail continues south along the FEMA and other agencies. Raystown Branch of the Juniata River to Cypher and then overland to Tatesville through a largely isolated and forested valley. The trail intersects two public parks, Riddlesburg Park and Cooper Park, and provides for pedestrian access to State Game Lands #261.

The project is designed in four phases (all distances approximate):

 Phase 1: Riddlesburg to Hopewell to Cooper Recreation Area (2.3 miles)

Flooding in Bedford Township  Phase 2: Cooper Recreation Area to SR1020 (4 miles)

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

 Phase 3: SR 1020 to Big Bend Beach benefits to the Bedford shopping district Road T505 (2 miles) resulting from utilization by guests at the  Phase 4: T505 to trail end at SR 1009 Resort. The Planning Commission has Plank Road in Tatesville (2 miles) provided full support for the project, including assistance with the acquisition of Phase 1 was completed in 2012 and Phase II funding, as a major enhancement to the (including repairs to a railroad bridge over Bedford area. The construction bid will be the river) was finished in 2014. It is advertised in January 2015. anticipated that Phases III and IV will be completed in 2015. PIKE 2 BIKE CORRIDOR: ABANDONED PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE

The Pike 2 Bike Trail Network Master Plan and Adaptive Re-Use Study (“Master Plan”) was completed in May 2006. As described in the Master Plan, on October 1, 1940 the Pennsylvania Turnpike was opened to automobiles.

H & BT Trail Phase 2, Trestle Bridge near Cypher

The Planning Commission is a member of the Trail Advisory Group and is a vigorous supporter of the project. A variety of in-kind services have been pledged by the Commission to make this special project a reality.

BEDFORD JOINT MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY: BEDFORD HERITAGE Sideling Hill Tunnel, Fulton County TRAIL In 1968, the Pennsylvania Turnpike The Bedford Joint Municipal Authority Commission bypassed an 11-mile segment of (BJMA) is developing the 2-mile Bedford roadway in Bedford and Fulton Counties, Heritage Trail connecting Fort Bedford Park containing the 1.3-mile Sideling Hill Tunnel in downtown Bedford to the Omni Springs and the 0.7-mile Rays Hill Tunnel. In 2000, Resort in Bedford Township. The trail will the Commission began to contemplate future also connect to the Raystown Branch of the use of this property. The following year the Juniata River Trail and PA Bicycle Routes G Commission sold an 8.5-mile section of the and S, which intersect in Bedford. roadway, including the two tunnels, to the Development of this trail will provide not Southern Alleghenies Conservancy (SAC) for only recreational opportunities, but is $1. SAC then commissioned the creation of expected to bring substantial financial the Master Plan to study the cost and

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION management oversight necessary to renovate Several consultants were interviewed and the roadway and tunnels for use as a Fourth Economy Consulting of Pittsburgh recreational trail, as well as guaranteeing was selected to prepare the report. Three long-term maintenance and operation. The Scenarios were analyzed, ranging from basic Master Plan included an estimated project trail and tunnel improvements, to the cost of $3.06 million. The Master Plan also addition of a museum and nature preserve in proposed that SAC ultimately transfer the Fulton County. The study projected that property to another form of ownership – upon full development (Scenario 3), up to most likely county or municipal authority – 200,000 visitors, spending $12 million, would for final development visit the corridor each year. The Planning Commissions for both counties and the In 2013, Bedford and Fulton Counties agreed Boards of Commissioners approved the to work cooperatively to develop an Economic Impact Analysis in the spring of Economic Impact Study of the Pike 2 Bike 2014. The study may be found at corridor to form the basis of a public http://www.bedfordcountypa.org/uploads/Pik education and funding strategy (a majority e2Bike_Report_v.1.3_May_19__2014_FINAL of the 200+ acre property is in Fulton .pdf County). Funding for the Study was obtained from the following sources:

 Bedford County Act 13 Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund  Fulton County Act 13 Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund  Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, Inc. (provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)  Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (Bedford County Endowments)  Bedford County Planning Commission Abandoned Turnpike and Tunnel The project continued to receive attention at the State level and the Director gave presentations to two legislative committees. The first, on September 22, was at an “Environmental Issues Forum” for the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control Conservation Committee. This presentation was preceded by a tour for legislative staff members. The second presentation, on December 9, was for the Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Public outreach efforts for the Pike 2 Bike project included an article in the Pike 2 Bike Corridor – Western Trailhead September/October issue of Pennsylvania

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Magazine, and an interview by the Director formation of a joint municipal authority to with WHYY (National Public Radio) in administer the project and corridor. Philadelphia. Hopefully, the Master Plan update will be completed by 2016 and the project can then The next step in the project will be an move to the final design and funding phases. update of the Master Plan, which will likely be undertaken in 2015 by a committee formed with representatives from Bedford and Fulton Counties. Concurrently, there will be an investigation concerning the

