NORTH EAST AREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PREPARED FOR NORTH EAST BOROUGH AND NORTH EAST TOWNSHIP BY THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING ASSISTED BY NORTH EAST BOROUGH AND NORTH EAST TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS 2005 NORTH EAST AREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FEBRUARY 2005 I PREPARED BY NORTH EAST BOROUGH AND NORTH EAST TOWNSHIP I AND THE ERLJ3 COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLA"ING 1 ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA I, I 1 1. ... - ................. __ .... ..........,. ... "__..".. ... .I,."..-.--.^.. ....... ..~. III _. fl ...... r.n:~-j.-.. ....L. ,>_ . ,."I_"...-.. ..... t- i 2005 NORTH EAST AREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Chapter Paqe. I-- . TITLE PAGE. ................................................ i . TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................... ii-iii I I INTRODUCTION .............................................. iv 1 CHAPTER 1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................... 1-6 Introduction ......................................... 1 Overall Plan Goal ...................................... 1 Citizen Participation Considerations ................. 2 1 Environmental Considerations......................... 2 Energy Conservation Considerations ................... 2 Aesthetic Considerations ............................. 3 1 .. Economic Considerations .............................. 3 Housing Consi,derations............................... 4 Transportation Considerations ........................ 4 Community Facilities and Utilities Considerations .... 5 I Land Use Considerations .............................. 5 I CHAPTER 2 HOUSING PLAN..........................,....... 7-9 Introduction.......................................... 7 General Recommendations .............................. 7 Demonstration Projects ............................... 9 CHAPTER 3 TRANSPORTATION PLAN............................ 10-18 I Introduction......................................... 10 Official Highway System .............................. 10 State Highway System Improvements .................... 12 I State Highway System Signalization Improvements ...... 12 Municipal Transportation System Improvements ......... 13 I CHAPTER 4 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES PLAN........ 19-25 Introduction......................................... 19 r Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration .......... 19 Joint Facilities ..................................... 20 Municipal Services ................................... 20 . Municipal Authority ................................... 21 ..... -I._ r School District ...................................... 22 t- I ii I Chapter Paqe I- CHAPTER 5 LAND USE PLAN .................................. 26-33 + Introduction ......................................... 26 Long Range Land Use Patterns ........................ 29 Future .Land Use Plan ................................. 30 CHAPTER 6 IMPLEMENTATION ................................. 34-40 Introduction ......................................... 34 Comprehensive Plan ................................... 34 Zoning Ordinance ..................................... 34 Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance ........... 34 Official Map ......................................... 35 LERTA Ordinance ...................................... 35 Building Codes ....................................... 35 Municipal Services ................................... 36 Technical and Financial Assistance ................... 37 Statement of Plan Interrelationships ................. 38 Statement of Relationship to Other Plans ............. 38 APPENDIX .................................................. 39 CZM Nonpoint Source Pollution Report ................. 1-13 CZM Lake Bluff/Shoreline Preservation Report ......... 1-5 PENNVEST Land Use Policy Initiatives ................. 1-2 PennDOT Sound Land Use Strategy ...................... 1-5 PADEP Policy for Consideration of Comp . Plans ........ 1-17 Prime Agricultural Lands Preservation Guidelines ..... 1-10 Natural Resources Preservation Guidelines ............ 1-14 Historic Preservation Guidelines ..................... 1-9 LIST OF MAPS Map Chapter Paqe Regional Location ................................ Intro V Long Range Highway System Plan ................... 3 14' Long Range Signalization and Channelization Plan . 3 Township Portion ............................ 15 Borough Portion ............................. 16 Road Name and Water Features (for reference) ..... 3 Township Portion ............................ 17 1 Borough Portion ............................. ia Long Range Water Distribution System Plan ........ 24 .... Long Range Sanitary Sewer Collection System Plan . 25:..--...... t . Area Topographic (for reference) ................. 27 Area Agriculture Programs (for reference) ........ 28 Long Range Land Use Plan ......................... Township Portion ............................ 32 Borough Portion ............................. 33 iii INTRODUCTION I. - Local comprehensive planning is not new to the communities of North East Borough and North East Township. This planning effort represents the third time in 30 years that the municipalities will 1- develop a background analysis of the study area, formalize the community development goals and objectives, and finalize the plan elements. The first planning endeavor was in the 1960's; the second plan document was adopted in 1983; with this endeavor resulting in the 1999 North East Area Background Analysis and the 2005 North East Area Comprehensive Plan. This Comprehensive Plan will assist the elected officials in developing a policy to guide decisions in regard to the physical development of the community. It is important to understand that the Comprehensive Plan, and its various elements, is not a legally binding document, and it does not take the form of an ordinance. When a community decides to adopt a comprehensive plan, it is accepting by resolution that the recommendations within the plan are the guidelines for future development and related government actions of municipal officials. The various elements of this Plan should be reviewed on a periodic basis in the future, and revised when unforeseen conditions. occur which reflect on the social, economic and physical makeup of the North East Area and its immediate adjacent area. The goals and objectives of the Plan and the policies upon which the Plan is based, should be regarded as a more permanent part of the document. It is intended that the goals and objectives of the plan represent the official philosophy of the governing body of the municipality and its planning commission. The elected and appointed officials of the North East Area are inescapably involved in questions of physical development. At most meetings of the Borough Council and Board of Supervisors and their Planning Commissions, development decisions must be made concerning zoning, subdivisions, utilities, facilities and so on. Public officials must plan for future demands on community services and fiscal outlays by which improvements to these services can be made. These officials need an instrument by which to inventory the community's resources and liabilities, and establish short and long range policies for the physical development of the community in a coordinated, unified manner that can be continually referred to in order to intelligently make these decisions. Such is the intent 1. behind the North East Area Comprehensive Plan. Probably the most difficult goal facing any community is the . .- _. "I . .. .. development of a means for promoting and controlling orderly .---_ .._.-.,. ...... I.* growth. This Plan is an integral part of the municipal effort toward reaching that goal. Although other studies, together with ordinances and regulations, are or may become important to f- achieving the desired goals, the North East Area Comprehensive Plan should be the basis upon which those other documents are founded. iv RE Jffai0 f -1-80 Erie County Department of Planning, 2000 CHAPTER 1 I GOALS AND OBJECTIVES -. Introduction L- The Comprehensive Plan is comprised of a series of recommendations which, if implemented, can assist in promoting and guiding future growth. The power to implement the Plan recommendations rests with the elected Board of Supervisors of North East Township and the Borough Council of North East Borough. It is this group of I individuals that decides when and what recommendations are to be executed. Properly conceived, the Plan can be an effective tool for assisting the local municipal officials in making intelligent 1 community planning decisions. t This Comprehensive Plan subsequently discusses the recommendations I for developing residential, commercial, industrial and public service areas by delineating proposed land use patterns. The Plan also makes recommendations concerning community and utility I facilities and services, and illustrates methods for improving the overall highway system. The Zoning Ordinance is a fundamental tool used to implement the land use and other portions of the Comprehensive Plan. The zoning requirements and districts in the ordinance must closely relate to the community's future needs, trends and resources, its physiographic characteristics, its roads and utility systems, and other factors identified in the Plan. It is the legal vehicle that provides the transition between the Plan and the reality of community development. Overall Plan Goal It is the overall objective of the North East Area Comprehensive Plan to develop and preserve a pleasant, attractive, healthy, safe, efficient and convenient community environment for living, working, I shopping