CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................1-1 Previous Plans ...................................................................................................1-1 2007 Update.......................................................................................................1-2 Mission Statement/Goals and Objectives..........................................................1-3 Implementation of Comprehensive Plan ...........................................................1-9 CHAPTER 2 MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE .................................2-1 Act 67 and Act 68 Revisions .............................................................................2-1 Planning Code Components ..............................................................................2-2 CHAPTER 3 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS ...............................3-1 Demographic Characteristics.............................................................................3-1 Selected Characteristics of Housing................................................................3-18 Economic/Socioeconomic Characteristics ......................................................3-22 Employment and Jobs......................................................................................3-24 CHAPTER 4 NATURAL FEATURES............................................................4-1 Topography........................................................................................................4-1 Watersheds ........................................................................................................4-1 Floodplain and Flooding....................................................................................4-1 Water Supply.....................................................................................................4-3 Water Quality ....................................................................................................4-5 Natural Features.................................................................................................4-5 Land and Tree Protection ..................................................................................4-6 CHAPTER 5 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES ....................5-1 Schools ..............................................................................................................5-1 Higher Education...............................................................................................5-4 Libraries.............................................................................................................5-5 Recreational/Cultural Facilities .........................................................................5-6 Culture ...............................................................................................................5-8 Police ...............................................................................................................5-10 Fire...................................................................................................................5-11 Emergency Management .................................................................................5-12 Water ...............................................................................................................5-13 Storm Water Management...............................................................................5-17 Other Utilities ..................................................................................................5-20 Refuse ..............................................................................................................5-21 Township Facilities .........................................................................................5-22 Health Care......................................................................................................5-22 Religious Facilities ..........................................................................................5-23 CHAPTER 6 TRANSPORTATION AND THOROUGHFARES ................6-1 Introduction .......................................................................................................6-1 Private Transportation (Automobiles/Trucks ....................................................6-1 Major Arterials ..................................................................................................6-2 Primary Streets ..................................................................................................6-2 Secondary Streets ..............................................................................................6-2 Residential Streets .............................................................................................6-3 Intersections.......................................................................................................6-3 Public Transit.....................................................................................................6-4 Pedestrian Transportation..................................................................................6-7 Bikeways ...........................................................................................................6-7 CHAPTER 7.......................................................................................................7-1 RELATIONSHIP TO NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES ......................7-1 Cheltenham Township.......................................................................................7-1 Jenkintown Borough..........................................................................................7-3 Lower Moreland Township ...............................................................................7-4 Rockledge Borough ...........................................................................................7-4 Springfield Township ........................................................................................7-4 Upper Dublin Township ....................................................................................7-5 Upper Moreland Township................................................................................7-6 City of Philadelphia...........................................................................................7-8 Montgomery County Comprehensive Plan .......................................................7-9 CHAPTER 8 LAND USE..................................................................................8-1 Background........................................................................................................8-1 Development Trends .........................................................................................8-1 Residential .........................................................................................................8-2 Housing..............................................................................................................8-3 Housing Characteristics.....................................................................................8-4 Economic Development and Revitalization ......................................................8-4 Future Land Use ..............................................................................................8-12 Historic Resources and Preservation ...............................................................8-15 Recommendations ...........................................................................................8-17 CHAPTER 9 ZONING......................................................................................9-1 Goals..................................................................................................................9-1 1-1 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Previous Plans The Township’s last Comprehensive Plan was published in 1992. Much of that Comprehensive Plan continues to be relevant, including Chapter I, Sections A, C, D, E, and F; Chapter II, Sections A and B; Chapter III, Sections B and C; Chapter IV, Implementation, Subsection A, B and C. Many of these Sections are updated and contained herein. In addition, Abington Township published an Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resource Protection Plan, 1995. The purpose of that report was to plan for, and improve, the quality of life of residents by determining ways to meet the recreation, park, and conservation needs of the community. The Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resource Protection Plan charts the course for the Township to follow in the development and revitalization of public recreation facilities and services within the Township. Of particular importance are the recommendations (Chapter XIII) and implementation schedules (Chapter XIV) which remain of significance for this Comprehensive Plan Update. Abington Township will participate in the current round of Open Space Planning which includes funding for the preparation of an updated Open Space Plan. This Comprehensive Plan Update will defer to this new plan for park and recreation, open space acquisitions, and trail planning recommendations. A third important planning document is the Sandy Run Creek Watershed Conservation Plan, December 2000. The Sandy Run Creek drains a large westerly portion or about one-third of Abington Township along with portions of Upper Dublin, Springfield, and Whitemarsh Townships. These townships, along with the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, local civic groups, and the Montgomery County Planning Commission, formed a coalition to develop a watershed