City of Lancaster 1929 Comprehensive Plan
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LANCASThR PhNNSYLVANIA• 1 9 2 9 t RJ;POR,T TO CITY PLANNING COMMISSION JOI-IN NOLHN CITY PLANNBIR. I-IALB lWALKbR.JUSTIN R.UA~TZOG A.F.f'OCIATEJ' . Lancaster, Pennsylvania (omprehensive City Plan ,l~ FOR THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF LANCASTER l I r• ! JOHN NOLEN, City Planner ,, HALE ]. WALKER, JUSTIN R. HARTZOG, Associates HARVARD SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. I ~ I I \ 4 ~ I ... ~ I :i: ""f- ~ 0 II( i:.. 14 lo! f- "'~ t C)z ' ' j j Lancaster, 'Pennsylvania CITY COUNCIL FRANK C. MussER, Mayor JOHN J. BAIR, Councilman Department of Accounts & Finance CHARLES M. HowELL, Councilman Department of Public Safety HARRY B. CocHRAN, Councilman Department of Streets & Public Improvements WILLIAM C. REHM, Councilman Department of Parks 7 Public Property CITY PLANNING COMMISSION DR. H. M. J. KLEIN, Chairman M. T. GARVIN M. R. EVANS WILLIAM SHAND JAMES J. MALONE, Secretary ROBERT L. GERHART ALBERT W. GOTCH,Assistant Secretary JOHN NOLEN, City Planner HALE J. WALKER, JUSTINGR. HARTZOG, Associates Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass • Lancaster Chamber of Commerce MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON CITY PLANNING H. A. WoHLSEN, Chairman HAROLD ADAMS HENRY BOETTCHER HENRY w. BRUBAKER w ALTER E. FRAIM w. T. HAMBRIGHT H. B. HosTETTER HENRY B. HOWELL DR. H. M. J. KLEIN HERBERT C. MILLER FRED S. PYFER HENRY Y. SHAU B Table of (ontents PAGE INTRODUCTION . .. .. .. ........... ... .... ... ...... REGIONAL PLAN . .. ... .. .. .. ...... .. ...... ....... 23 EXISTING CONDITIONS SURVEY ... ............... ......... 27 MAJOR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS ... ... .. ................ 30 PARKS AND RECREATION. ' ... ... .•........ 37 SCHOOLS AND PLAY¥GROUNDS ... .. ........ ..... ........ .. 43 INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION ..... ..................... +7 CITY CENTER . .. .. .. ... ........... ............... .... 52 ZONING ......... ........ .. .. ' ' ' .......... .. ...... CARR YING OUT THE CITY PLAN . ... .........• . ........... 59 List of Plans and 'Diagranzs To Accompany Report I. REGIONAL PLAN. 22 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS MAP. 29 3. TRAFFIC DIAGRAM.... 33 4· MAJOR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS PLAN. 36 5. PARKS AND PARKWAYS DIAGRAM ...... .. .. .. .... ... '...... ... 42 6. PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS PLAN . ' . .. .. .. .. 42 7. RECREATION DIAGRAM ............ .. ... 45 8. CITY CENTER GENERAL PLAN. 57 9· PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAM .... ' ' . ' . 60 IO. COMPREHENSIVE CITY PLAN ........ ... ...... ' .......... .... ' . 61 The Lancaster City 'Planning Report STATEMENT BY THE City PLANNING CoMMISSION ANCASTER is approximately 200 hensive report now presented to the citizens. yearsyears old. This fact deserves recog- This plan with its recommendations and nition. As a substantial and perma suggestions is intended to be a guide-plan nent part of Lancaster's celebration of the for future growth. It presents a vision of 200th anniversary of her founding, it was possibilities that ought to become an in deemed fitting not only to recall the glories spiration to action on the part of this and of the past, but also to previse the possibili the coming generation. NE of the greatest satisfactions in doing any ties of the Greater Lancaster of the future. Doubtless, not all the recommendations sound work for an institution, a town, or a With this end in view, the Lancaster City and suggestions will be realized. But when city, or for the nation is that good work done Council authorized the Department of City the time for action comes, those who will be for the public lasts, endures through generations, and Planning to undertake a study of the called upon to act, will find this guide-plan planning problems of the Lancaster region, invaluable. It has been prepared by men the little bit of work that any individual of the passing over which the Planning Commission has who have been unbiased and disinterested, generation is enabled to do gains through association jurisdiction by Act of Assembly. The func whose leading motive has been the develop with such collective activities an immortality of its tions of the Planning Commission are not ment of public benefit, whose judgment has own. confined within the city limits, but extend been tried and tested by years of training -Charles W. Eliot for a distance of three miles outside thereof. and experience in the recognized profession It can readily be seen that in order to of city planning and city building. exercise intelligent guidance in the best The whole purpose of this plan is to give interest of the public service, there is a a unified, intelligent, purposeful guidance to necessity for a plan that guides the exten the future development of Lancaster. It sion of the system of main and secondary has in mind the creation of better living thoroughfares in undeveloped territory and conditions, the preservation of health, the requires new subdivisions to conform to it. enlargement of the facilities of transporta For the creation