watts township comprehensive planelibrary.pacounties.org/documents/perry_county/1974... · 2012. 5....

WATTS TOWNSHIP

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

ADOPTED:

MAY 4, 1998

PREPARED BY:

RETTEW ASSOCIATES, INC La n cas te r Mec han icsburg Orw i gsbu rg York

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

The Essential Elements of a Comprehensive Plan Steps of the Planning Process H o w t o Use the Plan

CHAPTER 2 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Community Participation Residents‘ Survey Statement of Community Objectives Policy Objectives General Development Standards

CHAPTER 3 - BACKGROUND STUDIES

Historical Context Regional Context Physical Features and Natural Resources Development Constraints Demographic Analysis Housing Existing Land Use Community Facilities and Services Transportation Facilities

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Watts Township Comprehensive Plan 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

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CHAPTER 4 - THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Future Land Use Plan Relationship of the Plan to Adjacent Municipalities’

Relationship of the Plan to County Planning Activities Relationship of the Plan t o Regional Trends Community Facilities and Utilities Plan Transportation Plan Housing Plan Interrelationships Among Plan Components

Planning Activities

CHAPTER 5 - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Short- and Long-Range Plan Implementation Steps Participants Priorities Ordinances and Regulations Capital Improvement Programming Continuing Planning

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I Wat ts Township Comprehensive Plan ii

LIST OF TABLES

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2- 1 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-5 2-6 3-1 3-2 3-3 3-4 3-5 3-6 3-7 3-8

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Area Standards for Commercial Areas Location Standards for Commercial Areas School Site Size Standards Recommended Time-Distance Standards Recommended Fire Protection Standards National Recreation and Park Association Standards Population Growth 1950 - 1990 Percent o f Population by Age Group - 1990 Gender and Race Characteristics Housing Types in the Township, County and State in 1990 Income and Poverty Levels, 1990 Housing Information, 1990 Comparative Educational Levels, 1 990 Percentage of Civilian Labor Force in Selected Employment Categories, 1990 Percentage of Employed Persons 16 Years and Over by Class of Worker, 1990

3-1 0 Watts Township Population Projections, 1990 - 201 0 3-1 I 1990 Structural and Vacancy Characteristics 3-1 2 Susquenita School District Facilities 3-1 3 Road Classification Standards

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LIST OF MAPS

1 Regional Location 2 Development Constraints 3 Floodplains 4 Soil Associations 5 Agricultural Soils 6 Existing Land Use 7 Transportation Survey 8 Future Land Use

... Wat ts Township Comprehensive Plan 111

MAP 4 REGIONAL LOCATION

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

A comprehensive plan is an expression of good community sense and forethought. Comprehensive planning illustrates a community's interest in current and future events both within and beyond its boundaries, and is also a demonstration of civic pride because it represents substantial efforts and funds invested by residents and public officials in developing the means t o protect and preserve significant features of the community while addressing the inevitable consequences of growth, development and an increasing population. Essentially, a Comprehensive Plan evaluates resources (both physical and social), identifies goals and obiectives, then develops implementation strategies to meet these goals and allocate resources. The Comprehensive Plan is prepared t o help local officials administer the Township's land use planning program, based on objective data and clear goals.

The Plan is also a compilation of data (both background information and future projections) which support policy goals and specific regulations. Watts Township officials and other government agencies, prospective residents, and businesses may use the Plan as a reference resource. Additionally, the Comprehensive Plan is intended t o provide a level of certainty and stability for local neighborhoods, which directly affect people in personal and physical ways. For a healthy community t o prosper, people need reassurance that their environment will maintain its "sense of place". For example, the stability and compatibility of surrounding land uses are crucial issues t o the owner of a single-family home. Also, farmers require assurance that their way of life will not be subject t o unnecessary restrictions as a result of nearby changes in land use. Prospective developers, additionally, must be able t o plan for a project using clear and explicit regulations. A secure investment and business climate must be maintained through reasonable adherence t o the comprehensive plan.

A Comprehensive Plan does not intend t o prevent growth. By nature, it encourages well-planned and appropriate growth, while striving for a balance between conflicting or competing interests. Arriving at such a balance is no simple task. Many residents, landowners and officials have contributed t o the


creation of the Plan. The Plan is an attempt t o provide acceptable levels of satisfaction t o different groups while conforming t o the regulations established in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).

A Comprehensive Plan is also not a 'lone time", static document; it is intended to be flexible and accommodate inevitable changes and allow appropriate responses to unforeseen events. It should be a dynamic and evolving tool that must be periodically reviewed and revised so that it may continue to guide the Township into the Twenty-first Century.

The Essential Elements of a Comprehensive Plan Eight related basic elements are included in a comprehensive plan, as required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The basic elements are as follows:

1 . A statement of objectives of the municbality, concerning its future development, including, but not limited to, the location, character and timing of future development;

2. A plan for land use, which may include provisions for the amount, intensity, character and timing of land use proposed for residence, industry, business, agriculture, major traffic and transit facilities, utilities, community facilities, public grounds, parks and recreation, preservation of prime agricultural lands, flood plains and other areas of special hazards and other similar uses;

3. A plan to meet the housing needs of present residents and of those individuals and families anticipated to reside in the municipality, which may include conservation of presently sound housing, rehabilitation of housing in declining neighborhoods and the accommodation of expected new housing in different dwelling types and at appropriate densities for households of all income levels;

4. A plan for movement of people and goods, which may include expressways, highways, local street systems, parking facilities,


pedestrian and bikeway systems, public transit routes, terminals, airfields, port facilities, railroad facilities, and other similar facilities or uses;

5. A plan for community facilities and utilities, which may include public and private education, recreation, municipal buildings, fire and police stations, libraries, hospitals, water supply and distribution, sewerage and waste treatment, solid waste management, storm drainage, flood plain management, utility corridors and associated facilities, and other similar facilities or uses;

6. A statement of the interrelationships among the various plan components, which may include an estimate of the environmental, energy conservation, fiscal, economic development and social consequences on the municipality;

7. A discussion of short- and long-range plan implementation strategies, which may include implications for capital improvements programming, new or updated development regulations, and the identification of public funds potentially available; and

8. A statement indicating the relationsh@ of the existing and proposed development of the municipality to the existing and proposed development and plans in contiguous municipalities, to the objectives and plans for development in the county of which it is a part, and to regional trends.

Steps of the Planninq Process There are four major steps required in the process of producing a comprehensive plan: ( 1 ) the survey and analysis of existing conditions and trends, (2) the determination of policies and goals, (3) the combining of existing conditions and goals into a comprehensive plan, and (4) the implementation of the policies and proposals of the comprehensive plan.


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Community Inventory and Analysis. The initial step in any planning process is to review a wide range of existing conditions. This survey and analysis of existing conditions will provide the information on which policies and the plan are based.

Policy Determinants. The identification of the Township's desired role within Perry County and the determination of policies which best carry out this role are the heart of the plan. Whereas the survey and analysis and comprehensive plan stages can be accomplished largely through professional planning assistance, there is no way in which policy determination can be made by other than the Township itself and still consider the Plan to be a useful local document.

