BUTLER TOWNSHIP LUZERME COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA D
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r BUTLER TOWNSHIP LUZERME COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA d COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OCTOBER 22, 1984 ENGINEERING / PLANNING CONSULTANTS CHAMBERSBURG. PA. BUTLER TOWNSHIP LUZERNECOUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN .TABLE OF CONTENTS . PART A: PLAN PREPARATION. I . INTRODUCTION A . Goals and Objectives ......................... 1-1 B . Basic Methodology ............................ 1-1 I1 . PHYSICAL FEATURES A . Regional Location ............................ 11-1 B . TopographylPhysiography ...................... 11-2 C . Geological and Hydrological Aspects .......... 11-3 D . Evaluation of Water Resources ................ 11-4 E . Evaluation of Soil Resources ................. 11-14 F . Climatic and Air Basin Resources ............. 11-17 G . Ecosystems ................................... 11-19 H . Environmentally Sensitive Areas .............. 11-21 I11 . CULTURAL FEATURES A . Carrying Capacity Concept .................... 111-1 B . Population ................................... 111-1 C . Economy ...................................... 111-2 D . Existing Land Use ............................ 111-4 E . Future Development Potential ................. 111-7 F . Roads ........................................ 111-9 G . Community Facilities ......................... 111-11 H . Public Utilities ............................. 111-15 i .TABLE OF CONTENTS . (CONTINUED) PART B: PLAN DEVELOPMENT. I . COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES General .......................................... 1-1 Land Use ......................................... 1-2 Traffic Movement ................................. 1-3 Community Facilities and Public Utilities ........ 1-4 I1 . LAND USE PLAN Growth Management ................................ 11-1 Guidelines for Proposed Land Uses ................ 11-2 Land Use Projections ............................. 11-9 Proposed Land Use Designations ................... 11-10 Regional Land Use Policy ......................... 11-17 Proposed Land Use/Zoning Districts ............... 11-23 Rural Districts .................................. 11-23 Residential Districts ............................ 11-23 Commercial Districts ............................. 11-24 Industrial Districts ............................. 11-24 Special Districts ................................ 11-24 Existing/Proposed Zoning Comparison .............. 11-25 I11 . TRAFFIC MOVEMENT PLAN Purpose .......................................... 111-1 Scope ............................................ 111-1 Functions of a Thoroughfare System ............... 111-2 IV . COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES PLAN Purpose............................................ 1v-1 Scope ............................................ 1v-2 Criteria for Facility Planning ................... 1v-3 PART C: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. The Nature of the Comprehensive Plan ................... 1 Zoning Ordinance ....................................... 2 Subdivision Ordinance .................................. 3 The Function of the Planning Commission ................ 5 PART A PLAN PREPARATION I, INTRODUCTION A. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES In viewing the historical progress of land use development within much of this region, it is clearly evident that the intrusion into environmentally sensitive areas has resulted in several significant land use related problems. In order to alleviate these problems, continued development must be planned such that relevant existing environmental conditions are identified. The identified conditions must then be interpreted and development limitations formulated. In short, continued development of any community should be directed by not only the expanding population and economic base but also, the existing natural limits of the land. In other terms, we must recognize what the land can do for use and also what we must do to protect it. In order to thoroughly establish the natural limits of any region, a resource inventory must be completed. The following discussion shall present the findings of such a detailed inventory completed for Butler Township. The primary objectives of the inventory include the identification of significant physical., ecological, and socioeconomic data. The ultimate goal in preparing this inventory is the establishment of a set of specific conditions - natural limits, by which to base planning policies for future land use and impending development. A Comprehensive Plan then can be created for zoning and other land use controls to be more in tune with the natural features of the Township. B . BAS IC METHODOLOGY The basic methodology involves the thorough research of the most recently established