STAFF AND COMMISSION REVIEWS CONSISTENCY REVIEWS schedule for the review of subdivision and land development plans, as well as sewage The Planning Commission has the planning modules. The new format went responsibility to review and comment on into effect on January 1, 2014. public facility projects, zoning, subdivision and land development ordinances, as well A discussion of all reviews is provided as consistency with the County below and totals are provided in the Comprehensive Plan (Section 303 of the following table and map. Reviews were Municipalities Planning Code; Acts 67 and conducted for 21 municipalities. A 68 of 2000). Federal Executive Order summary for 2014 included: #12372 also provides the authority to comment on the consistency of federally-  87 Subdivision Reviews funded projects with the Plan.  11 Land Development Reviews  4 Sewage Module Reviews The Planning Commission conducted 26  Total Fees of $5024 consistency reviews in 2014. Highlights included: SUBDIVISION REVIEWS

 Bedford Joint Municipal Authority, Of the 87 subdivision reviews completed in Bedford Heritage Trail 2014, 62 involved the creation of one or  Broad Top Township, McCartney more stand alone non-building lots; and/or Surface Coal Mine the creation of one or more non-building  Bedford County Airport, Hangar side lot additions to existing adjacent lots; and Office Expansion and/or one more property lines changes  East Providence Township where no new lots were created. There Municipal Authority, Major were 25 subdivisions reviewed where one or Wastewater System Upgrades more single family homes were proposed using either on-lot sewage disposal or SUBDIVISION, LAND connection to municipal sewerage. DEVELOPMENT & SEWAGE MODULE REVIEWS LAND DEVELOPMENT REVIEWS

In 2013, the Planning Commission A total of 11 land development plan developed an application format and fee reviews were completed in 4 municipalities

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

(Bedford Township, Lincoln Township, (proposals of 10 lots or less intended for West Providence Township, and West St. detached single family dwellings served by Clair Township). The plans included: individual on-lot septic systems).

 Rehabilitation of the Everett The Planning Commission reviewed four Readiness Center, Route 26 North, Component 2 and Component 3 Sewage West Providence Township Planning Modules. The table below shows  Bedford Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, the total number of all types of reviews Inc., RV Display & Storage Lot completed in each municipality. The Map (Phase 1), Route 30, Bedford on the next page shows the location of all Township reviews conducted in 2014.  New Dollar General Store, Route 56, West St. Clair Township MUNICIPALITY TOTAL  One Single Family Home on an REVIEWS existing lot, Lincoln Township Bedford Township 22  PA Turnpike Commission, Bloomfield Township 1 Redevelopment of North Midway Plaza, Bedford Township Broad Top Township 2  Rockland Manufacturing Parking Colerain Township 7 Lot, Bedford Township East Providence Township 6  H.B.&T Tire Storage Building, West Providence Township East St. Clair Township 1  Bedford Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Harrison Township 3 Inc., RV Display & Storage Lot (Phase 2), Route 30, Bedford Twp Hopewell Township 9  JLG Industries, Inc., Fencing and Juniata Township 6 Added Parking, Bedford Township Kimmel Township 4  Blackberry Bottom Farm Dormitory Housing, Bedford Twp Liberty Township 1  Tenley Park Amphitheatre, West Lincoln Township 1 Providence Township Londonderry Township 3 SEWAGE PLANNING REVIEWS Mann Township 2 Monroe Township 4 The County Planning Commission is responsible under Act 537 for review and Napier Township 5 comment on Act 537 Plans; Component 2 South Woodbury Township 4 Modules (proposals involving the use of individual or community on-lot sewage Southampton Township 2 disposal systems and retaining tanks); and West Providence Township 8 Component 3 Modules (proposals involving West St. Clair Township 8 sewage treatment plants, or extensions to public sewerage systems, or individual Woodbury Township 3 small flow treatment systems). TOTAL 102

County planning agencies are not required to comment on Component 1 Modules

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

BOARD AND COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION The Director of the Planning Commission  Southern Alleghenies Planning & represents the County on numerous boards Development Commission, Planning and committees, including the following: Advisory Committee  Regional Planning Organization  Bedford County Agricultural Land (RPO) Regional Transportation Preservation Board Technical Committee  County Planning Directors  Evitts Creek Steering Committee Association of Pennsylvania  Western Pennsylvania Conservancy  South Central Counties Solid Waste Regional Advisory Committee Agency  Ridge and Valley Streamkeepers  Southern Alleghenies Conservancy