Comprehensive Plan. A comprehensive plan combines the information gained during the survey and analysis with the policies established in the policy determination step. The uses of a comprehensive plan are several. First and foremost, the comprehensive plan provides a means for setting forth a unified group of general proposals for the physical development of the Township. Second, after adoption, the plan will enable the Township Supervisors, Planning Commission and the general public to review current issues and proposals against a clear picture of what has been decided as the most desirable plan for the future physical development and character of Watts Township.

Third, through the plan, the Township will be able to present a clear picture of its long range and general policies of development to all outside persons concerned with the area's development. Fourth, the comprehensive plan will help educate all who read it regarding existing conditions, problems and opportunities; the possibilities of the future; the present status and projected future trends; and the policy of government with respect to physical development.

Implementation. The final and critical step is the process of carrying out the policies and proposals contained in the plan. Unfortunately, implementation cannot be accomplished by a single act or in a single document. It is a continuous series of individual private actions, which must be monitored by responsible public agencies, and public


action initiated when feasible and timely. The success of such efforts will require the cooperation of To wnshb residents and the coordinated efforts of its public officials and agencies.

How to Use the Plan This Plan is organized to facilitate its easy use and interpretation. The Plan begins wi th an overall Statement of Goals and Obiectives which lists the general goals from which more specific recommendations and policies are developed. The next section, on Backsround Studies, is an analysis of the conditions which influenced the current development of Watts Township. In the Comprehensive Plan section, broad plans are suggested for the Township's future land use, transportation, housing, community facilities and utilities. Imdementation policies then provide specific steps to achieve the major goals and plans.

This Plan includes a number of maps, which are a basic planning tool for the Township. These maps contain information with which the Township can develop and implement its goals, but can also be used on a continuing, day-today basis by the Supervisors, Planning Commission, private citizens, builders, business owners, service providers, and others. Other parts of the Plan, including population studies, physical analyses, and transportation analyses can be similarly utilized by others.


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CHAPTER 2 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Community Participation To be effective, this Comprehensive Plan must reflect the common goals of the residents of the Township. These goals range from physical policies, such as the appropriate use of land, t o social and educational policies. Once these goals are formed, they represent a context within which decisions can be made regarding the use of land and the conservation of resources.

Since the fall of 1996, the Comprehensive Plan Committee has worked with concerned citizens and technical experts t o prepare this Comprehensive Plan for Watts Township. As representatives of the residents of the Township, the Committee must make some critical decisions about where, when, and how the Township will grow. The first and most important section of this Plan is t o clearly articulate the goals and objectives of the Township leaders in terms of comprehensive planning for conservation and development.

As a first step in the planning process, Township citizens were invited t o participate in developing the new Comprehensive Plan by attending a public meeting. This "kick off" meeting was conducted on October 17, 1996 at the Watts Buffalo Community Center. The Township Planning Commission held a Public Meeting on October 16, 1997 to present the draft Plan document t o the public for review and comment prior to forwarding it to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration. The required Board of Supervisors' Public Hearing on the Draft Plan was held on April 6, 1998. Comments from citizens and Township officials have been used to develop general goals regarding land uses, development, environmental protection, and other issues.

Resident's Survey In addition t o the public "kick-off" meeting, the Committee members decided t o seek input from all of the Township's residents. Therefore, in early 1997, a Resident's Survey was circulated to all households within the Township via the Community Center's Newsletter, "Watts Happening". The Resident's Survey will serve as a valuable tool for the Township and will be referenced throughout


this Plan where appropriate. The resident responses indicated a desire for a continuation of the Township's "rural lifestyle", as well as a corresponding preference, on the part of the majority of respondents, for limitations on future residential, commercial and industrial growth. A total of 27 completed surveys have been returned t o date. The following represents a summary of the survey responses:

Areawide, 64 percent of the respondents had lived in the Township at least 10 years; 40 percent had lived there over 20 years; approximately one-third were born there.

The vast majority responding indicated that their property was used for residential purposes.

Over 85 percent anticljoated that nothing different would happen to their land in the next ten years.

10 percent of the residents indicated that they worked in the Townshb, with an additional 20% working elsewhere in the County; and nearly 70 percent of residents worked outside Perry County.

6 (19%) of the respondents operate a business in the Townshljo, 3 of which have no emplo yees other than themselves.

Only four of the respondents are engaged in agriculture; all four indicated that less than 10 percent of their family income was derived from farming.

All but one respondent relies on a drilled well for their primary water source,* one has a hand-dug well; most rely on well water for drinking, although several use bottled water.

Of those responding who knew the age of their on-lot sewage disposal s ystem, the ages of s ystems ranged from 5 to more than thirty years old, with nearly f i f t y percent being more than 20 years old. Frequency of septic tank pumping ranged from annually (13%) to never (13%), with over 50 percent being pumped at least once every five years.

Running/walking, hunting, gardening and fishing were the four forms of family outdoor recreation most frequently identified b y the survey respondents.


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When asked to list recreation or leisure facilities they would like to see in Watts Township, a communityswimmingpool was citedmost frequently. Other facilities mentioned more than once included soccer fields, better park/pla yground, fitness center, and golf course.

Township residents ranked ( I ) rural lifestyle, (2) peace and quiet and (3) natural beauty/scenery as the three most important qualities of life in the Township. "Family ties" and "natural areas" were also frequently cited.

When asked to identify public services needed in the Township, minor road improvements were cited most frequently, followed by a recreation center, Township-operated park, major road improvements and a recycling program.

Virtually all respondents 196%) felt that emergency services in the Township were adequate, although one person felt that there is a need for the expansion of fire service.

The highest ranked things identified as detracting from the Township were littering and illegal dumping, along with junk cars on properties. Housing developments were also identified as detracting from the To wnshb. Other things mentioned included lack of convenient shopping areas, billboards along Route 1 7/15, mobile homes, the vanishing rural lifestyle, lack of restrictions on development, lack of enforcement of existing Township ordinances, and the lack of a Watts Township identity (in the current residents' postal addresses).

The three things most often cited as having changed in the Township were ( 1 ) more new homes, (2) increasedpopulation and (3) less farmland. Among other things noted were increased traffic, more crime, better (paved) roads, "too many city people", etc.

The rural atmosphere and natura1,agricultural landscapes were the two most frequently mentioned things that survey respondents hoped would never change.

If they could change anything, Township residents listed several items including, but not limited to, the following: reduced taxes, less development, more agriculturalland, better roads, stricter enforcement of ordinances, cable TV (one respondent), a public water system, no billboards, better property upkeep, no 'jkmk" cars, etc.


In terms of the character of future development in the Planning Area, the vast majority (85%) want the agricultural areas protected from mass development - the remainder felt that the framer should be allowed to decide what happened to his land. Only approximately one-fifth of the respondents were in favor of additional housing development; the percentage of those in favor of additional commercial development in the To wnshl;o was approximately one-third; one-fourth of the To wnshb residents responding were in favor of additional industrial development. The recommended locations identified for new commercial and industrial development were along Route 7 7/75 and, to some limited extent, along Route 22/322.

