Draft December 2015 Together At AvalonOur Best Bellevue Ben Avon Ben Avon Heights September 2017 This Comprehensive Plan was prepared in conjunction with the Joint Planning Commission for the Boroughs of Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon and Ben Avon Heights, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Landscape Architects Community Planners Urban Designers 100 Ross Street, Suite 500 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 261-6000 www.epd-pgh.com Funding for this effort was provided in part by an Allegheny County Economic Development’s Allegheny Places’ Municipal Planning Grant. TABLE OF CONTENTS RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1 Together at Our Best ......................................................................................... 1 Planning Process – What Is a Comprehensive Plan? ......................................... 2 CHAPTER 1 – FOUNDATIONS .................................................................................. 3 1. Livable Built Environment ............................................................................. 4 2. Harmony with Nature ................................................................................... 6 3. Resilient Economy ......................................................................................... 8 4. Healthy Community ...................................................................................... 10 5. Responsible Regionalism ............................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2 – BACKGROUND ................................................................................... 12 Key Trends ......................................................................................................... 12 Key Trends Partners and Other Local Organizations ......................................... 14 Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan Update Maps Base Map .................................................................................................... 15 Aerial Photo Map ....................................................................................... 16 Existing Zoning Map ................................................................................... 17 Existing Land Use Map ............................................................................... 18 Civic Improvements Map ............................................................................ 19 Major Employers Map ................................................................................ 20 Environmental Constraints Map ................................................................. 21 Landform Analysis Map .............................................................................. 22 Slope Map ................................................................................................... 23 Transportation Map ................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 3 – THE PROCESS ..................................................................................... 25 Planning Approach & Process ........................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 4 – VISIONS, GOALS & OBJECTIVES ........................................................ 28 Purpose of Planning .......................................................................................... 28 Goals ................................................................................................................. 29 Objectives ......................................................................................................... 30 Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan Update Maps Comprehensive Plan Map ........................................................................... 31 Public Realm Map ....................................................................................... 32 Facade & Signage Street Program .............................................................. 33 Alleyways Map ........................................................................................... 34 Green Link/Community Bike Routes Map ................................................... 35 Public Realm - Priority Projects Map .......................................................... 36 CHAPTER 5 – ACTIONS ............................................................................................ 37 Responsive Communities .................................................................................. 37 Collaboration & Cooperation ............................................................................ 38 Key Recommendations ..................................................................................... 38 Other Multi-Municipal ecommendationsR ....................................................... 44 Action Plan ........................................................................................................ 45 Allegheny Comprehensive Plan ........................................................................ 48 Live Well Allegheny ........................................................................................... 49 APPENDIX – STATE OF DOWNTOWN REPORT 2016 Avalon Ben Avon Bellevue Heights Ben Avon BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA RESOLUTION NO. 29-17 ADOPTION OF THE JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE BOROUGHS OF BELLEVUE, AVALON, BEN AVON AND BEN AVON HEIGHTS AS PREPARED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE OF BOROUGHS OF BELLEVUE, AVALON, BEN AVON AND BEN AVON HEIGHTS AND JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION OF BELLEVUE, AVALON AND BEN AVON PURSUANT TO ARTICLE Ill, SECTION 302 OF ACT 247, AS AMENDED, THE PENNSYLVNIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE WHEREAS, a copy of the Plan, which includes the text, maps, charts and any other items which form the whole of the Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit "A"; and, WHEREAS, various public meetings were held in September 2015 for the purpose of community outreach and to obtain public comment on the planning effort; and, WHEREAS, the Plan was reviewed and recommended by the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and the Joint Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the Plan was sent to the Allegheny County Economic Development for review and comment; and WHEREAS, the Plan was sent to all contiguous municipalities for review and comment and. WHEREAS, the Plan was sent to Northgate School District and Avonworth School District for review and comment; and WHEREAS, all comments received have been addressed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, the Plan was made available for public review through the Borough of Avalon via its website and municipal administration office; and WHEREAS, the Boroughs of Bellevue, Avalon, Ben Avon and Ben Avon Heights held a public hearing on September 20, 2017 and the Borough of Ben Avalon held a Public Hearing on October 10, 2017; and WHEREAS, the Borough of Bellevue has found the Comprehensive Plan is beneficial to the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE AND IT HEREBY RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SAME: Section 1: The Borough of Bellevue, by Its resolution, adopts the Plan as attached hereto as Exhibit 'W pursuant to Article Ill, Section 302 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Section II: Any and all previous comprehensive planning documents are hereby repealed. Comprehensive Planning 1 INTRODUCTION Together at Our Best those assets and opportunities for Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, and Ben Avon Heights while keeping in mind potential challenges. Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, and Ben Avon Heights are some of the Pittsburgh area’s most unique inner-ring Several building blocks are necessary to bring out the suburbs. During the steel industry, these communities best in each community. This plan includes creative were utilized as summer retreats. The four and innovative strategies and recommendations and communities’ natural and man-made beauty is evoked coordinates them with each other; with local, county, in their names. “Avalon” derives from the Welsh and state requirements; and with the plans and name of a legendary island in the tales of King Arthur, projects of neighboring communities. Comprehensive an “island of apple trees.” “Bellevue” is French for plans cover a range of traditional planning topics “beautiful view.” “Ben Avon” and “Ben Avon Heights” (e.g., land use, transportation, housing, natural share their names with a mountain in the Cairngorm resources, economic development, community Mountains of Scotland, with “ben avon” translating to facilities, natural hazards, etc.) as well as topics that “hill of the waters.” address contemporary planning needs (e.g., public health, social equity, sustainability, etc.). This Plan They are best characterized by the aesthetically will address the interrelationships among these pleasing historic homes lining their streets, bustling various topics. It frames proposals as sets of mutually business districts, beautiful natural scenery, and reinforced actions in a systems approach linking the a convenient central location just beyond the City plan with public programs and regulations. It contains of Pittsburgh’s limits. Throughout the years, these creative strategies for dealing with community change, communities remained attractive places to live, work, uncertainty, development needs, and proposes new and play with their “suburban streetcar” atmosphere. approaches and solutions to community problems. It While