Town of Bellefonte Comprehensive Plan 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN, COUNTY, AND STATE OFFICIALS .................................................................................................6 TOWN OF BELLEFONTE ..................................................................................................... 6 NEW CASTLE COUNTY........................................................................................................ 7 STATE OF DELAWARE ........................................................................................................ 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................................................8 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................9 THE AUTHORITY TO PLAN .........................................................................................................................10 COMMUNITY PROFILE ........................................................................................................... 11 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................... 11 LOCATION ............................................................................................................................... 12 HISTORY OF THE TOWN........................................................................................................ 13 DEMOGRAPHICS, FUTURE POPULATION, AND HOUSING GROWTH........................... 15 Population Projections .......................................................................................................... 16 Racial Composition............................................................................................................... 17 Age Profile............................................................................................................................ 17 Educational Attainment ........................................................................................................ 18 Housing Units ....................................................................................................................... 18 Type of Housing Stock ......................................................................................................... 18 Age of Housing Stock........................................................................................................... 19 Housing Value ...................................................................................................................... 19 Ownership and Vacancy ....................................................................................................... 20 Economic Profile .................................................................................................................. 20 EXISTING LAND USES............................................................................................................ 24 Current Zoning of Land ........................................................................................................ 24 Land Surrounding Bellefonte................................................................................................ 25 Housing................................................................................................................................. 25 NATURAL FEATURES............................................................................................................. 28 Floodplains, Wetlands, and Recharge Areas ........................................................................ 28 Soils....................................................................................................................................... 28 Shellpot Creek Watershed..................................................................................................... 28 TOWN GOVERNMENT.............................................................................................................. 30 TOWN GOVERNMENT FORMAT ........................................................................................... 30 OTHER GOVERNING BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, & COMMITTEES .................................. 31 Planning Commission ........................................................................................................... 31 Zoning Commission.............................................................................................................. 31 Board of Adjustment............................................................................................................. 31 Intergovernmental Communication and Cooperation........................................................... 31 COMMUNITY SERVICES ...............................................................................................................................32 WATER...................................................................................................................................... 32 ELECTRIC ................................................................................................................................ 32 NATURAL GAS......................................................................................................................... 32 SEWER...................................................................................................................................... 32 TELEPHONE............................................................................................................................ 32 TRASH COLLECTION ............................................................................................................. 32 POLICE PROTECTION ........................................................................................................... 32 FIRE PROTECTION................................................................................................................. 33 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES .................................................................................. 33 COMMUNICATION ................................................................................................................. 33 Town of Bellefonte Comprehensive Plan 2017 2 SCHOOLS................................................................................................................................. 33 PRESCHOOL/DAYCARE SERVICES ...................................................................................... 34 SENIOR SERVICES.................................................................................................................. 34 LIBRARY................................................................................................................................... 34 HOSPITALS/HEALTHCARE.................................................................................................... 35 POSTAL SERVICE.................................................................................................................... 35 PARKS AND RECREATION..................................................................................................... 35 TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................. 36 Pedestrian.............................................................................................................................. 36 Bicycle .................................................................................................................................. 36 Motor Vehicle ....................................................................................................................... 36 Residential Parking ............................................................................................................... 36 Business District Parking...................................................................................................... 36 Bus Service ........................................................................................................................... 37 Rail Service........................................................................................................................... 37 Air ......................................................................................................................................... 38 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT............................................................................................. 38 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION........................................................................................................ 39 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 39 RESULTS OF THE SURVEY & WORKSHOPS................................................................... 39 STRATEGIC PLAN....................................................................................................................................................40 GOVERNMENT ...................................................................................................................... 40 Goal #1: Modernization the Town of Bellefonte Charter .............................................. 40 PUBLIC SAFETY.................................................................................................................... 42 Goal #1: Traffic calming ..................................................................................................