Statement of Communitv 0 biectives The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) has established the basic requirements for a comprehensive plan, the first of which is a statement of community goals and objectives:

"The comprehensive plan, consisting of maps, charts and textual matter, shall include, but need not be limited to, the following basic elements: ( 7 ) A statement of objectives of the municipality concerning its future development, including, but not limited to, the location, character and timing of future development, that may serve as a statement of community development objectives as provided in section 606.. .. ' I (Article Ill, Section 30 7, Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC); Act 247, P.L. 805, of 7968, as amended by Act 770, P.L. 7329 in 7988).

As empowered and directed by the sections referenced in the Pennsylvania MPC, and based on the public hearings and the analysis of community participation, Township officials have developed the following set of community development goals and objectives.

The overall goal guiding the future development of the Township is the creation of physical, social and economic environments which will continue t o provide its residents with increasingly better places in which to live, work and play. Above all, protection of the public health, safety and general welfare is a basic goal in the formulation of this Comprehensive Plan and its implementation. In doing so, a continued tax base to support the Township will also be preserved.

Watts Township Comprehensive Plan 10 I

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More specific community goals have been identified as they relate to the three fundamental aspects of community development - physical, economic and social.

Physical Goals

The overall of the Townshi@ is to establish and perpetuate a land use a pattern which is aimed at achieving an optimum degree of compatibility with the natural environment and existing and projected community facilities and services. Fundamental to this goal is the harmonious blending among the variety of ways the land is utilized.

Economic Goals

This goal is oriented around the establishment of an enduring, diversified economic structure which pro vides the resident with secure and health fulemplo yment opportunities. Consistent with this economic goal is the achievement of a stable tax base, and the opportunity to enable property owners and businessmen to make a fair return on their investment.

Social Goals

The planning process should consider the impact of physical development on the socialmakeup and character of the community. Social goals must complement the physical growth. These goals, although necessarily idealistic in nature, can only be attained through the support and cooperation of the citizenry. This aspect of the community planning is vital for improving living standards and for fostering the attitudes which are conducive to the acceptance of the necessity for change. The overall social goal is to create a "sense of Community" among the citizenry. Each individual should be given the opportunity to identify with the community, feel proud of the community and live a personally re warding life.

Watts Township Comprehensive Plan I 1

Policy 0 biectives Direction in planning for future land use is given primarily by the formulation of Development Goals which describe what is to be accomplished. The next logical step then is t o set forth more specific policy statements (objectives) which outline the procedure to accomplish these goals. The community development objectives which follow have been identified by the Watts Township Planning Commission as they relate to the four major components of the Comprehensive Plan:

Future Land Use Plan Objectives

Preserve the natural features of the Township by encouraging a low order of development in the more environmentally sensitive portions of the Township.

Encourage the concentration of each land use in discernible clusters and eliminate both "strip development and irregularly dispersed development patterns to enable the most efficient and economical provision of basic community services.

Prevent undesirable land use relationships by avoiding the mixing of incompatible uses.

Preserve prime agricultural land by encouraging farming activities and protecting them from encroachment from land speculation.

Develop zoning and subdivision/land development ordinances to guide future growth in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Regulate intensive agricultural uses to minimize adverse impacts on adjacent residents and property owners.

Encourage economic diversity by locating commercial and industrial sites in accordance with the Future Land Use Plan.


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8. Limit the intrusion of nonresidential uses into residential areas.

9. Coordinate the Township's planning efforts with the plans of adjacent municipalities and the County overall.

Housing Plan Objectives

IO. Provide for a wide range of choices in housing types, costs and location.

1 1 . Correct areas of blight andsubstandard conditions so that they contribute to the overall well being of the Township and reduce depreciation of nearby areas.

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Transportation Plan 0 bjectives

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Fully integrate the functional transportation system of both the To wnshb and the larger region into the comprehensive planning program.

Encourage the location of new roadway facilities in a manner which feasibly complements the Future Land Use Plan.

Provide adequate development controls to minimize any adverse impacts of future development proposals on the transportation system.

Continue to support the efforts of the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HA TS) in establishing a transportation system which will adequately serve the existing and future needs of the Townsh@ and the Tri-County area.

Community Facilities and Utilities Plan Objectives

1 6. Support adequate fire and police protection and medical and ernergenc y service to all Township residents.

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Encourage the development of adequate school facilities to serve the To wnsh@ 's school age children.

Support educational, recreational and cultural opportunities for all age groups.

Support and/or establish measures for the provision of adequate water supply, sewage disposal and solid waste disposal services to all To wnship residents.

Provide mechanisms for discussion and choice among the citizenry concerning the development of the Township and for citizen participation in public affairs.

General Development Standards Closely allied to a municipality's Community Development Goals and Objectives are technical guidelines or standards. These standards represent an accumulation of planning experience by many agencies and individuals over an extended period of time. These standards were analyzed for their suitability to Watts Township and have been modified as deemed necessary to met local needs.

Basic guidelines for all types of development can be evolved from the information discussed in the physical characteristics section of the background studies in Chapter 3. Reference should be made to this section when reviewing development proposals. Among the guidelines to be considered are the ability of the soil to provide proper bearing capacity for structures, the appropriateness of a site for development based on internal and external drainage, suitability for water supply and sewage disposal, and the important consideration of slope.

Generally, landforms having a slope from 0 to 8 percent are suitable for most types of development, provided all other conditions are favorable. Commercial and industrial development should not occur on slopes greater than 1 0 percent. Large scale residential development can occur on slopes up to 15 percent.


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Slopes ranging from 15 to 25 percent can accommodate individual homes on large lots. In areas where the slope of the landform exceeds 25 percent, no development should take place.

Land which is designated as being in the flood plain or wetlands should not be developed except as a conservation area. Areas which have a high water table or have soil that has poor permeability should be developed only t o the extent that centralized water and sewer facilities can be economically provided. Neither of these types of soil areas can readily accept on-lot sewage facilities. Also, in order to overcome the adverse conditions caused by a high water table, special expensive construction methods need to be employed to properly develop such areas.

Residential Standards

The requirements for residential uses are quite varied. Families with young children have much different requirements from those with teen-age children. The requirements for young couples and the elderly are also different, as are those for single persons. A well-rounded community will provide areas in which each person or family can find residential accommodations which best suit individual needs. Space requirements for the various types of housing structures (single family, two-family, row or townhouse, and multi-family) should be specified in a Township Zoning Ordinance. These requirements will set forth density patterns, that is, the number of family units per acre.

In order t o assure proper environmental conditions, housing standards should be set forth in the form of Building and Housing Codes; and these codes should be properly administered and stringently enforced.

Commercial Standards

Commercial activities by their nature have a variety of forms and characteristics, each with differing land area and location requirements. Local commercial centers would include the sale of convenience goods, food, and


services to satisfy the immediate needs of a neighborhood. Current planning practice is to group stores into a coordinated, compact, local shopping center with shared parking and service areas. Lot sizes need to be sufficient to provide for adequate building setbacks and surrounding yard space so that the commercial uses do not interfere with adjacent residential activities.

