TOWNSHIP OF BRISTOL Comprehensive Plan June 2008 Bristol Township Comprehensive Plan 2008 ADOPTED JUNE 19, 2008 BY BRISTOL TOWNSHIP COUNCIL TOWNSHIP OF BRISTOL 2501 Bath Road Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007 P: 215-785-0500 ~ F: 215-785-2131 www.bristoltownship.org PHOTOGRAPHS ON COVER (clockwise from top left) War Dog Memorial—Bristol Township Municipal Campus Delaware River—Burlington-Bristol Bridge George Washington Elementary School—Levittown PA Route 413—Town Center District Silver Lake County Park Croydon Manor Edgely Fire Company No. 1 Legacy at West Bristol BRISTOL TOWNSHIP COUNCIL Tina Davis, Chairman Linda Tarlini, Vice Chairman Don Mobley, Member John Monahan, Member Rick Pluta, Member BRISTOL TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE Jeff Bartlett, Managing Director Glenn Kucher, Director of Building, Planning & Zoning Tom McDermott, Director of Community Development Russ Sacco, Township Solicitor Gary Smith, Township Engineer Tina Davis, Council Chairman Linda Tarlini, Council Vice Chairman Rick Pluta, Council Member PLANNING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY BUCKS COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 1260 ALMSHOUSE ROAD DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 18901 P: 215-215-345-3400 ~ F: 215-345-3886 www.buckscounty.org This document was prepared with financial assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through a Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Program (LUPTAP) grant. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ................................................................................. 1 The Planning Process ..................................................................................................................... 2 Structure of the Plan ...................................................................................................................... 2 A Brief History ................................................................................................................................ 4 After World War II ......................................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2 GOALS FOR BRISTOL TOWNSHIP/COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT ................... 7 Vision for the Future ...................................................................................................................... 7 Overall Goal of the Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 3 DEVELOPMENT TODAY AND PROJECTED CHANGES .................................................. 11 Demographic Trends ................................................................................................................... 11 Land Use Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 15 Development Trends ................................................................................................................... 17 Prospective Development ........................................................................................................... 19 Nonresidential Development ..................................................................................................... 20 Employment.................................................................................................................................. 23 Zoning Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 24 Residential Development ............................................................................................................ 27 CHAPTER 4 NATURAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................... 35 Geology .......................................................................................................................................... 35 Topography ................................................................................................................................... 36 Hydrologic Resources .................................................................................................................. 37 Soils ................................................................................................................................................ 39 Woodlands .................................................................................................................................... 40 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................... 41 Resource Protection Measures ................................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 5 CULTURAL, ARCHITECTURAL, AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES ............................... 45 Description of Township Resources .......................................................................................... 45 Preservation Tools and Techniques ........................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER 6 PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING ................................................. 53 Township Parks ............................................................................................................................ 53 Parks and Recreation Planning .................................................................................................. 56 Maintenance and Coordination of Facilities ............................................................................. 57 Open Space Planning ................................................................................................................... 57 Waterfront Revitalization Plan ................................................................................................... 58 Greenways .................................................................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER 7 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES ........................................................................ 63 Emergency Services ..................................................................................................................... 63 Health Care ................................................................................................................................... 68 Educational Facilities ................................................................................................................... 69 Libraries ......................................................................................................................................... 71 Municipal Administration .......................................................................................................... 72 i Public Works ................................................................................................................................. 73 Solid Waste Management ........................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER 8 WATER RESOURCES AND USAGE ....................................................................................... 77 Water Resources ........................................................................................................................... 77 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................... 78 Stormwater Management ............................................................................................................ 80 Wastewater Facilities ................................................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 9 TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION .......................................................................... 87 Street Hierarchy ............................................................................................................................ 87 Public Transportation .................................................................................................................. 89 Transportation Improvement Program ..................................................................................... 91 Context Sensitive Solutions ........................................................................................................ 95 Traffic Calming ............................................................................................................................. 95 Pedestrians and Bicyclists ........................................................................................................... 97 Access Management .................................................................................................................... 98 CHAPTER 10 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REVITALIZATION, AND VITALITY ........................... 101 Local Economic Development .................................................................................................. 101 Bristol Township and the Knowledge Economy ................................................................... 104 Economic Vitality ....................................................................................................................... 105 Fiscal Impacts and Capital Improvements Programming .................................................... 106 CHAPTER