Emsworth Borough Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Comprehensive Plan 1998
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EMSWORTH BOROUGH ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 1998 This project was funded entirely with Emsworth Borough funds. The Emsworth Borough Comprehensive Plan was prepared by: Mackin Engineering Company RIDC Park West 117 Industry Drive Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275 Mr. Robert T. Hilliard, Manager- Environmental and Planning Services Mr. Robert Kipp, AICP Ms. Jennifer Giovannitti, Planner With assistance from Mr. Charles Pravanzano, CADD Technician Mr. George Baran, P.E. Mr. Robert Genter, RLA, ASLA i _- - -__ - ~ 2-Mackin Engineering Company ' R.I.D.C. Park West 117!ndustry Drive . Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1015 Phone: (412) 788-0472 - ___Fax: - (412) 787-3588 , , .- I . ., ........ ....... ~.. ........ - .......... ..... ................. - 7--- - .. .. I I November 5,1997 I_ Emsworth Borough P1 commission 171 Center Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15202 I . *- i Attention: Mr. Sam Galante, Chaimian - RE: Comprehensive Plan 4 -. m * MachProject No. 3812-001 Dear Mr. Galante: .. 3' r' I It gives me great pleasy-e to present you with the final version of Emsworth Borough's Comprehensive Plan. The plan is the result of a year long effort by the borough planning 1 commission, the borough administrative staff; ad Mach Engineerhg Company. ~, I This document is intended to be used as a guide for local appointed and elected officials when I making decisions related to housing, transpoitation, public utilities, community facilities, and land use. The plan contains recommendations to cafry out the desired goals and objectives of the borough. Input fiom the planning commission, boroughsupervisors, and borough residents bave been * incorporated into these recommendations. ; I -. The staff at Machhave enjoyed working with Emsworth Borough and wish Emsworth the I best of luck in its future endeavors. * .- .. I .Very truly yours, I Robert T. Hilliard 1 Manager- Environmental and Planning Services I RTWjag .. I 11 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pape Title Page i .. Transmittal Letter 11 ... Table Of Contents 111 . , -b,- Listing Of Maps V Listing Of Tables vi ... Listing Of Figures Vlll Introduction ix Acknowledgments X PHASE I SECTION History And Background I-A Population And Income I-B, Existing Land Use I-c Existing Transportation I-D Existing Community Facilities I-E Existing Public Utilities I-F Economic Background Studies I-G Existing Housing I-H ... 111 8 I 1 PHASE I1 SECTION 1 Community Vision II-A I Goals And Objectives 11-A PHASE 111 SECTION Future Land Use Plan 111-A Future Housing Plan 111-B Transportation Plan 111-c Community Facilities And Public Utilities Plan 111-D 1 PHASE IV SECTION Implementation Matrix IVA Plan Interrelationship Statement IVB Contiguous Municipalities Staternent IV-c Signed Letter Of Adoption iv LISTING OF MAPS Map ## Title Section MAP1 Existing Land Use Map I-c MAP2 Existing Transportation Map __ -. I-D MAP3 Existing Community Facilities Map I-E MAP4 Existing Water Lines Map I-F MAP5 Existing Sewer Lines Map I-F MAP6 Future Land Use Map 111-A MAP7 Future Zoning Map 111-A Map 8 Neighborhood Enhancement Areas 111-A V 1 I LISTING OF TABLES I & I TABLE I-B, 1 Emsworth Borough Population Comparison I-B, 3 TABLE I-B, 2 Age Distribution: 1970-1990 I-By 4 I TABLE I-B, 3 Age Distribution for Emsworth Borough I-B, 4 I TABLE I-B, 4 Population 65 Years and Older, 1970-1990 I-By6 TABLE I-B, 5 Population Under the Age of 18, 1940-1990 I-B, 6 TABLE I-B, 6 Minorities as a Percentage of Total Population, 1940- 1990 I-B, 7 TABLE I-By7 Total Households, 1970-1990 I-B, 8 TABLE I-B, 8 Persons Per Household, 1970-1990 I-By8 TABLE I-B, 9 Households By Income Groups, 1990 I-B, 9 TABLE I-C, 1 Emsworth Borough Existing Land Use I-cy4 TABLE I-E, 1 Emsworth Volunteer Fire Department Equipment List I-E, 3 TABLE I-E, 2 Emsworth Public Works Department Equipment List I-E, 7 TABLE I-E, 3 Emsworth Community Park I-E, 10 TABLE I-E, 4 Avonworth Community Park I-E, 11 TABLE I-G, 1 Emsworth Borough Employment Status I-G, 2 TABLE I-G, 2 Employment by Major Industry Groups I-G, 3 TABLE I-G, 3 Employment by Major Occupational Groups I-G, 4 TABLE I-G, 4 Families By Number of Workers I-G, 5 TABLE I-G, 4 Places of Work of Emsworth Borough Residents I-G, 5 TABLE I-H, 1 Median Monthly Income Spent on Housing I-H, 3 vi 1 I TABLE I-H, 2 Building Permits Issued in Emsworth Borough: 1995-1996 I-H, 5 TABLE I-H,3 Age of Housing I-H, 6 TABLE I-H, 4 Owner-Occupied Housing Units, 1970-1990 I-H, 8 TABLE I-H, 5 Housing Value of Owner-Occupied Units, 1990 I-H, 8 TABLE I-H, 6 Vacant Housing Units, 1970-1990 I-H, 9 TABLE I-H, 7 Total Housing Composition, 1970-1990 I-H, 9 TABLE Et-A, 1 Emsworth Borough Future Land Use 111-A, 7 vii LISTING OF FIGURES Page FIGURE 1 Percent Change in