Richboro Village Master Plan March, 2018 RICHBORO VILLAGE MASTER PLAN March, 2018 Prepared by Bucks County Planning Commission 1260 Almshouse Road Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: 215-345-3400 Fax: 215-345-3886 www.buckscounty.org RICHBORO VILLAGE MASTER PLAN NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP Northampton Township Board of Supervisors Barry Moore, Chairperson Eileen Silver, Chairperson Frank O’Donnell, Secretary Kimberly Rose, Treasurer Larry Weinstein Northampton Township Planning Commission Arthur Friedman, Chairperson Edward Ingle, Vice Chairperson Steve Saddlemire, Secretary Michele Druding Andrew Gannon Patrick McGuigan Evan Stone Northampton Township Economic Development Corporation Planning Consultant Bucks County Planning Commission 1260 Almshouse Road Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: 215-345-3400 Fax: 215-345-3886 www.buckscounty.org RICHBORO VILLAGE MASTER PLAN March, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................... 1 Plan Purpose .............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Study Area ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 History ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Village Function ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Recent Initiatives ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2. A Vision for the Future .................................................................... 7 What Makes a Place Great?....................................................................................................................................... 7 Public Participation .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Town Hall Meeting .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Development Preference Exercise............................................................................................................................. 8 Survey Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Vision and Principles .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Richboro Village Vision Statement .......................................................................................................................... 10 Principles ................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 3. Present-Day Richboro: Conditions and Character .......................... 11 Land Use .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Natural Resources.................................................................................................................................................... 13 Greenways and Trails .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Historic Resources ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Physical Conditions .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Land Use Regulatory Framework ............................................................................................................................. 20 Chapter 4. Transportation and Circulation ..................................................... 23 Functional Classification .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Traffic Counts ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 Public Transportation .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Previous Studies ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Road and Intersection Layout and Improvements Evaluation ................................................................................ 29 Chapter 5. Economic and Business Environment ............................................ 31 Richboro Businesses ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Market Analysis ....................................................................................................................................................... 32 Summary of Economic and Business Environment ................................................................................................. 35 Chapter 6. A Master Plan for Richboro ........................................................... 37 Village Revitalization ................................................................................................................................................ 37 Concepts and Strategies .......................................................................................................................................... 37 i March, 2018 RICHBORO VILLAGE MASTER PLAN Principle 1. Make it a Place ................................................................................................ 38 Increase Development Opportunities ..................................................................................................................... 38 Promote Mixed Use ................................................................................................................................................. 41 Promote Design Guidelines ..................................................................................................................................... 43 Manage Parking ....................................................................................................................................................... 45 Promote Civic Anchors ............................................................................................................................................ 46 Design Spaces for the Public .................................................................................................................................... 47 Preserve Natural and Historic Resources ................................................................................................................ 49 Coordinate Village-Scale Signage............................................................................................................................. 50 Principle 2. Improve Mobility, Safety, and Access ............................................................... 52 Make Connections ................................................................................................................................................... 52 Design for Pedestrians and Bicyclists....................................................................................................................... 53 Improve the Streetscape ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Manage Access ........................................................................................................................................................ 57 Make Complete Streets ........................................................................................................................................... 58 Calm Traffic .............................................................................................................................................................. 60 Create Gateways ...................................................................................................................................................... 63 Principle 3. Develop the Economy ...................................................................................... 65 Engage in the Revitalization Process ....................................................................................................................... 65 Understand Both the Opportunities and Challenges .............................................................................................. 66 Develop a Marketing Plan ......................................................................................................................................