Community II Commercial Area

Community shopping centers provide a full range of commercial activities from department stores to personal services. They serve an entire community as well as the area immediately surrounding the community. It is important that this type of facility be centrally located near intersections of major community roadways. Adequate parking facilities, traffic control devices including internal traffic lanes, buffer areas and landscaping are mandatory.

II 2,000 - 5,000 4-8 acres 15,000 - 30,000 sq. ft.

Standards for these types of commercial facilities are indicated in Tables 2-1 and 2-2. These standards are applicable to Watts Township as it relates to the Perry County area.

Highway Commercial Area

sa. ft. ,Oo0 - 51000 I I 500- 11500 I up to

Standards are specific to the type of roadway

No commercial development should occur that cannot be served by adequate utilities, cannot provide adequate off-street parking with safe entrance and egress to roadways, and does not have proper internal circulation for both vehicles and pedestrians.


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Local Commercial Area

Community Commercial Area

Highway Commercial Area

Industrial Standards

Serves portion of a neighborhood, a small town or rural area with convenience goods

Serves town and surrounding area but has little regional attraction

Provides travel oriented services to traveler and local residents

Can vary from a single grocery store serving a small town or rural area, to a number of convenience aoods

Moderate range of retail outlets centered around major department stores

Auto-oriented services such as hotels/motels, restaurants, and service stations

Located on major road convenient t o small town or subdivision or at a rural crossroads

Near intersection of major community roads

At intersection of major roads

The typical community depends, to a great degree, on industry for its support and, conversely, industry also depends on the community. It is the community that furnishes the labor force, utilities, protective services, and transportation network that industry needs for successful operation. However, there is a great awareness among industrialists that economics is not the sole determinant of plant location. The determination of a desirable location is also directly related t o community planning and the satisfaction of employees. Recent examples of industrial location indicate a desire on the part of the industry to locate in communities which are well balanced and which have competently managed planning programs. It is in industry's best interest to have a well-planned community. Today, industry is looking to community planning officials to guide orderly community growth.

Since so many factors are involved in industrial location, no formula can be used to predict the exact amount of land which should be reserved for


industrial purposes in Watts Township. However, the size of individual sites can be estimated based on a worker per gross acre ratio: extensive industry - 0.5 workers per acre, and intensive industry - 8.0 workers per acre. Industrial sites should be located near major roadways or access roads capable of carrying the traffic generated by industrial use. The sites must be large enough to provide 100 percent off-street parking and required buffer strips, and should be properly landscaped. The sites should also be of sufficient size and the buildings placed so as to negate the effects of vibration, heat, noise and glare at the property or street lines. Industrial sites should be level t o nearly level and be capable of supporting large buildings.

Utilities expansion and industrial development must be carefully correlated. Quite often industries require a high volume of water supply. The possibility of utilizing on-site wells should not be overlooked. Waste disposal can also be a serious problem, particularly when considerable amounts of water are used for processing. When available, sanitary sewers serving industrial areas generally must have a larger capacity than for other uses.

Public Facility Standards

For the most part, standards concerning the facilities are those adopted by various "interest

various public or community g ro u ps .

School Sites

While the ultimate selection of school sites is within the jurisdiction of the school administrators, it is important that land planners indicate those areas for schools they deem best suited to the overall interest of the community. School sites should be attractive, lend themselves to landscaping and be in a beautiful environment. The site(s) should be purchased before the need becomes critical.

The site size problem varies with the needs of the type of school organization and in terms of the age and development status of the particular community or


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Elementary

Junior High

Junior - Senior Senior High

school district. The site size guidelines indicated in Table 2-3 should be considered as the minimums.

8 - 12 acres

20 - 25 acres 25 - 30 acres 20 acres 35 - 40 acres

35 - 40 acres

18 - 20 acres 10 - 14 acres

40 - 45 acres

40 - 45 acres 40 - 45 acres 40 - 45 acres

Table 2-4 shows generally accepted standards for time-distance relationships.

Junior High

Senior High

1 mile 30 minutes

1 1/2 miles 45 minutes

II Elementary I 1/2 mile I 20 minutes 11

Administrative Space

The accepted criterion for office needs (public or private) is an average of 300 square feet per employee. This space takes into account space needed for archives, equipment and visitors. Administrative requirements for communities having populations in the same range as Watts Township can be used as guidelines for determining total space requirements. Studies made in five small


communities in rural areas indicate that the ratio of administrative space to population should be approximately one square foot of office area per resident.

High Value Commercial/lndustriaI Areas

Urban Residential

Rural Residential

and High Density Residential

In addition to administrative requirements, space for meetings, maintenance and storage of equipment, and adequate parking for employees and visitors are all necessary. The area needed for parking can be computed by allocating a minimum of two parking spaces per employee. The probable number of employees can be based on the average ratio of personnel to population in the five communities studied, which is as follows:

1/2 to 1 mile

1 to 1 1/2 miles

3 miles

General Administration - 0.8/1,000 population Police - 1.0/1,000 population Total Personnel - 1.8/1,000 population

Fire Protection

National Fire Underwriters’ standards for equipment and service should be met in order to keep fire insurance rates a t the lowest possible levels. In addition, service area standards adopted a t the county level should be followed. Suggested standards are shown in Table 2-5.

Police Protection

A frequently used measure for evaluating a community‘s police force is the number of policemen employed for each 1,000 residents. The National League


of Cities recommends a ratio of two policemen per 1,000 population in municipalities of 25,000 or less. Along with the requirement for manpower is the requirement for police facilities and equipment, where possible and economically feasible, the police department should be located in separate police facilities.

Recreation Standards

Facilities for recreation are becoming more in demand due t o a shorter work week, longer vacation periods, and a generally affluent society. Also important is the realization of the need for recreation for persons of all age groups and physical capabilities.

Most municipalities base their requirements for open space, parks and recreation facilities on guidelines established by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). In 1983, the NRPA published a report entitled "Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines." NRPA's guidelines are based on population and are used to evaluate community-wide and neighborhood park needs.

NRPA's park guidelines are summarized as follows:

Park TvDes and Uses

Mini-Park: Specialized facilities that serve a limited population such as children.

Neighborhood: Facilities provide opportunity for active recreation and can include athletic fields, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, and picnic areas.

Community:

Regional:

May include typical neighborhood park facilities, but this type of park tends to have more diverse recreational opportunities. Opportunities are available for both passive and active experiences. Active areas can include an athletic complex, swimming pool, a series of courts, and age-segregated playgrounds. Some areas of this park may have natural qualities for hiking, bird watching, and nature study.

Larger natural areas for more nature-oriented and passive recreation experiences. Facilities tend to be limited and include picnic areas, trails, nature centers and study areas, camping, boating, and fishing.


Linear:

Community Park II

Special Use:

Conservancy:

ll 5.0 to 8.0 25 acres 1 - 2 miles; 5 minute drive

More commonly called greenways, these are linear corridors of open space that provide non-motorized access to parks, link neighborhoods with parks and schools, and provide "close to home" recreational opportunities for biking, walking, horseback riding, and cross country skiing.

Regional Park I/

Areas for single purpose recreational activities such as golf courses, nature centers, outdoor theaters, historic sites, etc.

II variable 200+ acres 30 miles; 1 hour drive

Open space areas that are protected more for environmental purposes than to provide recreation use. Nature preserves, wetlands, and areas with steep slopes are examples.

