The Quakertown Area 1 P Ia N Ni Ng Prog Ram I Established 1972 1
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THE QUAKERTOWNAREA COMPREHENSIVEPLAN UPDATE 4992. Haycock Township Milford Township Quakertown Borough Richland Township Richlandtown Borough Trumbauersville Borough Quakertown Community School District BUCKS COUNTY PEN NSY LVA N IA I I I I ~ The Quakertown Area 1 P Ia n ni ng Prog ram I Established 1972 1 The Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan Enacted 1978 Updated 1992 Update Adopted: Haycock Township Board of Supervisors May 18, 1992 Milford Township Board of Supervisors April 7, 1992 Quakertown Borough Council July 1, 1992 Richland Township Board of Supervisors June 15, 1992 Richlandtown Borough Council August 10, 1992 Trum bauersville Borough C ounciI June 4, 1992 Quakertown Area ComDrehensive Plan Update Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ i Introduction and Background ............................................................................................... 1 The Land Use Concept ............................................................................................................ 5 Community Development Goals and Objectives ............................................................ 17 Growth: Population and Housing ....................................................................................... 27 Residential Development Areas Analysis ......................................................................... 33 Nonresidential Development Areas Inventory ............. ........................... .. ..................... 41 Natural Resources: Policies and Protection Standards .................................................... 45 Transportation Improvements Planning ........................................................ ......... .. ....... 55 Sewer and Water Considerations ........................................................................................ 75 School Facility Considerations ............................................................................................. 87 Commerce and Industry ........................................................................................................ 91 Municipal Services and Facilities .......................................... ......... ........ ...,. ......... ........ ..... .. 97 Municipal Finance Considerations ..................................................................................... 105 Existing Land Uses ................................................................................................................... 111 Planning Compatibility .......................................................................................................... 115 Implementation and Recommendations .......................................................................... 123 I Executive Summarv The Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan of 1978 has been reviewed and updated to serve as the I comprehensive plan for participating municipalities to the year 2000. The continuing planning effort brings together Quakertown Area municipalities and the Quakertown Community School District to coordinate planning efforts and to provide a better living environment for all residents. The plan is a unified statement of goals for the future, an analysis of existing conditions and a set of implementation I guidelines. The primary issues addressed are listed below. I The ConceDt Plan The Development Area Concept, the basic community planning philosophy on which the Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan has been based, is reaffirmed. The commitment to regularly I review the adequacy of the Development Areas is stated. An additional planning area, Titled Towns and Villages, was included in order to recognize and maintain the character and scale of these areas. I Communitv DeveloDment Goals and Obiectives I Basic statements related to community development and conservation were reviewed in light of I conditions experienced in the 1980s and those anticipated in the 1990s. Statements related to open space, historic preservation, nonresidential development, recreation, sewer and water facilities, highway improvements and community and school district services were added. Growth: PoDulation and Housing Population and housing growth during the 1980s is described. Projections for the 1990 to 2000 period are discussed. Residential DeveioDment Areas Analvsis The adequacy of the higher density residential zoning districts to accommodate anticipated residential development for the 1990 to 2000 period was reviewed. These areas were determined to be large enough to accommodate a substantially greater number of dwelling units than the growth I8 projected for the period. Nonresidential DeveloDment Areas Inventorv Remaining undeveloped commercial and industrial areas were identified and listed. Substantial areas remain undeveloped in the nonresidential districts. Natural Resources: Policies and Protection Standards The basis for natural resource protection is discussed. Numerical standards included in some of the Quakertown Area ordinances were reviewed and certain recommendationsoffered. I In addition to floodway areas, flood fringe areas should not be filled or developed except for needed road crossings. A buffer area should be required around significant wetlands. State and federal wetlands regulation changes should be monitored and ordinances should be revised as warranted. Current standards relating to wetlands, lakes, ponds, shore areas, steep slopes and forests should not be changed: Formation of agricultural security areas by landowners should be supported by the municipalities. 0 Minimum lot area requirements related to soil suitability for on-site sewage disposal should be deleted. Transportation Improvements Planning PennDOTs twelve year capital improvements plan procedures are described. Improvements to the highway system are identified. The need to complete an environmental impact study is stressed. The Quakertown Area road classifications should be reviewed. Access management, roadway interconnections, transportation management and pedestrian/bikeway planning are discussed. Sewer and Water Considerations Sewage facilities planning studies and activities are described. The feasibility of studying groundwater limitation of diabase areas should be discussed. Well head protection standards should be developed. Intermunicipal cooperation in water supply and fire protection should be fostered. School Facilitv Considerations Cooperation among municipalities, the school district and developers should provide for needed school sites and athletic fields in high growth areas. Information on development should be exchanged between the school district and municipalities. Strong vocational, technical and trades training is encouraged. A northern campus of the Bucks County Community College should be considered. Commerce and Industrv Information from the 1978 comprehensive plan, with minor changes, is included. Communitv Services and Facilities Information from the 1978 comprehensive plan, with minor changes, is included. Municipal Finance Considerations Approaches to municipal finance and capital improvements, as described in the 1978 comprehensive plan, are included. II I :I ExistinP Land Uses I Existing land uses are described. ;II Planning Compatibility Land use plans of the nine surrounding municipalities and the basic policies of the Bucks County comprehensive planning program were studied and were found to be compatible with the Quakertown Area planning program. Matters relating to growth in the greater region were noted. Implementation and Recommendations Specific tasks, programs and studies have been listed to help implement the goals, objectives and purposes of the comprehensive plan. A target date for completion of each task is stated. iii Introduction and Background 1 I 8 I 1 Introduction Cooperative planning in the Quakertown Area has reached its twentieth anniversary. In 1971, six municipalities and the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce began discussions on possible advantages of joint planning to coordinate individual municipal planning efforts in land use, zoning, sewage facilities and development regulations. Cooperating. municipalities include Haycock, Milford and Richland townships as well as Quakertown, Richlandtown and Trumbauersville boroughs. The seventh active participant is the Quakertown Community School District. Demands on the school district are directly affected by the location, scale, type and timing of new development. Cooperation among municipalities and the school district allows informed school facilities planning and budget management. Accomplishments of the planning program include the following. 1972 Quakertown Area Planning Committee formed by resolution of six municipalities and the school district 1975 Quakertown Area Zoning Ordinance adopted 1978 Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan adopted 1979 Quakertown Area Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance adopted Comprehensive amendments to the Quakertown Area Zoning Ordinance adopted 1981 Quakertown Area Linked Open Space Study prepared 1982 Development Areas Analysis prepared 1985 Wastewater Facilities Component to the Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan adopted 1986 Development Areas Analysis prepared 1987 Quakertown Area Traffic Analysis prepared 1991 Quakertown Bypass Study prepared In addition to completion of these plans, studies and ordinances, the cooperative planning program provides the forum for municipal officials and school district representatives to