ADOPTION RESOLUTION Town of Boonsboro, Maryland RESOLUTION 97-04 WHEREAS, Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland empowers local municipalities to provide for the orderly growth and development of their respective jurisdictions; AND WHEREAS, the Town of Boonsboro Mayor and Council, in conjunction with the Town of Boonsboro Planning Commission, have recently completed an update and revision of their Comprehensive Plan. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Boonsboro, Maryland that the document known as "Comprehensive Development Plan for the Town of Boonsboro, Maryland" is hereby adopted and to be placed into effect the 23th day of June, 1997. Charles. F. Kauffman, Jr., Mayor ATTEST: Barbara Rodenhiser, Town Clerk This Comprehensive Development Plan for the Town of Boonsboro is designed to guide the physical development of the Town of Boonsboro pursuant to the provisions of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Plan is recommended to the Mayor and Town Council for adoption by resolution of the Boonsboro Planning Commission on May 27, 1997 after a duly advertised public hearing conducted on May 20, 1997. Robert L. Snyder, Chairman Boonsboro Planning Commission ATTEST: Richard W. Gross, Secretary COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF BOONSBORO, MARYLAND BOONSBORO PLANNING COMMISSION and the BOONSBORO MAYOR AND COUNCIL TOWN OF BOONSBORO Charles F. Kauffman, Jr., Mayor Howard W. Long, Assistant Mayor Kevin M. Chambers Richard W. Gross Raymond D. Grove Richard E. Hawkins, Sr. Gene W. Smith BOONSBORO MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSION Robert L. Snyder, Chairman David E. Ambrose, Vice Chairman Richard W. Gross, Council Representative Julie S. Green Jeffery B. Harrison Peggy E. Mark Robert L. Wetzel Eldon A. Jones, Town Manager C. Richard Grimm, Zoning Administrator Technical Assistance Provided by the WASHINGTON COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT Robert C. Arch, Director James P. Brittain, Associate Planner - Town Planner Jennifer L. Diehl, Assistant Planner - GIS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preface........................................................................................................................................ i Part I Background Studies Population.......................................................................................................................... 1 Natural Environment....................................................................................................... 13 Land Use.......................................................................................................................... 22 Transportation ................................................................................................................. 37 Community Facilities...................................................................................................... 46 Economy.......................................................................................................................... 62 Downtown Business District .......................................................................................... 66 Part II Comprehensive Plan Land Use & Future Growth ............................................................................................ 70 Transportation ................................................................................................................. 92 Community Facilities.................................................................................................... 104 Economy........................................................................................................................ 111 List of Maps Map 1 Sensitive Areas ........................................................................................................ 18A Map 2 Land Use 1996 ......................................................................................................... 22A Map 3 Zoning Map .............................................................................................................. 22B Map 4 Town Study Areas.................................................................................................... 22C Map 5 Town Growth Area Boundaries............................................................................... 30A Map 6 Community Facilities............................................................................................... 46A Map 7 Generalized Land Use.............................................................................................. 73A Map 8 TGA Generalized Land Use .................................................................................... 73B Map 9 TGA Roads - Functional Classification .................................................................. 93A PREFACE The Boonsboro Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 1990-1991 and adopted by the Mayor and Council on August 5, 1991. The Maryland Office of Planning was requested to help the Planning Commission and Town Council update its 1975 Plan due to growth-related issues and problems facing the Town in the near future. The 1996-97 Update of the Boonsboro Comprehensive Plan was mandated via the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act of 1992 henceforth referred to as the 'Planning Act of 1992'. The Town of Boonsboro receives its authority and guidance for planning and zoning from the State of Maryland through enabling legislation know as Article 66B. Article 66B specifies areas that a comprehensive plan should address to provide for orderly and economical growth of a community. The Planning Act of 1992 added several new requirements for local government comprehensive plans. The new requirements of Article 66B are as follows: Section 3.05(a)(1)(iii) The transportation plan element shall also provide for bicycle and pedestrian access and travelways. An estimate of the probable utilization of any proposed improvements shall be included. Section 3.05(a)(1)(vi) 1. Streamlined review of applications for development, including permit review and subdivision plat review within the areas designated for growth in the plan; 2. The use of flexible development regulations to promote innovative and cost-saving site design and protect the environment; and 3. Economic development in areas designated for growth in the plan through the use of innovative techniques. Section 3.05(a)(1)(viii) A Sensitive Area element that contains goals, objectives, principles, policies, and standards designed to protect, from the adverse effects of development, sensitive areas, including the following: 1. Streams and their buffers; 2. 100-Year Floodplains; 3. Habitats of Threatened and endangered Species; and 4. Steep slopes Section 3.05(a)(2) The sensitive areas element adopted under paragraph (1)(viii) of this subsection may also include other areas in need of special protection, as determined in the local plan. Section 3.06(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the Commission shall implement the following "Visions" through the plan described in 3.05 of the Article: -i- 1. Development is concentrated in suitable area; 2. Sensitive areas are protected; 3. In rural areas, growth is directed to existing population centers and resource areas are protected; 4. Stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and the Land is a universal ethic; 5. Conservation of resources, including a reduction in resource consumption, is practiced; 6. To assure the achievement of paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection, economic growth is encouraged and regulatory mechanisms are streamlined; and 7. Funding mechanisms are addressed to achieve these visions. Section 3.06(c) 1. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the authority to adopt regulations concerning the implementation of subsection (B) of the section in a plan shall be vested solely in the legislative Body of the jurisdiction that has adopted the plan. 2. This subsection does not limit the Office of Planning, the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission, or any subcommittee of the Commission, from exercising any authority granted under the State Finance and Procurement Article. In addition to addressing the State mandates, the 1996-97 Update provides the Town with an opportunity to update background data (Part I) and to make revisions and additions to the goals, objectives, and recommendations to the Comprehensive Plan (Part II) outlined in the 1991 Plan. The update to Part I and II of the Plan, other than those required by the Planning Act of 1992, are the result of reflecting upon accomplishments by the public and private sector and the re-evaluation of the Town's goals resulting from changes in philosophy and environs that have occurred over the past five years. Changes in most of the goals of the Town's comprehensive plan will be subtle in many instances as the Visions are not a new concept. The inclusion of the Visions offers an opportunity to enhance the Plan in areas previously only touched upon in a broad sense. HISTORICAL INFLUENCE PAST AND PRESENT Boonsboro is a town steeped in history and yet stalked by the future. This historic old Western Maryland municipality began as a small settlement in the late 1700's and was incorporated 1831. The completion of the National Pike (now U.S. 40 Alternate) to Boonsboro in 1810 at the terminus of Shepherdstown Pike (now Maryland Route 34) gave the Town the beginnings of a regional -ii- accessibility that made it a major commercial center. Other major roads were