No quantitative standards have been developed to determine acreage needed for the last three categories (linear, special use, and conservancy parks). Needed acreage depends on what is necessary to protect the resources and/or provide maximum recreational use. However, NRPA does provide population standards, suggested sizes, and proposed service areas for the first four categories. Table 2-6 illustrates the various standards.

I 0.25 to 0.5 I 1 acre or less c 114 mile; II Mini-park I 5 minute walk Neighborhood 1.0 to 2.0 15 acres 112 mile; 11 Park 12 minute walk

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Source:Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines, National Recreation and Park Association, 1 983.

In addition to providing a range of recommended park acreage, NRPA also recommends that municipalities should strive to provide a mix of neighborhood and community parks. For example, many Pennsylvania suburban municipalities have found that one centrally located community park is not practical. Suburban sprawl has created transportation patterns that divide the


municipalities. Heavily travelled roads hinder use of a community park by some residents. Developing additional neighborhood parks, strategically located to serve less accessible areas, provide a more equitable distribution of parks throughout a community.

Hiqhwav Standards

Along with community growth and development comes the need for improved and additional streets t o accommodate increased traffic. The criteria contained in the Township Subdivision and Land Development ordinance and in publications of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation should be followed in the construction of new roadways and, t o the extent possible, they should be followed when rebuilding older roadways.


CHAPTER 3 BACKGROUND STUDIES

This Chapter includes inventories and analyses of various physical, cultural and demographic resources that will have a direct bearing on the development of the Township. This information will be valuable for Township officials as well as developers, property owners, and others.

Historical Context The historical background of Watts Township is excerpted from the History of Perrv Countv, Pennsvlvania, by H.H. Hain ( 1 922):

For picturesque location Watts Township cannot be beaten. It lies between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers where they join on their way to the sea. Much of its lands are considerably elevated and all of them lie south of the Half-Fall Mountain. The lands gradually taper to the rivers, where they are elevated but little above the high-water level. Its boundaries are on the north by Buffalo Township, and on the east, south and west by the two rivers.

The channel, however, where the rivers joined, thus forming Duncan Island, has long since been filled up, and over it went the Pennsylvania Canal in the days when it was the main line of traffic between the anthracite coal fields and the seaboard. There was a third island known as Hulings", but the construction of the canal caused the intervening channel to fill up, thus uniting it permanently physically with Perry County, at low tide. It is still assessed in Dauphin County, its extent being twenty-five acres. Over this channel there was once a toll bridge, operated by Marcus Hulings, who also owned a ferry over the Juniata. Later Rebecca H. Duncan and David Hulings were joint owners.

Among the first settlers were John Eshelman, who warranted 160 acres in March 1792; Robert Ferguson, sixty-four acres in June, 1774; William Thompson, 21 6 acres in March, 1775; Frederick Watts, 110 acres in December, 1794; and before this a tract of 102 acres in October, 1766; Benjamin Walker, 201 acres in January, 1767, which later was owned by Robert Thompson and Levi Seiders. Southeast of this tract Marcus Hulings warranted 199 acres in November, 1766. Hulings also had another tract of 200 acres located at the junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers warranted in August, 1766. This is the farm long owned by Dr. George N. Reutter, who represented Perry County in the Legislature. It is known as Amity Farm, and is now in the possession of McClellan Cox. In the stone house on this farm, almost opposite Aqueduct Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Marcus Hulings, Jr., and Thomas Hulings kept a tavern, the old sign still being on the attic of the house only a few years ago. North of this,


along the river for almost two miles, and reaching almost to New Buffalo, Samuel Neaves had t w o tracts containing 51 2 acres, warranted, in March and June, 1755. Immediately above Neaves, on the river, Francis Ellis warranted a tract in 1767, which passed to Jacob Steele when surveyed.

The next tract up the river is now the site of New Buffalo Borough. It contained 183 acres, and was warranted in November, 1767, by Christopher Mann. Above this tract Andrew Long warranted 110 acres in July, 1762, and next above it was the tract of Stophel Munce, containing 124 acres, warranted in May, 1763. He was the first collector of Greenwood Township, in 1767, Watts then being a part of Greenwood, which took its name from Joseph Greenwood, who is mentioned by Marcus Hulings as one of his closest neighbors. Immediately above Munce's claim was that of George Etzmiller, containing 162 acres, and warranted in November, 1767. John Miller had 131 back of the claims of Etzmiller, Munce, Long and Mann, warranted in December, 1773. Everhard Liddick warranted lands in 1868, adjoining the church, and Joseph Nagle, 150 acres, adjoining Liddick, in April 1775. John Finton warranted sixty-six acres in 1839 .... Prior to the Revolutionary War, General Frederick Watts, of Revolutionary fame, was a landowner in the territory now comprising Watts Township, his daughter Elizabeth being the first wife of Thomas Hulings. General Watts owned part of the lands warranted to William Stewart and George Lennff, in November, 1772. From him ownership passed to Thomas Hulings, by purchase from the heirs. From Hulings, the Watts son-in-law, it passed by will to David Watts, an eminent lawyer located a t Carlisle, but who had been born in that part of Cumberland which became Perry, and in that part of Greenwood which became Watts. It was for David Watts that the Township was named. When the petition for the new township came before the court, in 1849, Judge Black was presiding in the absence of Judge Frederick Watts, and upon his suggestion it was named Watts, in honor of David Watts, the eminent lawyer who was the son of General Frederick Watts and the father of Judge Frederick Watts, then serving in that capacity .... In 1839 this property passed to Alexander McAlister, by purchase. Further evidence that the property spoken of above was in the possession of David Watts is contained in an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, passed March 8, 1799, in reference to a ferry, the western landing of which was located thereon:

"Whereas, Mathias Flamm owns land on the west side of the Susquehanna, opposite the mouth of Juniata, and David Watts on the west side, where the State road crosses the Susquehanna, and that they have established and maintained a ferry at the place for a number of years, they are empowered by law at this date to establish and keep same in repair, and build landings, etc."

An early schoolhouse in what is now Watts Township was on the church grounds. It was a log house without a floor, and was rebuilt on the same foundation when it had become so low that the teacher could not stand erect in it. These early log schoolhouses were usually built hastily by the communities in which they were located, and the workmanship was very crude. At the old schoolhouse near Colonel Thompson's was the first free school in Pennsylvania to be opened under the free school act .... In later


years the township had three schools, known as McAllister's, Centre and Livingston's. In the old schoolhouse which was located in Alexander McAllister's meadow, the teacher of the term of 1852-53 was Prof. S. B. Heiges, who later became principal of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School.

Dr. George N. Reutter, a native of Perry and a graduate of the University of Maryland, in 1858, was located a t the junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, and practiced in the surrounding community, including New Buffalo. He was once the representative of Perry County in the General Assembly and was the father of Dr. H. D. Reutter, who practiced for so many years in Duncannon. He was preceded at the Junction by his father, Dr. Daniel N. Reutter, who died October 15, 1846.