Population: 1950-1990 I-B, 3 FIGURE 2 Age Composition in Emsworth Borough, 1990 I-B, 5 FIGURE 3 Age Distribution in Emsworth: 1970,1980,1990 I- B, 5 FIGURE 4 Minorities as a Percentage of the Total Population I-B, 7 FIGURE 5 Emsworth Borough Existing Land Use I-c, 4 FIGURE 6 Employment by Major Industry Groups I-G, 2 viii B 4 OVERVIEW I Emsworth Borough is a residential bedroom community that is known for its low crime rate, excellent school district, and affordable, sound housing stock. Due to the borough’s excellent I reputation as a family-oriented community, it has become an attractive place for younger families to reside. I In order to plan for hture change, the Emsworth Borough Planning Commission devoted itself to a year-long process to develop a comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a document disclosing past and present land use trends and sets a proposed course of action. It is a means of 8 dealing with change. The planning process consists of community surveys, data collection, analysis, problem identification, setting goals and objectives, and formulating options for the 1 future. Emsworth Borough has the potential to develop its Center Avenue Business District and its commercial land along Ohio River Boulevard. Emsworth’s proximity to Downtown Pittsburgh, I Thorn Hill Industrial Park, and the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport provides the borough e with the three items that real estate brokers deem critical to success: location, location, location. Realizing the potential for growth and redevelopment in Emsworth, the borough planning commission, zoning hearing board, and borough council selected Mackin Engineering Company I as its consultant to assist with developing a comprehensive plan. Mackin is pleased to present the Borough of Emsworth with an up-to-date comprehensive plan. I The following plan is tailored to the residents of Emsworth Borough and is intended to serve as a policy guiding tool for the physical development of the borough. It states basic objectives and long-term goals as developed over the past year, and will assist the borough leaders in their I future decision-making . I I ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following people are recognized for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this plan and their commitment to planning for Emsworth Borough’s hture. Their input will enable this plan to better serve as a guide for the future orderly growth and development of the borough. These individuals and groups deserve thanks: Emsworth Borouph Council Mr. George Rossi, Mayor Mrs. Jane Gruber, President Mr. Ed Politylo, Vice-president Mrs. Margaret Daniels, Councilwoman Mr. Robert Greca, Councilman Mr. Rich Hays, Councilman Mr. John Manko, Borough Councilman Mr. Rudy Wolf, Councilman Emsworth Borough- Planning Commission (4 Year Term) Mr. Sam Galante, Chairman Mr. Robert Greca Mr. Walter Kenderski Mrs. Kathy Marrno Mr. George Rossi Mrs. Susanne Wolf Mr. Drew Potoski Mr. Larry Donald Emsworth Borough Staff Mrs. Cathy Jones, Borough Secretary Mr. Martin F.P. Vinci 111, Borough Solicitor Mr. John L. Sullivan, Administrative Consultant Mr. Ronald Lawry, Personnel Manager . Mr. David Venturella, Borough Treasurer Mrs. Lisa Miller, Assistant Borough Secretary X INTRODUCTION Emsworth Borough’s Comprehensive Plan is the end product of a year-long planning period. The planning process was guided by the Emsworth Borough Planning Commission, which directed and reviewed the operations of its planning consultant, Mackin Engineering Company. This plan identifies current conditions, issues, and assets of the borough. It develops ways to resolve outstanding issues and build upon the borough’s strengths. There are a number of advantages to having completed a Comprehensive Plan: 0 It provides the municipality with a defensible and legal basis for land use, subdivision, land development and zoning controls evolving fiom the planning effort. 0 It provides valuable information which can be used in future funding applications. It identifies natural and physical features, conditions, and limitations which may affect the location, timing, and future development of the community. It results in the preparation of a community agenda which anticipates and prepares for the future of the municipality based on the rational analysis of various conditions. 0 It provides for a thorough land use study encompassing the current use of land and the recommended future land use, which assists in the preparation of any future subdivision and land development ordinances, zoning ordinances or land use plans. The Comprehensive Plan was created in a four phase process. Phase One, the Background Studies, analyzes the demographic trends, community facilities, public utilities, the transportation network, and other components of community life in Emsworth Borough. Phase Two, the Goals and Objectives, addresses issues brought forth in the Background Studies.