Township of Lower Makefield Comprehensive Master Plan Update 2003 Adopted, October 20,2003 by the Board of Supervisors Township of Lower Makefield Bucks County, Pennsylvania Lower Makefield Township BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Grace M. Godshalk, Chairman Frank J. Fazzalore Scott I. Fegley Wesley Hackman Pete Stainthorpe PLANNING COMMISSION Albert P. Roeper, Chairman John S. Pazdera, Vice Chairman Michael J. Shave1 Deborah J. Gould Andrew L. Strauss TOWNSHIP MANAGER Terry S. Fedorchak DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING Nancy R. Frick PLANNING CONSULTANT Bucks County Planning Commission Doylestown, PA MAPS Pickering, Corts & Summerson Consulting Engineers and Surveyors Newtown, PA 2003 Table of Contents I Comprehensive Master Plan for Lower Makefield Township 1 PLAN SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ v INTRODUCTION: A Comprehensive Master Plan for the Township ........................... 1 Update of the 1992 Comprehensive Master Plan ................................................ 1 The Planning Process .......................................................................................... 2 Components of the Plan ...................................................................................... 3 EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP ..................................................................... 5 VISION FOR THE FUTURE ......................................................................................... 9 Community Goals and Policies ........................................................................... 9 THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL SYSTEMS ............................ 11 Geology ............................................................................................................. 11 Map 1 .Geology .................................................................................. follows 12 Topography ....................................................................................................... 12 Soils .................................................................................................................. 13 Agricultural Areas ............................................................................................. 14 Map 2 - Natural Resources ................................................................. .follows 14 Wetlands ........................................................................................................... 15 Floodplains ........................................................................................................ 16 Watersheds ........................................................................................................ 16 Woodlands ........................................................................................................ 18 Current Planning and Zoning Policies .............................................................. 18 Map 3 - Drainage Basins and Stream Corridors .................................. follows I 8 Future Needs and Recommendations for Action .............................................. 20 DEVELOPMENT TODAY AND PROJECTED CHANGES ..................................... 21 2000 Population Patterns .................................................................................. 22 Population Characteristics ................................................................................ 24 Projected Population ......................................................................................... 27 Map 4 .................................................................................................. follows 28 Land Use Patterns in 2003 ................................................................................ 28 Housing Types and Housing Choice ................................................................. 30 Housing Costs and Affordability ...................................................................... 32 Recommendations for Action: Housing Plan ................................................... 34 Current Planning and Zoning Policies .............................................................. 34 Future Needs and Recommendations for Action: Land Use ............................. 36 Map 5 - Future Land Use Plan ............................................................ follows 36 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES .......................................................... 39 Police Protection and Emergency Management ................................................ 39 Fire Protection ................................................................................................... 41 School Facilities ................................................................................................ 44 1 Water Supply..................................................................................................... 45 ... Sewage Facilities ............................................................................................... 49 Emergency Services .......................................................................................... 52 Township Administration ................................................................................. 54 Township Public Works .................................................................................... 56 Solid Waste Management ................................................................................. 58 Library Services ................................................................................................ 59 Map 6/7 - Public Facilities ................................................................. follows 72 PARKS AND RECREATlON PLANNING ................................................................ 61 Importance of Township Recreation and Parks ................................................ 61 Goals for Park and Recreation Planning ........................................................... 63 Current Planning Priorities ............................................................................... 63 . Future Needs and Recommendations for Action .............................................. 64 OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION PLANNING ................................................ 71 Current Planning and Zoning Policies .............................................................. 71 Open Space Resources: Natural and Cultural ................................................... 72 List of Preserved Open Space ............................................................. follows 72 Map 6/7 .Parks and Open Space ........................................................ follows 72 Map 8 .BicyclelWalking Path ............................................................ follows 72 Future Needs and Recommendations for Action .............................................. 74 HlSTORIC RESOURCES OF THE TOWNSHIP ........................................................ 77 Current Planning and Zoning Policies .............................................................. 77 Future Needs: Historic Preservation ................................................................. 78 Map 9 .Edgewood Village ........................................................................ 78 Recommendations for Action ........................................................................... 80 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING .............................................................................. 83 .. Current Policies ................................................................................................. 83 1 Elements of the Transportation Network .......................................................... 83 Future Needs .................................................................................................... 84 1 Map 10 - Street Hierarchy ................................................... follows 84 Recommendations for Action ........................................................................... 90 PLANNING AND ZONING TN SURROUNDING MUNlClPALlTlES ..................... 91 1 Upper Makefield Township .............................................................................. 91 Newtown Township .......................................................................................... 92 Middletown Township ...................................................................................... 92 1 Falls Township .................................................................................................. 92 Morrisville Borough .......................................................................................... 93 Y ardley Borough ............................................................................................... 93 I Bucks County Comprehensive Plan .................................................................. 94 1 1 11 I TOWNSHIP FINANCES AND MANAGEMENT ...................................................... 95 Revenues ........................................................................................................... 95 Expenditures ..................................................................................................... 98 Future Trends in Revenues and Expenditures ................................................. 100 Future Changes Expected ................................................................................ 102 IMP LEM EN TAT1ON ................................................................................................. 105 Future Needs and Recommendations