Community Experts Charrette

June 12, 13 and 17, 2019

You’re a Community Expert!

• Integral to the comprehensive planning process

• Each person here provides a unique perspective

• Collectively + collaboratively form a vision

• Establish a partnership between municipalities’

• Your contributions directly effect plan policy

• Introductions + Purpose – 15 minutes

• Listening Sessions – 60 minutes

• Feedback Summary + Prioritization – 10 minutes

• Closing – 5 minutes

Phase I

• Project Initiation (Right Now)

Phase II

• Inventory + Analysis

Phase III

• Vision + Guiding Principles

Phase IV

• Plan + Policy Framework

Phase V

• Draft Plan + Implementation Strategies

Phase VI

• Review + Adoption (2020)

• A living + educational document

• Blueprint for what the Borough and Townships’ aspire

to be…or not to be

• Determines goals, objectives, and strategies guiding

community development and land use policy

• Housing Needs

• Transportation

• Community Facilities

• Infrastructure

• Natural Resources

• Historic Resources

• Agriculture + Farmlands

• Proactive in addressing current trends + issues

• Future guided by the community, not by external forces

• Legal document

• Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC)

• Utilized to determine development objectives

• Location

• Character

• Timing

• Establishes cooperative responsibilities of all municipalities’

• During planning process + implementation of the plan

• Planning Committee appointed to serve as advisory body

• Grants collective municipal authority to plan

• Establish consistency between all municipal

• Zoning codes

• Subdivision ordinances

• Capital improvement plans

• a zoning code or subdivision ordinance.

• does not specifically regulate development design

• overly technical or targeted to those with particular expertise.

• written to general audience

• a document that communicates only through words.

• maps, charts, graphs, tables, graphics + infographics

• an end in itself…

• more than a summary of what the region has achieved.

• direction together + advise measuring success getting there.

Principles

• Planning is not just an exercise

• Should be value-adding

• Planning should produce results and action

• What does the community lack now?

• What about its future needs?

• Planning is not an end of itself

• It is continuously evolving

• Requires anticipation of future needs

Requires innovative approach

• Whereas, a Traditional approach:

• A comprehensive plan is a guide to decisions

• Actions to be taken after the plan is completed

• An Innovative approach:

• A comprehensive plan is a record memorializing

decisions

• Start planning with a question, not a conclusion

• Actions + decisions committed to a planning process

Keys to an implementable plan

• Focus on relevant, real community issues

• Designed to read how local officials, businesses and

citizens think

• Devise practical and feasible recommendations

• Recruit partners and create capacity to implement the plan

• Get local ownership of the plan and commitment to

implement it

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Total Yearly Plans Received by Municipality

HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP LOWHILL TOWNSHIP LYNN TOWNSHIP