There are two small stores within the limits of the township, kept by Mrs. Belle Lowe and James C. Wright, the latter started in 1898. E.H. Derr conducts a summer resort near Girty's Notch, and retails cigars and confectionery. There was a post office in Watts Township many years ago, being known as "Thompson's Crossroads." When the William Penn Highway is completed it will join the Susquehanna trail at the township's south, where the ways diverge. This will be the only township in the County traversed by these two great highways.

Reqional Context Watts Township is located in the northeastern portion of Perry County (see Map 1). The Township is presently bounded on the north by Buffalo Township, on the east by the Susquehanna River and Reed Township (Dauphin County) and on the south and west by the Juniata River. The Township consists of approximately 1 1.7 square miles of land area. The Township contains 17.90 miles of township roads and 18.97 miles of state roads. Major State roads include Rts. 1 1 & 15, Rt. 34 and Rts. 22- 322. The major industry in Watts Township is farming; however, there are numerous small businesses offering a wide variety of services t o residents, including restaurants, motel services, vehicle service and repair, towing, antiques and other retail, in the Township. The Township is considered a "bedroom community" because most of the residents must earn their living outside the Township. There are no Township-owned recreational facilities, but there is the Watts Buffalo Community Center. Watts Township is a beautiful, quiet, rural community with just the right agriculturehesidential mix for quality living for today's family.


Phvsical Features and Natural Resources Physical features and natural resources may be either renewable or non- renewable. Some resources are easily ruined and many are irreplaceable. Although many resources such as air, water, and timber can renew themselves, they do so in a time frame often beyond cultural intervention. Frequently, the ability of humans to deplete resources has not been balanced by our ability to restore them. While individual landowners have few limitations upon their land use and may not intend to degrade the natural environment, at the Township scale, the cumulative effects of improper land use management can pose severe threats to public health, safety and welfare. Encroachment of development in marginal areas may result in damage to existing homes through flooding and landslides.

Prime agricultural topsoil which formed our centuries may be lost through erosion in a single season. Entire tracts of mature woodlands and wildlife areas which have stood for generations may fall in a single season if they are clear cut. A single new home with soil unable to renovate septic tank effluent may pollute wells, groundwater, and surface water for an entire village.

There is a practical implication t o viewing land as a resource rather than as a commodity. The unique and irreplaceable beauty, character and sense of community in the Township has been recognized as a resource worth protecting. Land use management should occur in a framework of stewardship and in harmony with the long term preservation of the land. Natural resources are essential t o the quality of life in Watts Township and the following sections provide information intended to promote their appropriate management.

Topography

A five-category system, based on Soil Survey mapping, has been used to identify degree of slope.


0% t o 3% Slope: Such slopes are generally suitable for all development uses.

3 % t o 8% Slope: These slopes are suitable for medium density residential development, agriculture, and nearly all commercial, industrial and institutional uses.

8% t o 1 5 % Slope: Slopes of this nature are best suited for moderate t o low density residential development, however, considerable care should be exercised in the location of any commercial, industrial or institutional uses.

1 5 % t o 25% Slope: Such areas are only suitable for low density residential, limited agriculture, and recreational uses.

Over 25% Slope: This steeply sloping land should be used for only open space and certain recreational uses.

In Watts Township, three additional slope categories have been identified:

e Areas of Undefined Slope: This category includes quarries, as well as disturbed land, such as the US 22/322 corridor.

e Areas of 0% t o 8% Slope and 8% t o 25% Slope: These t w o categories are combinations which are located on Half Falls Mountain.

The locations of areas of 8% to 25%, 15% t o 25%, and over 25% slopes are identified on the Development Constraints Map (Map 2).

Half Falls Mountain forms the boundary between Watts and Buffalo Townships. The overall elevation in the Township ranges from approximately 1 , I 18 feet along the Half Falls Mountain t o a low of less than 3 5 0 feet along the Juniata River in the southwestern corner of the Township.


Drainage and Water Supply

All of Watts Township lies within the Susquehanna River Drainage Basin. The average annual precipitation is approximately 40 inches and less than ten percent is used either for agricultural or non-agricultural purposes.

The major sources of water supply throughout the Township are wells and springs. Ground water yields in most of the geologic formations are considered adequate. However, during long periods of low rainfall, the supply of water from springs and streams has been limited.

Floodplains

Another important facet of this topographic study is an examination of floodplains. The floodplain area is defined as that area subject to frequent periodic flooding. The basic reasons for interest in floodplains are as follows: (1 ) to prevent unnecessary property damage; (2) to minimize danger t o public health by protecting the water supply and promoting safe and sanitary drainage; (3) to reduce financial burdens imposed on the community, its government, and its residents by frequent and periodic floods; (4) to provide sufficient drainage courses to carry abnormal f lows of stormwater in periods of heavy participation; and (5) t o provide area for groundwater absorption for maintenance of the subsurface water supply.

The Watts Township Flood Insurance Study prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency dated August 15,1979 defined detailed 1 00-year floodplain boundaries for selected streams in the Township, including the Susquehanna River, Juniata River, and Buffalo Creek. These 100-year floodplain areas are shown on Map 3.


MAP SOURCE: SOIL SURVEY OF CUMBERLAND AND PERRY COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA 1986

L E G E N D

BERKS-WEIKERT-BEDINGTON Association: Shallow to deep, gently sloping to very steep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from gray and brown shale, siltstone, and sandstone: on uplands

HAGERSTOWN-DUFFIELD Association: Deep, nearly level to moderately steep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from limestone; on uplands

HAZLETON-LAIDIG-BUCHANAN Association: Deep, nearly level to very steep, well drained to somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in material weathered from gray and brown quartzite, sandstone, siltstone, and shale; on uplands

MONONGAHELA-ATKINS-MIDDLEBURY Association: Deep, nearly level and gently sloping, moderately well drained to poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium: on terraces and flood plains

MURRILL-LAIDIG-BUCHANAN Association: Deep, nearly level to moderately steep, well drained to somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in colluvium from gray sandstone, conglomerate, quartzite, and limestone; on uplands

w] ELLIBER-KREAMER Association: Deep, gently sloping to very steep, well drained and moderately well drained soils that formed in material weathered from cherty limestone; on uplands

,?6

WEIKERT-CALVIN-BERKS Association: Shallow and moderately deep, gently sloping to very steep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from red, gray, and brown shale, siltstone, and sandstone; on uplands

MAP 4 SOIL ASSOCIATIONS

Soils

Historically, the nature and quality of soil has had a very important effect on how land was used, especially in agricultural areas. It is therefore important t o review the nature and qualities of Watts's soils, because land use activities are frequently reflections of soil type.

In terms of efficient use of resources, a common-sense goal would be to arrange land uses so that the best soils for agricultural uses (i.e. well- drained, deep, and fertile) are left undisturbed, while residential development would be focused towards soil areas that are less productive or are not easily worked. Construction costs can be minimized i f development is steered towards areas that do not have a high water table, are relatively free of shallow bedrock, but have adequate soil for an on-lot sewage disposal system. Intensive land uses, such as industrial, commercial, or activities that require large parking areas, should also be directed towards soils that can support heavy loads or paved areas.