CONFERENCES AND TRAINING Planning Commission staff attended the  Redevelopment Assistance Capital following conferences and trainings in 2014: Projects  CDBG Annual Conference  Annual Convention of Bedford  CDBG Training for New County County Township Officials Grant Administrators  A New Look at Reviewing  CDBG Environmental Reviews Subdivision and Land Development  CDBG 2014 Application Process Plans (PA Local Government Training Partnership)  Applying for DCNR Grants

BEDFORD COUNTY AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PURCHASE PROGRAM The Bedford County Agricultural Land  Promote efforts to support the growth Preservation Board and the Bedford County of existing agricultural and non- Agricultural Conservation Easement agricultural communities in the Purchase Program were created by the County. County Commissioners in December 1995, in  Encourage the use of farmland accordance with the Pennsylvania preservation techniques through Agricultural Area Security Law of 1981 (Act public and private programs in the 43), as amended by Act 149 of 1988. The County. formation of the Board signified the first step  Encourage the preservation of the in the implementation of the Bedford County most productive soils in the County. Agricultural Conservation Plan. The primary  Inform the public about the goals of the seven-member Board are to: importance of Agricultural Land Preservation.  Administer a program for purchasing and accepting donations on Easements purchased through this state- agricultural conservation easements and county-funded program are perpetual. in accordance with Act 149 and With minor exceptions, the land preserved succeeding amendments and must be used for agricultural purposes by guidelines. current and future property owners. Farms

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION in the Program are also inspected annually Agricultural Land Preservation Board by the Bedford County Conservation approved the easement purchase at its April District. Due to limited funds, the County meeting for a price of $319,910 and the Agricultural Board normally can only closing occurred in August. The farm was the purchase one easement every several years. largest approved at the April State Board However, donations of farms at no cost or a meeting. reduced price (“bargain sales”) have extended Program funds in the past.

Farm owners interested in the Program submit an application which is scored and then ranked against other applicants. A summary of the ranking criteria (weighting) includes:

 Land Evaluation – Percent of soils in each Classification (I – VIII) (46 percent) Hershberger Farm, Woodbury Township  Site Assessment – Development Potential (14 percent)  Site Assessment – Farmland COOK FARM (610 ACRES) Potential (23 percent)  Site Assessment – Clustering The Cook family approached the Director Potential (17 percent) about an easement purchase “bargain sale” ($1 purchase). The farm is located in There are currently 16 enrolled farms Londonderry Township, south of Hyndman encompassing 3165 acres (almost 5 square Borough and several miles from Maryland. miles). The 16 farms are distributed as An application was submitted and approved follows: by the County Board in November. The bargain sale should be completed in 2015, South Woodbury Township – 5 and would be one of the largest easement Colerain Township – 4 purchases in the history of the East Providence Township – 2 Commonwealth’s program. King/East St. Clair Townships (border) – 1 Snake Spring Township – 1 West Providence Township – 1 West St. Clair Township – 1 Woodbury Township - 1

HERSHBERGER FARM (320 ACRES)

The Hershberger Farm is located in Woodbury Township north of Woodbury Borough, near the Blair County line. It was ranked first on the current list of applicants and is comprised of six tax parcels adjoining

SR 866 and Hickory Bottom Road. The State Cook Family Farm, Londonderry Township

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM The Pennsylvania Community Development Township. To date, $15,097,043 has been Block Grant (CDBG) Program allocations are allocated to Bedford County and to Bedford Federal Housing and Urban Development County on behalf of Bedford Township. (HUD) funds passed down to and administered by PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) under Pennsylvania Act 179. At the County level the CDBG Program is administered by the Planning Commission on behalf of the Board of Commissioners.

Counties that are not Federal Urban Counties (e.g., Bedford County) are eligible to apply for entitlement CDBG Program funds. Townships and Boroughs are also eligible to apply for CDBG Program funds if they have a population of 4,000 or more (based on the U.S. Census). Bedford Woodbury Water Main Replacement, Township is the only municipality in Bedford Horizontal Directional Drilling along Main Street (PA 36)

The Bedford County CDBG entitlement funds must be used to fund projects that benefit non-entitlement municipalities/ communities or not-for-profit organizations.