SLATINGTON BOROUGH WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (LC) WEISENBERG TOWNSHIP

Approved Development Acreage, 2009-2018

NON-RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL Grand Total

Heidelberg Township - 41.2 41.2

Lowhill Township 28.1 115 143.1

Lynn Township 8.9 40.2 49.1

Slatington Borough 39.8 - 39.8

Washington Township 4 85 89

Weisenberg Township 557.5 239.4 796.9

Northern Lehigh Area Total 638.3 520.8 1,159.1

Unit TypeHeidelberg

Township

Lowhill

Township

Lynn

Township

Slatington

Borough

Washington

Township

Weisenberg

Township

Northern

Lehigh Area

Total

Assisted-

Living- - - - - - -

Apartment - - 4 - - - 4

Planned Residential

Development- - - - - - -

Rowhome - - - - - - -

Single

Family

Detached

6 34 22 - 17 43 122

Twin - - - - - - -

Grand Total 6 34 26 - 17 43 126

Approved Residential Units, 2009-2018

Largest Approved Residential Projects, 2009-2018

Municipality Project Name Land Use Category Residential Units

Lowhill Township Cottage Gates Single-Family Detached 16

Weisenberg Township Gateway Hills Single-Family Detached 15

Lowhill Township North Lane Estates Single-Family Detached 6

Washington Township (LC) Leland Estates Single-Family Detached 6

Weisenberg Township Strickler, Leslie Single-Family Detached 5

Lynn Township Snyder, Greg (Oswald Road) Single-Family Detached 4

Lynn Township Ontelaunee Apartments Apartments 4

Lynn Township Miller Road Farms, LLC #5 Single-Family Detached 3

Weisenberg Township Hunt Meadows Estates No. 2 Single-Family Detached 3

Area Total 62

Heidelberg

Township

Lowhill

Township

Lynn

Township

Slatington

Borough

Washington

Township

Weisenberg

Township

Northern

Lehigh Area

Total

Agriculture - - - - - - -

Commercial - 67,228 - 4,800 - 3,200 75,228

Industrial - - 32,250 - 5,000 3,059,676 3,096,926

Office - 5,000 - - - - 5,000

Public/

Quasi-Public9,395 - 4,136 18,700 11,436 7,680 51,347

Recreational - - - - - - -

Retail - - - - 9,100 - 9,100

Transportation - - - - - - -

Grand Total 9,395 72,228 36,386 23,500 25,536 3,070,556 3,237,601

Approved Non-Residential Floor Area (square feet), 2009-2018

Largest Approved Non-Residential Projects, 2009-2018

Municipality Project Name

Land Use

Category

Floor Area

(Square Feet)

Weisenberg Township West Hills Business Center (Lot #5) Industrial 1,017,679

Weisenberg Township West Hills Business Center (Buildings E & F) Industrial 752,000

Weisenberg Township West Hills Business Center (Lot #2) Industrial 435,100

Weisenberg Township Advance Auto Stores (Building Expansion) Industrial 289,755

Weisenberg Township West Hills Business Center (Lot #4A) Industrial 246,071

Weisenberg Township West Hills Business Center (Lot #3) Industrial 239,071

Weisenberg Township Palram America Industrial 80,000

Lowhill Township Prime Mini-Storage Commercial 59,500

Lynn Township KMS, LLC (John Brunner) Industrial 32,250

Area Total 3,151,426

Population Change

Municipality

Projected Change 2010-2040 Change 2010-2017

Number % Number %

Heidelberg Township 1,288 37.7% 69 2.0%

Lowhill Township 1,085 49.9% 15 0.7%

Lynn Township 1,589 37.6% 97 2.3%

Slatington Borough 460 10.9% 44 1.0%

Washington Township 3,541 53.5% 96 1.4%

Weisenberg Township 2,902 58.9% 176 3.6%

Northern Lehigh 10,865 42.4% 497 1.9%

Lehigh County 98,242 28.1% 11,277 3.2%

Municipality

2040

Projection

2030

Projection

2020

Projection

2013-2017

Estimate 2010 Census

Heidelberg Township 4,704 4,492 4,025 3,485 3,416

Lowhill Township 3,258 2,960 2,512 2,188 2,173

Lynn Township 5,818 5,448 4,885 4,326 4,229

Slatington Borough 4,692 4,556 4,370 4,276 4,232

Washington Township 10,165 9,491 8,160 6,720 6,624

Weisenberg Township 7,825 7,112 5,845 5,099 4,923

Northern Lehigh 36,462 34,059 29,797 26,094 25,597

Lehigh County 447,739 419,745 379,082 360,774 349,497

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2010; American Community Survey 2013-2017 (5-Year Estimates);

LVPC (2020-2040 Population Projections)

Population Change

AGE DISTRIBUTION 2013-2017

Municipality

Percentage of Age Range

Total

Median Age

(Years)Ages 0-9 Ages 10-17 Ages 18-24 Ages 25-44 Ages 45-64 Age 65+

Heidelberg Township 11.9% 10.4% 5.4% 18.1% 37.3% 16.9% 3,485 48.4

Lowhill Township 8.8% 12.8% 5.4% 19.6% 37.7% 15.7% 2,188 46.5

Lynn Township 11.1% 8.2% 8.4% 21.2% 34.5% 16.6% 4,326 45.9

Slatington Borough 10.6% 9.9% 7.0% 24.7% 33.5% 14.3% 4,276 41.6

Washington Township 11.2% 9.3% 7.7% 18.8% 34.8% 18.2% 6,720 46.7

Weisenberg Township 10.5% 11.1% 6.9% 20.4% 35.1% 16.0% 5,099 45.7

Northern Lehigh 10.8% 10.0% 7.0% 20.5% 35.2% 16.5% 26,094 ---

Lehigh County 12.3% 10.6% 9.2% 25.2% 26.8% 15.9% 360,774 39.4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2013-2017 (5-Year Estimates)