While virtually any structure can be safely built on almost any soil type (or slope), such developments may require unreasonable amounts of engineering, site preparation, and cost. Therefore, while this analysis will not predict the appropriate location for any land use with one hundred percent certainty, it is a reasonable set of guidelines for future development or areas of constraint.

One of the most useful components of the soils analysis is the list of types of constraints imposed by different soil types. For example, a soil type may be subject to flooding, or be too wet for the use of a septic field. Constraints can affect construction, such as the ability of soil t o support loads, on its frost action, shrink-swell potential, etc. This information is necessary to identify areas that are not appropriate for extensive development.


Soils Characteristics

The soils in the Township are separated into major units which are then subdivided into individual soil series (Soil Survev of Cumberland and Perrv Counties, Pennsvlvania]. Major soil associations found in Watts Township, as shown on the Soil Associations Map (Map 4), are as follows:

Hazleton-Laidig-Buchanan Association

The Hazleton-Laidig-Buchanan Association consists of deep, nearly level t o very steep, well drained t o somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in material weathered from gray and brown quartzite, sandstone, siltstone and shale. These soils are located on uplands. Hazleton soils are deep and well drained. They are mainly sloping to very steep. Laidig soils are deep and well drained. They are nearly level t o moderately steep. A fragipan is in the subsoil. Buchanan soils are deep and are moderately well drained and somewhat poorly drained. They are nearly level to moderately steep. A fragipan is in the subsoil. Of minor extent in this association are Meckesville, Albrights, Andover, Berks, Lehew, and Weikert soils and Dystrochrepts on uplands and Atkins, Middlebury and Tioga soils on floodplains.

In most areas the soils in this association are in woodland. They are too stony or too steep t o be used for farming. In some of the less sloping areas the soils have been cleared of trees and stones and are used as pasture. The major limitations are slope, stones on the surface and a seasonal high water table. In many areas the soils of this association are suited to many non-farm uses. The major limitations are slope, large stones on the surface, and a seasonal high water table.

Weikert-Calvin-Berks Association

The Weikert-Calvin-Berks Association consists of shallow and moderately deep, gently sloping to very steep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from red, gray, and brown shale, siltstone, and sandstone. These soils are located on uplands. Weikert soils are shallow and well drained. They are mainly moderately steep to very steep. Calvin soils are moderately deep and well-drained. They are gently sloping or sloping. Berks soils are moderately deep and well drained. They are gently sloping or sloping. Of minor extent in the association are the Albrights, Blairton, Brinkerton, Ernest, Klinesville, and Meckesville soils on uplands and Atkins, Barbour, Basher and Middlebury soils on flood plains.

In most areas the soils in this association are used as cropland, pasture, and woodland. In other areas they are used as homesites. The soils are generally suited t o use for cultivated crops and to use as pasture and woodland. The main limitations are shallow and moderate depth to bedrock. slope, the very


1 1 I I I 1

I

low to moderate available water capacity, and, in some areas, stones on the surface. In a few areas stones on the surface make the soil unsuited to cultivated crops. In a few areas these soils are suited to most nonfarm uses. Detailed investigation is needed t o determine the suitability for a specific use. The main limitations are shallow and moderate depth t o bedrock, slope, and, in some areas, stones on the surface

Monongahela-Atkins-Middlebury Association

The Monongahela-Atkins-Middlebury Association consists of deep, nearly level and gently sloping, moderately well drained t o poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are located on terraces and floodplains. Monongahela soils are deep and moderately well drained. They are mainly nearly level and gently sloping and are on stream terraces. Atkins soils are deep and poorly drained. They are nearly level and are on floodplains. Middlebury soils are deep and are moderately well drained and somewhat poorly drained. They are nearly level and are located on floodplains. Of minor extent in this association are Allegheny, Purdy, Tyler, and Birdsboro soils on terraces and Tioga soils on floodplains.

In most areas the soils in this association are used as pasture or woodland. In some areas they are used as cropland and in a few areas as homesites. The soils in this association are well suited t o fairly suited t o use for cultivated crops and t o use as pasture and woodland. The major limitations are a seasonal high water table and flooding. In a few areas these soils are suited to nonfarm uses. Detailed investigation is needed to determine suitability for a specific use. The main limitations are flooding and a seasonal high water table.

The Soil Survey provides detailed information for individual mapping units within the general soil associations described above.

Prime Agricultural Soils

Prime farmland, as defined by the USDA-SCS, is the land that is best suited for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. It has the soil quality, growing season, and water supply needed to economically produce a sustained high yield of crops when it is treated and managed using acceptable farming methods. Prime farmland produces the highest yields with minimal inputs of energy and economic resources, and farming it results in the least damage to the environment (USDA-SCS 1 98 1 ). According t o the USDA, qualities which characterize


prime agricultural soils include high permeability t o water and air, few or no rocks, optimum levels of acidity and alkalinity, 0 t o 8 percent slopes, and the absence of flooding during the growing season. These soils may now be utilized for crops, pasture, woodland, or land covers other than urban land or water areas.

In Watts Township, only a small percentage of the total Township land area is classified as prime agricultural soils according t o the Soil Survey (see Map 5). Most of these soils are located along the Susquehanna River floodplain and in stream valleys. The following soil series identified as Prime Farmland are found somewhere in the Township:

AbB - Albrights silt loam, 3-8% slopes AgA - Allegheny silt loam, 0-3% slopes AgB - Allegheny silt loam, 3-8% slopes Bb - Barbour soils Bc - Basher soils BuB - Buchanan gravelly loam, 3-8% slopes DxA - Duncannon very fine sandy loam, 0-3% slopes DxB - Duncannon very fine sandy loam, 3-8% slopes LdB - Laidig channery loam, 3-8% slopes M f - Middlebury soils Tg - Tioga soils

In addition t o the listed Prime Farmland Soils, significant other (Class II) soils are located in the Township which have moderate limitations for agricultural uses. These soils include the following:

BeB - Berks shaly silt loam, 3-8% slopes CaB - Calvin shaly silt loam, 3-8% slopes CbB - Calvin-Berks shaly silt loams, 3-8% slopes EtB - Ernest silt loam, 3-8% slopes MnB - Monongahela silt loam, 3-8% slopes

Watts Township Comprehensive Plan 3 4

Wetlands

As defined by DEP, EPA, and the US Army Corps of Engineers, wetlands are those areas which are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater a t a frequency and duration to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas which possess three essential characteristics: (1 ) hydrophytic vegetation, (2) hydric soils, and (3) wetland hydrology.

Wetlands have become recognized as uniquely important components of the landscape by scientists, engineers, public interest groups, and governmental agencies. Their importance lies both on the traditional values of wetlands as areas of fish and wildlife protection as well as in newly found values of wetlands as areas of stormwater management.

