- NESIIANNOCK TOWNSHIP LAWRENCE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE DECEMBER 1993 This Comprehensive Plan is an update of the Neshannock Township Comprehensive Plan of 1969 Revised July, 1994 PREPARED BY: KILLAM ASSOCIATES, DLA DIVISION 100 ALLEGHENY DRIVE WARRENDALE, PENNSYLVANIA 15086 (412) 772-0200 NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP LAWRENCE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS 1993-1994 Board of SuDervisors Gale E. Measel, Jr., Chairman John DiCola, Jr., Vice Chairman Daniel J. Vogler, Supervisor Township Secretary Leslie S. Bucci Planning & Zoning Commission Randy Sumner, Chairman Maureen Cusick, Secretary Larry Kenney Gale Measel Dan Rudolph Park Commission Gordon Windl, Chairman Don NicoUs, Secretary Beverly Lombardi Dave Grissett Doug Bleggi Park Director Chris Navarra I I NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS I TITLE PAGE NO. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 I SECTION I BACKGROUND INFORMATION I CHAPTER2 GENERAL BACKGROUND 3 CHAPTER 3 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 7 I CHAPTER 4 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS 19 I CHAPTER 5 ECONOMIC TRENDS 30 CHAPTER 6 EXISTING LAND USE 40 I CHAPTER 7 COMMUNITY FACILITIES 47 I SECTION I1 DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES CHAPTER 8 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS 56 I AND OBJECTIVES I SECTION IT1 PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS CHAPTER 9 LAND USE PLAN 61 I CHAPTER 10 TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION 73 IMPROVEMENT PLAN I CHAPTER 11 COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN 80 CHAPTER 12 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND CAPITAL 86 I IMPROVEMENTS I CHAPTER 13 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 95 -I 1 1 1 I NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE i LIST OF TABLES I ?TIzE PAGE NO. CHAPTER 4 1 TABLE I COMPARATIVE POPULATION GROWTH 20 HISTORICAL POPULATION TRENDS I TABLE 11 AGE CHARACTERISTICS 22 1 TABLE 111 GENDER CHARACTERISTICS OF NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP 23 TABLE 111-A HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ELDERLY POPULATION OF 24 I NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP TABLE IV BIRTH AND DEATHS FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY 26 1 TABLE V RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS PER YEAR FOR 27 I NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP TABLE VI POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP 28 1 CHAPTER 5 I TABLE I OCCUPATION STATISTICS FOR NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP 31 TABLE 11 INCOME DATA 33 I TABLE I11 1990 HOUSEHOLD INCOME 34 1 TABLE 111-A REAL ESTATE TAXES 34 TABLE IV 1990 HOUSING DATA - NESHANNOCK TWP., 35 1 LAWRENCE COUNTY TABLE V HOUSING VALUES 36 1 TABLE VI 1990 HOUSING DATA - CHIPPEWA TWP., 37 I BEAVER COUNTY I 1 I NESHANNOCK TOWNSHlp COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE LIST OF TABLES (Continued) I TITLE PAGE NO. I CHAPTER 6 TABLE I EXISTING LAND USE FOR NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP 41 I CHAPTER 7 TABLE I NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT 51 I HISTORICAL AND FUTURE ENROLLMENT I TABLE II 1990 EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS 52 CHAPTER 12 I TABLE I SUMMARY OF GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND 87 I EXPENDITURES TABLE II COMPARISON OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES 88 1 FOR NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP TABLE I11 ASSESSED VALUATION FOR NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP 89 I TABLE IV ASSESSED VALUATION OF MILLAGE FOR NESHANNOCK 90 TOWNSHIP I TABLE V BORROWING CAPACITY 91 I APPENDIX A - RECREATIONAL STANDARDS NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP COMPRJ33ENSNE PLAN UPDATE LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS TITLE PAGE NO. MAPS MAP 1 REGIONAL LOCATION MAP 5 MAP 2 ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS 8 MAP 3 DRAINAGE BASINS/TOPOGRAPHY 13 MAP 4 EXISTING LAND USE 43 MAP 5 COMMUNITY FACILITIES 48 MAP 6 FUTURE LAND USE 63 MAP 7 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 76 MAP 8 WATER AND SEWER SERVICE AREAS 85 FIGURES FIGURE I CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS 18 FIGURE I1 HISTORICAL AND FUTURE POPULATION 29 FIGURE I11 HOUSING VALUES 39 1 1 NES"N0CK TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE CHAPTER 1 I INTRODUCTION I A Comprehensive Plan for Neshannock Township was last written in 1969 by Clifton Rodgers I and Associates, Consulting Engineers. The current comprehensive planning work undertaken by Killam Associates provides a further update of the existing conditions and identifies future .I planning concerns. I The legal basis for municipal planning and zoning activity in Pennsylvania is the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended by Act 170 of 1988; as further amended I by Act 209 of 1990; as further amended by Act 131 of 1992. This Code enables municipalities to plan for development through preparation of a comprehensive plan, and also requires 1 continual updating of the comprehensive plan, the official municipal map, and applicable I ordinances. I The following Comprehensive Plan Update is divided into three principle sections; the first includes an update of existing conditions and emphasizes planning for environmentally sensitive I areas. Chapters included are: General Background, Physical Characteristics, Demographic