of the Master Plan for tion, the more successful operation of in the guidance of the future development of dustry, the safety and general welfare of Lancaster and its surroundings, the Planning the community. It is concerned with the Commission secured the services of John orderly, systematic, and efficient develop Nolen, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass., ment of the Lancaster region. and his Associates. These men have made Those who study the plan carefully will a thorough study of the present conditions realize that there has been no attempt to and future possibilities of Lancaster. The standardize the city. Lancaster is unique result of their work is found in the compre- in history, character, and topography, and 13 A COMPREHENSIVE CITY PLAN the plan recognizes this fact by seeking to We trust that this Comprehensive Plan Historic Landmarks of Lancaster preserve and develop the individuality of for the Greater Lancaster will serve to the city. create a wider vision of the future, to stimu- 'June 29, 1710-First Lancaster County I825-Lafayette visits Lancaster. This plan is published in order to give the late an ever-increasing spirit of civic progress, settlers sailed from London in ship "Mary April 23, I829-Lancaster Water Company citizens an opportunity to familiarize them- and to furnish a systematic and orderly Hope"; reached Philadelphia in Sep incorporated. selves with the recommendations and sug- program of municipal construction for many tember. I830-Conestoga Navigation Company was years to come. October IO, 17Io-Order issued to Jacob gestions. organized. Taylor to survey 10,000 acres in (now) Lancaster County, for the Colony at I834-The Railroad came to Lancaster. LANCASTER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Pequea. I842-Lancaster City Gas Company granted H. M. J. KLEIN-Chairman. 17I9--Christian Herr stone house erected rights to lay pipes in to the city. M. T. GARVIN and used as a meeting house. 'June 7, I853-Franklin and Marshall College WILLIAM SHAND May IO, I729-Act passed establishing Lan formally opened in Fulton Hall. M. R. EvANS caster County. I857-J ames Buchanan goes to the White R. L. GERHART May 1, I730-Lancaster officially made the House. county seat. I858-The Pennsylvania Railroad was May 15, I730-Andrew Hamilton and wife granted permission to erect a station in convey to the County of Lancaster land Lancaster. for a court house site, county prison and public market house. I86I-Abraham Lincoln speaks in Lancaster on his way to Washington. May 1, I742-Lancaster was incorporated as a borough. 'July I, I863-Major General John Fulton Reynolds was killed at Gettysburg. 'June 22, 1744.-Indian Treaty held at Lan caster Court House. August I I, £868-Thaddeus Stevens died in Washington. September 27, I777-Lancaster was the Capi tal of the Nation-Continental Congress I88I-Lancaster adopts a paid Fire Depart holding a session here. ment system. 'July 4, 1791- George Washington was the May 30, I890-Lancaster puts into opera guest of Lancaster. tion its first street railway. I792-The turnpike from Philadelphia to May 27, I904-Stevens High School for Lancaster was constructed, the oldest m Girls dedicated. the United States. 'January I,I926-Lancaster adopts the Com I795-City Hall was built. mission form of Municipal Government. I799-I8I2-Lancaster was the Capital of April 27, I929-New Pennsylvania Railroad the State. Station is opened. I8I8-The borough of Lancaster became a May IO, I929-Lancaster celebrates its city. 200th anniversary. 15 F ROM A S K ETCH OF LANCASTER MADE ABOUT 1800 The enormous losses in human happiness and in money which have resulted from lack of city plans which take in to account the conditions A (omprehensive City Plan of modern life, need little proof. The lack of adequate open spaces, of playgrounds and parks, the congestion INTRODUCTION of streets, the misery of tenement life and its reper cuss10ns upon each new generation are an untold L ANCASTER has far more interest isting Conditions Map and the Regional thanthan the average American city. To Plan shows the advantages of Lancaster's charge against our American life. Our cities do not begin with, it is old, part of the exist general location. It is a favorable site, geo produce their full contribution to the sinews of Ameri ing city, "Lancaster Townstead," dating back graphically and topographically. Further can life and national character. The moral and social to 1 7 30. Age has made Lancaster mellow. more, the early settlers of Lancaster showed issues can only be solved by a new conception of city I ts buildings, trees and streets have the at knowledge and skill, according to their time, building. mosphere of age and distinctive local color. in making the first plan of the city. The -President Hoover Much of its early architecture is of unusual street and block plan is rectangular in char merit, and the impression that one gets in acter, well organized around the central open going about the city is a prevailing sense of square at the intersection of the main streets, order, neatness and thrift. In fact, Lancas east and west, north and south. Moreover, ter has many of the marks of a European outside of a limited central area of about city.