TOWN OF AMHERST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Prepared by the Town of Amherst Planning Commission with the assistance of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission Adopted by Amherst Town Council on September 23, 1998 Amended May 19, 1999 Amended May 14, 2003 ABSTRACT TITLE: Town of Amherst Comprehensive Plan AUTHOR: Town of Amherst Planning Commission and Central Virginia Planning District Commission SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan DATE: PLANNING AGENCY: Central Virginia Planning District Commission SOURCE OF COPIES: Town Manager Town of Amherst P.O. Box 280 Amherst, VA 24521 ABSTRACT: The major purpose of this plan is to provide a general guide that will enable the Amherst Town Council to effectively plan and manage the delivery of municipal services and coordinate the harmonious physical development of the Town. This guidance is suggested in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources in an effort to promote the general welfare of Town residents and business operators. The Plan encourages orderly growth and development while maintaining the village atmosphere and visual qualities of the Town. Prepared in cooperation with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The contents of this report reflects the views of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission (CVPDC) and the Amherst Town Council. The CVPDC and the Amherst Town Council are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Federal Highway Administration or the Virginia Department of Transportation. This report does not constitute a standard, specification or regulation. Prepared through the joint efforts of AMHERST TOWN COUNCIL John S. Turner, Mayor C. Manly Rucker, III, Vice-Mayor William K. Iseman Haney Mottley John R. Spielman Michael E. Stinnett Jack Hobbs, Town Manager TOWN OF AMHERST PLANNING COMMISSION Harold Swisher, Chairman Mike Giles, Vice Chairman Frederick Moore A. A. Norvell, Jr. John R. Spielman Eddie Rodwell June Driskill CENTRAL VIRGINIA PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION P. O. Box 817 915 Main Street, Suite 302, The Galleria Lynchburg, VA 24505 (434) 845-3491 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables i - ii List of Maps iii FOREWORD iv Chapter 1 -- REGIONAL SETTING AND HISTORY A - 1 Location A - 1 History A - 1 Chapter 2 -- POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS B - 1 Introduction B - 1 Population Growth B - 1 Population Characteristics B - 2 Population Projections B - 7 Chapter 3 -- ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL C - 1 Introduction C - 1 Current Analysis C - 1 Administrative and Financial Plan C - 6 Chapter 4 -- LAND USE D - 1 Introduction D - 1 Existing Land Use D - 1 Land Use Trends D - 3 Goals, Objectives and Strategies D - 3 Future Land Use Plan D - 4 Mixed Use Zone D - 5 Chapter 5 -- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT E - 1 Introduction E - 1 Local Employment and Economic Characteristics E - 1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies E - 8 Economic Development Plan E - 9 Chapter 6 -- HOUSING F - 1 Introduction F - 1 Housing Conditions Assessment F - 1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies F - 5 Housing Plan F - 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Chapter 7 -- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT G - 1 Introduction G - 1 Current Environmental Conditions G - 1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies G - 5 Natural Environment Plan G - 6 Chapter 8 -- HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION H - 1 Introduction H - 1 Historic and Cultural Inventory H - 1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies H - 2 Historic Preservation Plan H - 3 Chapter 9 -- TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES I - 1 Introduction I - 1 Existing Transportation Systems and Facilities I - 1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies I - 5 Transportation Plan I - 6 Chapter 10 -- COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES J - 1 Introduction J - 1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies J - 1 Public Safety Services J - 4 Communications J - 4 Law Enforcement Services J - 4 Fire Services J - 5 Rescue Services J - 5 Utility Services J - 6 Water J - 6 Wastewater J - 10 Solid Waste J - 10 Other Utilities J - 12 Leisure and Information Services J - 13 Recreation J - 13 Library J - 15 Churches J - 15 Mass Media J - 15 Educational Services J - 16 Human Services J - 18 Social Services J - 18 Health Care J - 19 LIST OF TABLES Chapter 1 -- REGIONAL SETTING AND HISTORY Chapter 2 -- POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS Table B1 Central Virginia Towns: 1990 Population Counts B - 1 Table B2 Central Virginia Towns: Racial Diversity, 1990 B - 2 Table B3 Town of Amherst: Age Distribution, 1990 B - 2 Table B4 Central Virginia Towns: Female-Headed Households,1990 B - 3 Table B5 Town of Amherst: Years of School Completed, Residents 25 Years Old and Older, 1990 B - 4 Table B6 Town of Amherst: Median Family Income, 1990 B - 5 Table B7 Town of Amherst: Median Household Income, 1990 B - 5 Table B8 Central Virginia Towns: Income Characteristics, 1990 B - 6 Table B9 Central Virginia Towns: Percent Population Below Poverty Level, 1990 B - 6 Table B10 Central Virginia Towns: Households Receiving Public Assistance, 1990 B - 6 Table B11 Town of Amherst: Population Projections Thru the Year 2015 B - 7 Chapter 3 -- ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL Table C1 Town of Amherst: Combined Balance Sheet-All Funds and Account Groups, June 30, 1996 C - 2 Table C2 Town of Amherst: All Governmental Funds, Year ended June 30, 1996 C - 3 Table C3 Town of Amherst: Summary of Taxes and Charges, October, 1996 C - 4 Table C4 Town of Amherst: Enterprise Funds, Year ended June 30, 1996 C - 5 Chapter 4 -- LAND USE Chapter 5 -- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Table E1 Town of Amherst: Sex by Labor Force Status, 1990 E - 2 Table E2 Town of Amherst: Commuting Patterns, 1990 E - 2 Table E3 Town of Amherst: Employment by Industry, 1990 E - 4 Table E4 Town of Amherst: Occupational Mix, 1990 E - 4 Table E5 Town of Amherst: Manufacturers Located Within Town Limits, February 1997 E - 5 Table E6 Zane Snead Industrial Park: Manufacturing Employment, March 1997 E - 5 Chapter 6 -- HOUSING Table F1 Central Virginia Towns: Housing Types, 1990 F - 2 Table F2 Central Virginia Towns: Housing Tenure, 1990 F - 2 Table F3 Central Virginia Towns: Median Housing Value, 1990 F - 3 Table F4 Central Virginia Towns: Median Contract Rent, 1990 F - 4 Chapter 7 -- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Table G1 Lynchburg, VA: Average Precipitation, 1961-1990 G - 1 Table G2 Lynchburg, VA: Average Fahrenheit Temperatures, 1961-1990 G - 2 Table G3 Lynchburg, VA: Heating Degree Day Normals, 1961-1990 G - 2 Table G4 Amherst County: Emissions in Tons Per Year By Pollution, 1993 G - 2 Table G5 Town of Amherst: Emission Point Sources G – 3 i LIST OF TABLES (cont.) Chapter 8 -- HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION Chapter 9 -- TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES Table I1 Town of Amherst: Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes on Primary Roadways, 1993 I - 2 Table I2 Town of Amherst: Vehicles Per Day (VPD) for Select Secondary Roadways, 1992 I - 2 Chapter 10 -- COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES Table J1 Town of Amherst: Water System Sales/Revenue Study, 1995 J-10 Table J2 Town of Amherst: Sewer System Sales/Revenue Study, 1995 J-12 Table J3 Town of Amherst: Refuse Collection System Sales/Revenue Study, 1995 J-13 ii LIST OF MAPS Map A-1 Location, Amherst, Virginia A-2 Map I-1 Transportation System, Amherst, Virginia I-3 Map J-1 Municipal Water System, Amherst, Virginia J-7 Map J-2 Municipal Sewer System, Amherst Virginia J-11 iii FOREWORD PURPOSE AND SCOPE Changes may occur rapidly or gradually in a community, but they will inevitably occur. It is only through awareness that a community can meet the challenges and opportunities of change, and assure itself of a stable and healthful environment. The comprehensive plan provides a means by which a community can assess the forces of change and thereby identify future needs and allocate its resources to meet those needs. Virginia law requires every governing body in the State to adopt a comprehensive plan. The Code of Virginia, 1950 (as amended) identifies the scope and purpose of the comprehensive plan as follows: In the preparation of a comprehensive plan the commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends of growth, and of the probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants. The comprehensive plan shall be made with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the territory that will, in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants. The comprehensive plan shall be general in nature, in that it shall designate the general or approximate location, character, and extent of each feature shown on the plan and shall indicate where existing lands or facilities are proposed to be extended, widened, removed, relocated, vacated, narrowed, abandoned, or changed in use as the case may be. Such plans, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts and descriptive matter, shall show the Town =s long- range vision for the general development of the territory covered by the plan. It may include, but need not be limited to: • The designation of areas for various types of public and private development and use, such as different kinds of residential, business, industrial, agricultural, conservation, recreation, public service, flood plain and drainage, and other areas; • The designation of a system of transportation facilities such as streets, roads, highways, parkways, railways, bridges, viaducts, waterways, airports, ports, terminals, and other like facilities; • The designation of a system of community facilities such as parks, forests, schools, playgrounds, public buildings and institutions, hospitals, community centers, waterworks, sewage disposal or waste disposal areas, and the like; • The designation of historical areas and areas for urban renewal or other treatment; and • An official map, a capital improvements program, a subdivision ordinance, and a zoning ordinance and zoning district maps.