Projects to be funded through the CDBG Program are selected through a competitive process. Each year, usually in late September, the Planning Commission mails project proposal packets inviting municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to submit project proposals to Woodbury Water Main Replacement, Trench compete for the County CDBG allocation. Excavation along Main Street (PA 36) The proposals are usually due into the (2010/2012/2013 CDBG) Planning Commission by early January. Proposed projects must meet three eligibility County that has a population over 4,000 that requirements: (1) National Objectives is eligible to apply for entitlement CDBG criteria (benefit at least 51% low-to- Program funds. However, the County is moderate income (LMI) persons); (2) be an responsible for administering the CDBG activity listed under HUD 24 CFR Part 570, programs for eligible townships and authorized category of basic project boroughs with a population of 10,000 or less. eligibility; and (3) be a necessity and a good Therefore, Bedford County applies for and expenditure of funds. administers the Bedford Township CDBG Program funds on behalf of Bedford

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Activities must reflect necessary and Upon completion and approval by DCED, the reasonable costs, and must conform to State Department issues a Release of Funds and Federal regulations. The project(s) must Certification at which time the (1) meet the environmental review implementation of the project(s) may begin. requirements/procedures; (2) solve the Guyer Brothers, Inc., of New Enterprise, PA started problem; (3) be able to be completed within construction on October 13, 2014 to replace 2,950 three years; and (4) prove other funding is LF of water main on the east side of Main Street in not available. Woodbury with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe using Horizontal Directional Drilling. The project proposals are reviewed by the Roadway paving and lawn restoration are to be Planning Commission staff for compliance completed in the spring of 2015. and completeness. The projects meeting the The Planning Commission staff then meets CDBG program eligibility criteria are with the organization that submitted the presented at a public meeting to the County pro ject(s) to determine the steps that will be CDBG Priority Board. The Priority Board is required to complete the project within the comprised of the Planning Commission allotted funds and the contract timeframe (3 Board members. The Priority Board ranks years). If an engineer or an architect is the projects as to the greatest need/urgency required, a Request for Proposals (RFP) is and forwards their recommendations to the advertised, and an engineer/architect is Board of Commissioners. The selected through an open and competitive Commissioners have the final decision as to process. The engineer/ architect designs the the project(s) to receive funding. project, obtains the permits and easements. If construction is required, a bid document is prepared and a contract is awarded, also through an open and competitive process. The Planning Commission staff monitors the construction process, handles billing, and completes project close-out.

The project is monitored by DCED staff and audited by an accounting firm selected by the County. All files are maintained for four years after the CDBG Program year has been closed-out by HUD. The total timeframe is approximately ten years.

Woodbury Water Main Replacement, Setting Up Pipe-Pulling from Horizontal Directional Drilling Operations along Main St. (PA 36)

A CDBG grant application for County and Bedford Township entitlement funds is submitted to DCED for approval. A grant Bedford County, as a CDBG Grantee, contract is executed between the County and DCED and an environmental review is then whether or not doing housing conducted for the recommended project(s). projects, is required to be in compliance with the Federal Fair

Housing Act of 1968.

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BEDFORD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

2014 BEDFORD COUNTY CDBG ENTITLEMENT PROJECTS & APPLICATION

PROJECT FUNDING DESCRIPTION AMOUNT STATUS NAME YEAR(S) Hyndman Borough 2008 Phase I, II, and III $236,703.00 Completed 2009 Replace 4300 LF water main 97,276.99 awaiting DCED Monitoring & Audit Defiance Water 2010 Replace 7300 LF of water $220,401.88 Completed Association main from springs ($38,991.12 awaiting DCED remaining) Monitoring & Audit Coaldale Six Mile 2011 Replace 4 Slow Sand Filter $219,002.52 Completed Run, Water Corp waterlines ($347.48 awaiting DCED remaining) Monitoring & Audit Woodbury Borough 2010 Replace 2930 LF of Water $ 38,991.12 Under construction 2012 Line, East side of Main Street 194,899.00 during 2014 and 2013 (S.R. 36) 195,449.00 2015

Broad Top Township 2014 Reconstruct or Replace $137,809.00 Awaiting DCED On-Lot Septic malfunctioning on-lot septic FFY 2014 Contract Systems (Application) systems Defiance Water 2014 Improvements to 4 springs $ 60,000.00 Awaiting DCED Association containments for greater FFY 2014 Contract (Application) water capture

2014 BEDFORD TOWNSHIP CDBG ENTITLEMENT PROJECTS & APPLICATION

PROJECT FUNDING DESCRIPTION AMOUNT STATUS NAME YEAR(S)

Sweet Root Road 2006 – 10 Construct 7500 LF of water $725,866.00 Completed Sanitary Sewer and + main and 9000 LF of sanitary awaiting DCED Water Improvements 2010 sewer main Monitoring & Competitive $465,000.00 Audit Sweet Root Road 2009 Reconstruct and pave the $ 52,918.87 Completed 2010 road due to the sewer and 100,619.00 awaiting DCED 2011 waterline construction 25,896.48 Monitoring & (unspent 2011 and 2012 funds Audit transferred to Housing Rehab)

Housing Rehab 2011 Rehab single-family LMI $ 59,486.52 Subrecipient 2012 homes in Bedford Township 74,118.00 contracting with 2013; 74,792.00 CCA; and Awaiting DCED 2014 76,183.00 FFY 2014 Contract (Application)