MILLERSBURG BOROUGH/ UPPER PAXTON TOWNSHIP JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Millersburg Ferry ADOPTED APRIL 11, 2007 Prepared By Tri-County Regional Planning Commission 112 Market Street – 2nd Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101 Millersburg Borough / Upper Paxton Township Joint Comprehensive Plan Adopted April 11, 2007 Acknowledgements This Joint Comprehensive Plan was prepared under the direction of the Millersburg Borough Council, Millersburg Borough Planning Commission, Upper Paxton Township Supervisors and Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Staff. Millersburg Borough Council Brian K. Musa, Mayor James A. Bullock, President Larry E. Smeltz, Vice President Darla B. Graff (Vice-President, Resigned) Christopher C. Dietz, Councilman George L. Fry, Councilman Mark L. Hoffman, Councilman Neal, Miller, Councilman Millersburg Borough Planning Commission William Helwig, Chairman Kathy Wolfe Jane Woodside Carol Miller Barbara Bullock Mlilersburg Borough Manager Donald E. “Skip” Wingard Upper Paxton Board of Supervisors Thomas Shaffer, Chairman Eugene Gantz Joseph Snyder Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Janine M. Park, Project Manager Carl “Chip” Millard, Planner II Brian Dickson, Planner I George Hubley, GIS Planning Technician III Tim Jones, GIS Planning Technician I Donna Clay, Administrative Assistant MILLERSBURG BOROUGH / UPPER PAXTON TOWNSHIP JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Table of Contents Page Millersburg Borough Resolution of Joint Plan Adoption i Upper Paxton Township Resolution of Joint Plan Adoption ii Executive Summary iii PART 1: Basic Studies & Trends Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................................1-1 Planning: a “Process” ........................................................................................................................................1-1 Purpose of the Plan............................................................................................................................................1-1 The Plan Document ...........................................................................................................................................1-1 Community Involvement...................................................................................................................................1-2 Chapter 2: Historic & Cultural Resources....................................................................................................2-1 Schools ..............................................................................................................................................................2-2 Agriculture & Industry ......................................................................................................................................2-3 Northern Central Railroad .................................................................................................................................2-4 Midland PA Railroad.........................................................................................................................................2-4 Millersburg Historic District..............................................................................................................................2-4 Lykens Valley Rural Historic District ...............................................................................................................2-4 Millersburg Fountain in the Square ...................................................................................................................2-5 National Register of Historic Places..................................................................................................................2-5 Chapter 3: Natural Resources ........................................................................................................................3-1 Slopes – Topography.........................................................................................................................................3-1 Geology .............................................................................................................................................................3-2 Soils...................................................................................................................................................................3-3 Hydrology..........................................................................................................................................................3-4 Wetlands............................................................................................................................................................3-5 Floodplains ........................................................................................................................................................3-5 Groundwater......................................................................................................................................................3-6 Agriculture and State Important Farmland ........................................................................................................3-6 Natural Areas Inventory ....................................................................................................................................3-7 Chapter 4: Population, Socio-Economic Profile & Projections...................................................................4-1 Population Trends..............................................................................................................................................4-1 Population Characteristics .................................................................................................................................4-5 Social Characteristics ........................................................................................................................................4-7 Economic Characteristics ..................................................................................................................................4-10 Chapter 5: Economic Base..............................................................................................................................5-1 Labor Force Statistics ........................................................................................................................................5-1 Agricultural Economy .......................................................................................................................................5-7 Economic Census ..............................................................................................................................................5-9 Economic Development ....................................................................................................................................5-11 Community Attitude Survey..............................................................................................................................5-13 Northern Dauphin Regional Chamber of Commerce ........................................................................................5-16 Chapter 6: Land Use .......................................................................................................................................6-1 Fiscal Impact of Land Uses ...............................................................................................................................6-1 General Land Use Characteristics......................................................................................................................6-1 Distribution of Land Uses..................................................................................................................................6-2 Existing Land Uses............................................................................................................................................6-2 Comprehensive Plans, Zoning, Subdivision & Land Development Plans.........................................................6-5 The “Land Needs” Concept...............................................................................................................................6-5 Preservation of Agricultural Land .....................................................................................................................6-8 Chapter 7: Housing .........................................................................................................................................7-1 Housing Supply .................................................................................................................................................7-1 Occupancy & Tenure.........................................................................................................................................7-1 Residential Unit Design.....................................................................................................................................7-4 Residential Building Activity ............................................................................................................................7-5 Persons Per Household ......................................................................................................................................7-5 Age of Dwelling Structures ...............................................................................................................................7-6