Characteristics, Economic Trends, Existing Land Use, and Community Facilities. I Section Two identifies the goals and objectives [as established by the Municipality] that are used I as guiding principles for future planning recommendations. The goals and objectives presented reflect the Community's expectations for the future. I Plan recommendations are presented in Section Three. The recommendations are analyzed using background information and Community goals as presented the first and second sections of I in I I the report. Planning chapters in the third section include: Land Use, Transportation and I I I 1 In summary, the Comprehensive Plan is a guide for Neshannock Township which identifies the pattern and intensity of land use as well as the functional efficiency and aesthetics of I development, while providing the optimum living conditions for Township residents. I I I 1 I ~I I 1 I I 1 I 1 I I 2 I I SECTION I 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION I I I I I 1 E I I I I I- I NES"N0CK TOWNSHIP COMPREFIENSIVE PLAN UPDATE cHAPrEJx2 i GENERAL BACKGROUND 1 I 1 Historical Perspective When Mercer County was formed from a division of Allegheny County in 1800, Neshannock was originally created as one of Mercer's townships. Because the boundary dividing Mercer and Beaver Counties passed directly through Neshannock, Lawrence County was created in 1849 so that Neshannock, along with twelve other townships, could wholly exist in the new County. Originally covering over 100 square miles, Neshannock was gradually decreased in area through donation of land to townships that were formed after Lawrence County came into existence, resulting in Neshannock's current 16.9 square miles. During the 18th Century, the Indians gave the area between Neshannock Creek and Shenango River a name which means 'place of two rivers'. The State claimed the land in 1785 and finally acquired it in 1798. Settlement began in 1799 when Tom Fisher cleared a farm and later established a grist and saw mill on Fisher's Run. Since New Castle already accounted for most of the commercial and manufacturing needs of the area at the start of the 19th Century, most of the settlers engaged in farming. In 1845 the extensive coal banks were mined, and the first organized company (New Castle Railroad and Mining Company) began operation in 1866. This resulted in a small mining town, otherwise known as Coal Center, which used a narrow gauge railroad established by the Company for local transportation. A nine mile oak plank turnpike was built in 1852 for purpose of transporting coal, farm produce, and passengers. It traveled between New Castle and New Wilmington, eventually extending to Mercer. In 1864 the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad was constructed, and it paralleled the 3 I I Shenango River, which is the western boundary of the Township. Ten years later, the River’s counterpart, Neshannock Creek, was guide to construction of the Neshannock Creek and I FrankZin Railroad. Upon completion, transportation was available to the south, the Lake Erie area, and the Pennsylvania oil region. It also caused closure of the Erie Extension Canal, which I had previously provided connection between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. I Most of the 1,080 people living in Neshannock in 1900 were farmers, and farming continued as the main land use until the suburbanization movement from New Castle to Neshannock, circa I 1960. I Regional Relationships I Located in Lawrence County, Neshannock Township is bounded north by Wilmington Township, east by Hickory Township, and south by both New Castle City and Union Township. Mahoning 1 and Pulaski Townships border the west side. Boundary lines east and west are Neshannock Creek and Shenango River, respectively. Map No. 1 the Regional Location Map depicts I Neshannock’s borders and surrounding areas. I Transportation corridors have influenced development of the Township in the past and will I continue to do so in the future. The primary connector between major population and economic centers to the north and south is State Route 18. This highway runs through Neshannock I Township left of center in a north-south direction, and also provides access to U.S. Route 224. I Neshannock Township is accessible to the Cities of New Castle, Butler, Sharon, Erie, Pittsburgh, and Youngstown, Ohio. U.S. Route 442, an important transport for Neshannock, I runs northwest to southeast and supplies general east/west access in the region. E The section of Route 60 between Chippewa Township in Beaver County and existing Route 60 in Lawrence County has recently been completed. This important ’missing link’ permits fast, I direct connection from Neshannock Township to both the newly built Pittsburgh International I 4 P MAP No. 1 NESHANNOCK TOWNSHIP LA.WRENCE COUNTY, PA. REGIONAL LOCATION MAP TO YOUNO s 'I P 0 6 10 16 SCALE- IN MILES Airport and the City of Pittsburgh. Access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike is also improved because Route 60 connects directly to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Cities outside the immediate region are accessible via the Pennsylvania and Ohio Turnpikes. I Route 60 traverses Neshannock Township in a north/south direction and provides access to I Neshannock through an intersection at Mitchell Road in the northern portion of the Township. The relationship between Neshannock Township and the surrounding region is important because the interactions throughout the entire region have some effect on each component municipality.