AGE DISTRIBUTION 2013-2017

Municipality Ages 0-9 Ages 10-17 Ages 18-24 Ages 25-44 Ages 45-64 Age 65+ Total

Median Age

(Years)

Heidelberg Township 413 363 188 631 1,301 589 3,485 48.4

Lowhill Township 193 280 118 429 824 344 2,188 46.5

Lynn Township 481 353 362 918 1,493 719 4,326 45.9

Slatington Borough 454 423 300 1,057 1,432 610 4,276 41.6

Washington Township 750 621 520 1,266 2,341 1,222 6,720 46.7

Weisenberg Township 536 565 350 1,040 1,794 814 5,099 45.7

Northern Lehigh 2,827 2,605 1,838 5,341 9,185 4,298 26,094 ---

Lehigh County 44,194 38,194 33,207 91,022 96,726 57,431 360,774 39.4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2013-2017 (5-Year

Estimates)

INCOME AND POVERTY 2013-2017

Municipality

Median

Household

Income $

Median

Family

Income $

Per Capita

Income $

Percent Below Poverty Level

All Persons All Families

Female

Householder

Families

Heidelberg Township $64,884 $67,917 $29,375 2.8% 0.7% 0.0%

Lowhill Township $93,787 $108,080 $43,008 2.2% 1.5% 19.6%

Lynn Township $77,500 $103,382 $36,466 6.0% 3.8% 35.0%

Slatington Borough $50,721 $70,833 $25,074 14.7% 8.7% 10.2%

Washington Township $62,470 $79,325 $30,082 10.2% 5.6% 56.5%

Weisenberg

Township$94,190 $101,424 $40,500 3.1% 0.9% 5.8%

Lehigh County $60,116 $71,857 $30,988 13.3% 10.0% 28.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2013-2017 (5-Year Estimates)

HOUSING TENURE

Municipality

2013-2017 2010

Owner

Occupied

Renter

Occupied

% Owner

Occupied

Owner

Occupied

Renter

Occupied

% Owner

Occupied

Heidelberg Township 1,086 220 83.2% 1,104 170 86.7%

Lowhill Township 751 62 92.4% 729 79 90.2%

Lynn Township 1,374 310 81.6% 1,347 253 84.2%

Slatington Borough 1,052 770 57.7% 1,034 732 58.6%

Washington Township 2,481 270 90.2% 2,391 259 90.2%

Weisenberg Township 1,703 189 90.0% 1,629 131 92.6%

Northern Lehigh 8,447 1,821 82.3% 8,234 1,624 83.5%

Lehigh County 89,550 47,689 65.3% 90,846 43,137 67.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2010; American Community Survey 2013-2017 (5-Year Estimates)

HOUSING VACANCY

Municipality

2013-2017 2010

Occupied Vacant % Vacant Occupied Vacant % Vacant

Heidelberg Township 1,306 100 7.1% 1,274 53 4.0%

Lowhill Township 813 31 3.7% 808 28 3.3%

Lynn Township 1,684 43 2.5% 1,600 92 5.4%

Slatington Borough 1,822 142 7.2% 1,766 165 8.5%

Washington Township 2,751 13 0.5% 2,650 105 3.8%

Weisenberg Township 1,892 35 1.8% 1,760 81 4.4%

Northern Lehigh 10,268 364 3.4% 9,858 524 5.0%

Lehigh County 137,239 7,857 5.4% 133,983 8,630 6.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2010; American Community Survey 2013-2017 (5-Year Estimates)