environmental documentation 1-1 literature and where necessary field observations, all aimed at compiling a specific list of resource conditions pertinent to the Township. The availability of detailed information pertaining to geology, topography, soils, water resources and other environmental sensitive areas will be taken to full advantage. In order to more clearly illustrate existing conditions, factor base maps overlaying a Township base map will be prepared to reflect the actual location of critical areas and, in general, the aforementioned features. In the following pages, a procedure is discussed for gathering such data, organizing them under certain factor headings, mapping the factors on separate maps, and interpreting these factors in terms of land use. The sources for the data are given as well as the method of presentation on the maps. The maps consisting of 13 sheets are reproduced and bound at the end of this Report. The resource inventory described here is basically a step-by- step analysis of ecological data which when finally put on maps reveals a pattern of the land's limitations and capabilities with or without improvements. Generally speaking, in going this inventory, the following steps would be taken: 1. Obtain all pertinent information about Butler Township. 2. Organize the information by factor as follows: a. Topography/Physiography (Sheet 1) (1) Contour Lines - show direction of ridges and .. valleys, areas of high relief. (2) Low Areas - In particular, swamps, marshes, and floodplains. (3) Water Courses. (4) Generalized development patterns. (5) Landmarks. 1-2 b. Soils Associations (Landscapes which provide a distinctive proportional pattern of soils - Sheet 2.) (1) Rock outcrops, ledges. (2) Glacial till, weathered bedrock material. (3) Alluvium organic deposits. (4) Strip mines. (5) Soil cover. (6) Stratified drift, outwash. (7) Sand and gravel. (8) Fragipan . c. Geology and Groundwater Resources (Sheet 3) (1) Geologic formation. (2) Maximum thickness. (3) Rock types and characteristics. (4) Groundwater conditions, quantities. (5) Contact lines. (6) Glacial drift. (7) Drainage divides. (8) Watershed areas. d. Land Slope Classifications and Major Drainageways (Used in conjunction with topographic details, the rise or fall of land form is measured in feet per hundred or percent of slope; coupled with the overall drainage and stream flow direction - Sheet 4.) (1) Slope categories by location and extent broken down into 0-8 percent, 8-15 percent, and 15 percent or greater. (2) Surface relief. (3) Surface water. 1-3 e. Generalized Soils Characteristics (Sheet 5) 1. Drainage capability, permeability. 2. Flood-proneness. 3. Cut, fill and strip mine areas. 4. Depth to water table and bedrock. f. Prime Agricultural Soils (Based on the interpretation of existing soil properties and characteristics by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, those areas best suited for field crops, orchard and timber production are indicated - Sheet 6). (1) Prime cropland soils. (2) Prime orchard soils. (3) Prime timberland soils. g. Sanitary Sewerage Facilities and On-Lot Disposal Limitations (Sheet 7) (1) Sewer service areas. (2) Soil suitability for on-site waste disposal. h. Limitations for Construction of Structures with Basements (Derived by formulation of the USDA Soil Conservation Service for construction of dwellings . or other buildings of three stories or less that require no more than 8 foot subsurface excavations - Sheet 8.) (1) Degree of difficulty for land development. (2) Application of soil characteristics to construction of typical dwellings or low-rise structures with basements. i. Existing Land Use (Sheet 9) (1) Built-up land by use category, location and acreage as of 1982. 1-4 (2) Agricultural production. ( 3) Woodland. (4) Unimproved, cleared lands. (5) Mineral extraction. (6) Special interest like the proposed State Park. I 3. Place categorized findings on factor maps (as explained by the Legend in each case). 4. Interpret the factor maps (which involves analysis of the information on the factor maps in terms of land use and development of the Township). 5. Synthesize the information on the factor maps to show areas of varying suitability for development, such as those unsuitable or with severe limitations, and those well-suited with only a few or no limitations. (Development suitability - Sheet 12.) As the analysis of the factor maps proceeds, certain areas emerge which render building constraints and opportunities. Favorable land development characteristics are indicated, and can be weighed relative to most types of development, and levels of development intensity and population density. 6. Examine previous land use policies and recorded plats (existing Zoning/Subdivisions - Sheet 10) which commit certain lands, although not developed to date; and, incorporate factor maps displaying water, sewer, and road improvements (namely sheets 3, 7, and 11) which