1 I Y I 1 I THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY I COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I 1990 I 9 I I I Volume I: Basic Studies 1 I 11 1 I 1 I I Cumberland County Comprehensive Plan m TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE i Volume I: BASIC STUDIES Chapter 1 - Introduction 1-1 Chapter 2 - History 2-1 B Chapter 3 - Natural Environment 3-1 Chapter 4 - Population/Socio-Economic Profile 4-1 Chapter 5 - Economy and Employment 5-1 I Chapter 6 - Existing Land Use 6-1 Chapter 7 - Housing 7-1 Chapter 8 - Transportation 8-1 Chapter 9 - Existing Community Facilities and Services 9-1 1 Chapter 10 - County Administration and Finances 10-1 I Volume 2: PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION I Introduction i Chapter 11 - Statement of Goals and Objectives 11-1 Chapter 12 - Future Land Use Plan 12-1 Chapter 13 - Transportation Plan 13-1 I Chapter 14 - Community Facilities Plan 14-1 Chapter 15 - Housing Plan 15-1 1 Chapter 16 - Plan Administration and Implementation 16-1 1 1 I 1 I I 1 u LIST OF MAPS Title Volume I: BASIC STUDIES Flood Plain Slopes Geology Soils Associations Soils Suitable For Agriculture Soil Limitations For On-Lot Sewage Systems Soil Limitations for Building Site Development Woodlands Existing Land Use Harrisburg Urbanized Area Highway Functional Classification System Carlisle and Shippensburg Urban! Areas Highway Functional Classyif ication System Rural Cumberland County Highway Functional Classification System Harrisburg, CarlisILe, and Shippensburg Urban Areas 1985 Traffyic Volumes Tri-County Region :L985 Traffic Volumes Educational Facilities, Librari.es, and Hospitals Recreation Facilities Police, Fire, and Municipal Facilities Public Sewage and I?ublic Water Service Areas Volume 11: PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION Future Land Use Ma]? CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Need for Planninq Planning is a continuing process which must pay constant attention to changing conditions and new problems that may arise. This process should take into account the changes affecting growth and development in Cumberland County. To keep abreast of these changes, the County must take stock of the past and current planning efforts in order to adjust and reshape its future course. In more specific terms, planning is usually needed to prevent or solve problems created by the following: 1. Population growth which has created a need for more housing. 2. Increased demands for public services such as water, sewerage, storm drainage, parks, and other community facilities. 3. The continued dependency on the personal automobile for transportation, creating a demand for better roads and parking opportunities. 4. Expanding residential areas which create a need for properly located supportive commercial areas. 5. A changing economic base with pressures from commerce and industry wishing to locate in the County. 6. Changing agricultural patterns with the trend of decreasing agricultural employment. Benefits of Good Planninq I The following are some of the benefits of good Planning: 1. It is possible for the various segments of the County to coordinate their activities and to work toward the I achievement of common goals. Planning can prevent much duplication of effort and bring about greater 1 efficiency. 2. More efficient budgeting and capital improvements programming can be accomplished by County and local officials who know in advance what must be purchased or 1 constructed and can plan to provide the necessary funds . 1 1-1 I 3. The needs, locatioii, and priorities for the maintenance and expansion of public utilities, water, and sewers can be more effectively established. 4. Sites for community facilities can be predetermined and purchased in advance of need; resulting in savings of time and public money. .. 5. Industrial and commercial businesses may be attracted to the County, because commerce is interested in areas that have stable zoning, quality planning, and pro- fessional and orderly plan implementation. 6. The homeowner, merchant, utility company, developer, and industrialist can invest with more assurance that their investment will be a sound one. The Plannina Process The planning process is a course of action that is directed toward preparing and administering a comprehensive plan. It is a continuous process due to social and economic changes, new development policies, and changing conditions in general. The planning process contains the following major factors: 1. ASSUMPTIONS. The County makes certain basic assumptions as to how it will develop due to certain population and economic variables. 2. OBJECTIVES. Planning objectives for the County are developed to provide the best possible social, economic, and physical environment. 