Lawrencecopagreenways08
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Connections Linking LawrenceLawrence County’s ResourceResourcess Through Greenways DCNR Project #BRC-TAG-11.5-24 June 2008 Th is project was fi nanced in part by a grant by a grant from the Pennsylvania De- Pashek Associates from the Keystone Recreation, Park, and partment of Community & Economic Conservation fund under the administration Development, Land Use Planning Technical of the Pennsylvania Department of Con- Assistance Program, and by the Lawrence servation and Natural Resources, Bureau of County Commissioners. Conservation and Recreation, Acknowledgements Contributions by the following groups and individuals were essential to the development of a greenways vision for Lawrence County. Th eir time, knowledge, decision-making, and dedication throughout the planning process made the Lawrence County Greenways Plan possible. Lawrence County Commissioners Dan Vogler, Chairman Steve Craig Ed Fosnaught Lawrence County Planning Commission Lawrence County Planning Department and Staff Greenways Project Study Committee Nancy Bergey - Friends of McConnell’s Mill, League of Women Voters Joyce Cuff - Shenango River Watchers Megan Gahring - Lawrence County Conservation District Candee Hovis - Laurel High School Teacher Richard Lutz - Wampum Chapter of the North Country Trail Association JoAnn McBride - Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency Ed McCready - Lawrence-Beaver Farm Bureau JoAnn McCready - Lawrence County Conservation District Amy McKinney - Lawrence County Planning Director Carl Petrus - Lawrence County Cycling Club Amy Reeher - Penn/Ohio Watershed Association Janet Verone - Lawrence County Planning Commission, Friends of McConnell’s Mill, League of Women’s Voters Jerry Zona - Lawrence County Recycling / Solid Waste Department, PA Cleanways of Butler / Lawrence Counties Key Person Interviewees Focus Group Organizations Audubon Pennsylvania Bartramian Audubon Society Friends of McConnell’s Mill Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Wild Waterways Conservancy Also, this project would not have been possible without the valuable input given by Lawrence County residents, as well the support of local government offi cials and DCNR. Th is project was fi nanced in part by a grant from the Th is project was funded in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation fund Pennsylvania Department of Community & Eco- under the administration of the Pennsylvania Depart- nomic Development, Land Use Planning Technical ment of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau Assistance Program. of Conservation and Recreation. Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 7 What is a Greenway ........................................................................9 Why a Greenways Plan for Lawrence County? ..............................10 Preserving Lawrence County’s Defi ning Characteristics ..............11 Expanding the Economy ............................................................12 Protecting Sensitive Habitats ......................................................15 Sound Land Use and Sustainable Growth ..................................16 How is a Greenways Plan Developed? ...........................................17 Th ree-Step Process .....................................................................17 Public Participation....................................................................17 Purpose of the Greenways Plan ..................................................18 Goals and Objectives .................................................................19 Th e Greenways Plan as a Decision-Making Tool ........................19 CHAPTER 1: LAWRENCE COUNTY’S RESOURCES ....21 Gathering the Data .......................................................................23 Existing Planning Eff orts ..............................................................23 Natural Resources .........................................................................34 Sensitive Environmental Features Map .........................................45 Hydrologic Resources Map ............................................................49 Built Resources .............................................................................51 Recreation Features Map ..............................................................59 Cultural and Historical Amenties Map .........................................65 CHAPTER 2: THE GREENWAYS VISION .....................67 Th e Criteria ..................................................................................69 Th e Structure of the Network .......................................................70 Conservation Greenways ............................................................71 Conservation Corridors Criteria Map .......................................73 Conservation Greenways Descriptions and Priorities ..............76 Conservation Greenways Plan ..................................................77 Level of Recommended Protection .........................................86 Recreation and Transportation Greenways .................................86 Recreation Greenways Plan ......................................................91 Major Hubs............................................................................93 Minor Hubs ...........................................................................96 Points of Interest ....................................................................97 Recreation and Transportation Greenways Descriptions and Priorities ........................................................................100 Lawrence County Greenways Plan 5 Proposed Greenways Plan .......................................................113 CHAPTER 3: THE ACTION PLAN .............................115 Management Structure ...............................................................117 Greenways Management Options Matrix ................................119 A Successful Greenways Coordinator Should (...) .................122 Intergovernmental Cooperation ...........................................123 Th e DCNR Circuit Rider Program ......................................123 Administrative Budget ..........................................................125 Municipalities Drive Greenways Implementation .................127 Management Structure Chart .................................................131 Strategies for Implementation .....................................................133 Implementation Process Tables ................................................135 Advancing Individual Greenways Segments ..........................137 Land Conservation Tools ......................................................138 Acquisition Tools ...........................................................138 Regulatory Tools ............................................................144 Other Recommendations .....................................................150 CHAPTER 4: POTENTIAL PILOT PROJECTS ........... 161 Stavich Bike Trail Extension .............................................. 164 Neshannock Rail-Trail Beginning Segment ....................... 179 Shenango - Beaver Rivers Water Trail ................................ 189 Conservation-Based Ordinance: Mining Setback and Land Use Ordinances in Municipalities surrounding the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge ......................................... 199 APPENDICES Appendix A - Project Meeting Minutes Appendix B - Key Person Interviews Appendix C - DCNR Greenways Website Resource List Appendix D - Greenways Coordinator Job Descriptions Appendix E - Riparian Buff er Information Appendix F - Stream Protection (Example Ordinance) Appendix G - Conservation by Design (Example Ordinance) Appendix H - Overlay Zoning Districts (Example Ordinance) Appendix I - Natural Features Buff er (Example Ordinance) Appendix J - Woodlands Protection (Example Ordinance) Appendix K - Agricultural Pollution Control (Example Ordinance) Appendix L - Mandatory Dedication (Example Ordinance) Appendix M - Success Story: Falling Spring Greenway (Article) Appendix N - Shaping the Future: Township Zoning (Article) Appendix O - Keystone Active Zone (KAZ) 2006 Brochure 6 Lawrence County Greenways Plan Introduction WHAT IS A GREENWAY? The term “Greenway” was fi rst coined in the 19th century, and since that time has been defi ned in several ways. Some people think of greenways as primarily recreational, namely trails for hiking, jogging, biking, or canoeing/kayaking (often called water trails or “blueways”). For them, greenways are places that offer opportunities to experience the outdoors. For others, the purpose of greenways is primarily for conservation of undeveloped land containing important natural resources like forests, wetlands, and stream banks, along with the plants and animals that live there. Still others see greenways in aesthetic terms, preserving the pastoral countryside setting in rural areas, protecting outstanding natural features such as cliffs, overlooks, or river ravines, or establishing green landscapes in urban areas. All three of these ideas are embraced by the following all- encompassing defi nition, which is adapted from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Greenways Plan: Pennsylvania Greenways - An Action Plan for Creating Connections, and is embraced by this Greenways Plan: A greenway is a corridor of open space, varying greatly in scale, and incorporating or linking diverse natural, cultural, and scenic resources. Some greenways are recreational