3. STANDARDS. Planning standards are established in terms of physical, social, and econom.ic requirements based on need. 4. SURVEY AND RESEARCEI. Research is an important part of the planning program. Information on current conditions is collected and fac:ts about the County are compiled. Population, housing, physical conditions and resources, existing land use patterns, existing and proposed highways, and community facilities and services are examples of essential data base elements. 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. As part of the planning process, residents of the County should be given opportunities to express their ideas as to how they want to see the County develop. 6. POLICY AND DESIGN CONCEPT. After sufficient research has been done, the information lis analyzed and a policy and plan concept is established which should be based on the stated qoals for the County’s future development. 1-2 7. PLAN. The Comprehensive Plan is the official policy guide for influencing the location, type, and extent of future development. It establishes the basis for the County's decision-making and review process on zoning matters; location of public buildings, facilities, and activities; land uses; and provision of housing areas and commerce on need over a period of time. Leqal Standinq of the Comprehensive Plan The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968, as amended and reenacted by Act 170 of 1988) authorizes municipalities to prepare a comprehensive plan, which is to include, but not be limited to the following elements: 1. A statement of objectives concerning the County's future development, including the location and character of future development. 2. A future land use plan. 3. A housing plan. 4. A plan for the movement of people and goods. 5. A plan for community facilities and utilities. 6. A statement describing the interrelationships among various plan elements. 7. A map or statement indicating the relationship of a municipality and its proposed development to adjacent municipalities. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code defines a municipality to include cities, boroughs, townships, and counties. When a borough, or township having a comprehensive plan is located within a county which has its own adopted comprehensive plan, both the county and the borough or township shall give the plan of the other consideration in order that the objectives of each plan can be protected to the greatest extent possible. Oraanization of the Plan The preparation of a Comprehensive Plan involves three major steps: first, the collecting of all essential information relating to the people and the land; second, after careful and thorough analysis of this information, the preparation of plans which will encourage the most appropriate future development of the County while maintaining existing property values and seeking ways to provide necessary municipal facilities and services; and third, upon completion of the planning process, putting these planning recommendations into action programs. This is accomplished through the adoption and enforcement of local zoning 1-3 ordinances, subdivision and land development ordinances, an official map, and the preparation and adoption of a capital improvements program. The Comprehensive Plan is divided into two major elements. Volume I, Basic Studies, includes the Introduction, History, Natural Environment, Population/Socioeconomic Profile, Economic Base, Existing Land Use, Housing, Transportation and Circulation, Community Facilities and Services, and County Administration and Finances. Volume 11, Plan and Implementation, includes Community Development Goals and Objectives, Future Land Use Plan, Transportation Plan, Community Facilities Plan, Housing Plan, and Plan Administration and Implementation. 1-4 CHAPTER 2 HISTORY - PAST AND PRESENT Historical Development Cumberland County's origin began in 1681 with the land grant to William Penn by King Charles I1 of England. Westward colonial expansion produced a flow of settlers into the Cumberland Valley, including many Scotch-Irish. James Letort established a trading post along the present-day Letort Creek in 1720. The increasing number of settlers brought about the need for a more central governmental body to provide law and order; Lancaster (City) was the nearest seat of government to the Cumberland Valley. Through the Act of January 27, 1750, Governor James Hamilton directed the formation of Cumberland County (named after Cumberland County, England) as the sixth county erected in the State. Its boundaries extended from the Susquehanna River and York County on the east and southeast to Maryland on the south, to the border of Pennsylvania on the west, and to central Pennsylvania on the north and northeast. Carlisle was established as the county seat in 1752. Other counties were later formed from Cumberland County, including Bedford (1771), Northumberland (1772), Franklin (1784), Mifflin (1789), and Perry (1820).