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Map was compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using color infrared aerial photos for the identification of wetlands using soil moisture content. The quality of the maps vary greatly depending on the quality of the photos, the time the photos were taken, and the type of wetlands being identified. The NWI map is a helpful background source for wetland investigations. However, field research by a trained expert is necessary to determine the prevalence or absence of wetlands. Another source for wetlands information is the occurrence of hydric soils - which usually are indicators of wetland conditions. Hydric soils and soils with hydric inclusions located in Watts Township include the following:

Soils with Maior Hvdric Components A w - Atkins silt loam Bc - Basher soils BrB - Brinkerton silt loam, 3-8% slopes Pu - Purdy silt loam


Soils with Inclusions of Hydric Components AbB - Albrights silt loam, 3-8% slopes Bb - Barbour soils BuB - Buchanan gravelly loam, 3-8% slopes BxB - Buchanan very stony loam, 0-8% slopes BxC - Buchanan very stony loam, 8-25% slopes EtB - Ernest silt loam, 3-8% slopes EtC - Ernest silt loam, 8-15% slopes KnB - Klinesville very shaly silt loam, 3-8% slopes KnC - Klinesville very shaly silt loam, 8-15% slopes Mf - Middlebury soils MnB - Monongahela silt loam, 3-8% slopes MnC - Monongahela silt loam, 8-15% slopes Tg - Tioga soils Ty - Tyler silt loam Ub - Urban land and Udorthents WeB - Weikert very shaly silt loam, 3-8% slopes WeC - Weikert very shaly silt loam, 8-1 5 % slopes

Hydric soils are identified on Map 2.

Development Constraints Several major constraints to development can be derived from the analysis of the Township’s soils characteristics. Constraint categories include the following:

e hydric soils or soils with possible hydric inclusions - indicators of potential wetlands

e prime agricultural soils - as identified by the Soil Conservation Service

e other (Class II) soils - which have moderate limitations for and are generally in agricultural production


e slopes 15 percent or greater - limits the ability to develop some uses

e slopes 8 to 25 percent - this category specifically identifies three soil types (BxC - Buchanan very stony loam, HfD - Hazleton extremely stony sandy loam, and LgD - Laidig very stony loam) which are located on mountains and the side slopes of ridges, and due to their rockiness and slope are severely limited for uses other than woodland, scattered pasture land and very limited low density development.

Demoqraphic Analvsis In order to prepare and follow guidelines for future land use, as well as goals involving the physical, economic, and social environment of the Township, it is crucial to have an understanding of Watts Township’s population as well as its population characteristics. For example, future residential, industrial, commercial, recreational, and other developments require different amounts and types of land. Each of these developments are related to the level and type of population it must serve.

The most important Township resource is its people. The population of the Township is growing, but the particular characteristics of the population may be changing also. The character of the population should be evaluated and reflected in the Township‘s Comprehensive Plan.

This section includes historical data as well as current information. This information will be used in forming and evaluating strategies to implement the Township’s goals and objectives, and will be used to more efficiently allocate the resources identified in the Background Analysis. Additionally, this information can be used to provide objective support for land use goals, and ensure that policies are rationally related to needs.


Population Characteristics

I

Population increases exert one of the most important effects on land use, because residential developments typically require large amounts of land. Table 3-1 shows the Township‘s population growth and trends from 1960 to 1990.

1960 520

1970 61 3 93 17.9

1990 1,152 190 19.8

Source: U.S. Census of Population b

II 1980 I 962 I 349 I 56.9 11

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census data, the Township experienced its highest rate of population growth between 1970 and 1980. Since 1980, the rate of population growth has decreased in magnitude, but remains high in relation to many other municipalities in Perry County. As a comparison, the population in the County grew by 19.9 % in the 1980‘s and 15.3 % in the 1990’s. The population of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grew by 0.5 percent in the 1970’s and declined by 0.2 % in the 1980’s.

A review of the age characteristics of the Township provides insight into which age groupings will be dominant in the future. Table 3-2 compares the age composition of Watts Township with that of Perry County and Pennsylvania as a whole. A review of the table reveals that the age of the population of the Township is comparable to that of Perry County and younger than Pennsylvania as a whole. The Township, however, does have a lower 55 years and older percentage than the County or the State.


Table 3-3 provides information on gender and race characteristics of the Township in 1990. As can be seen from the table, the Township had a higher ratio of males to females in 1990, when compared to the County and State overall - which both had a greater proportion of females in their populations.

Table 3-3 also shows that the Township, along with Perry County as a whole, contains an extremely low minority population compared to that witnessed a t the State level (99.4 percent for both, compared to 88.5 percent for the State).

While the definition of "family" may be controversial in 1996, the U.S. Bureau of the Census provides some insight to the household types in Watts Township in comparison t o the County and the Commonwealth. The following table presents data about the household types in the Township.


Sex

Male 600 52.1 % 49.7 % 47.9 Yo

Black I 0 I 0.0 % I 0.2 % I % % ~ ~ II

Female

Race

White

552 47.9 % 50.3 % 52.1 %

1,145 99.4 % 99.4 % 88.5 %

0.0 % I o I American Indian, etc

2.73 I 2*87 I Number of Persons per Household

II 0.1 % 0.1 %

Number of Persons 2.87 2.73 2.57 per Household

Percentage of Family 80.3 % 77.8 % 70.2 % Households

Source: 1990 U.S. Census of Housing

Asian, etc

Other Race

Hispanic Origin

~ ~~

Percentage of Family 80.3 % 77.8 % 70.2 % Households

2 0.2 % 0.2 % 1.2 %

5 0.4 % 0.1 % 1.0 %

6 0.6 % 0.5 % 2.0 Yo

11 Source: 1990 U.S. Census of Housing II

Watts Township has a higher percentage of family households than both the County and the State. The Township has slightly more people per family household than Perry County, and significantly more people per family than the State overall.

Watts Township Comprehensive Pian 40

I I I I 1 I I 1 1 I 1 1 I I I I I I I

1989 Median Household Income

In the planning for a community, it is also important t o understand the economic conditions in the community. Watts Township households have income levels comparable to both the County and State averages. The household incomes in the Township are approximately 3 percent higher than Pennsylvania and 1 percent higher than Perry County. The percentage of total Township families living below the poverty level in 1989 (3.0%) was considerably lower than that of the both the County and the State overall.

$ 29,896 $ 29,539 $ 29,069

1989 Per Capita Income

Percentage of Families below 1989 Poverty Level

3.0 % 6.3 % 8.2 %

~~

11 Source: 1990 U.S. Census of Population and Housing

Housing information is another indicator of the affluence of the community. Comparisons of housing values for owner occupied units and rents for renter occupied units indicate the value of housing in a community and what the market will bear for housing costs. Generally, those who can afford to own their own homes are more affluent than those who rent. Housing values in Watts Township are higher than the State as a whole, as well as higher than the Perry County average. The ratio of owner occupied to renter occupied units in the Township was also higher than that of the County or the State.

~~ ~~


1990 Median Value of Owner Occupied Housing Units

1990 Median Gross Rent of Renter Occupied Units

$ 73,800 $ 64,400 $ 69,700

$ 307 $ 262 $ 322

Source: 1990 U.S. Census of PoDulation and Housina

Percentage of Owner Occupied Housing Units

Percentage of Renter Occupied Housing Units

1 1 I I

82.0 % 79.5 % 70.6 %

18.0 % 20.5 % 29.4 %

In 1990, the percentage of Township residents who were high school graduates was higher than that of the County but slightly lower than that of the State. The percentage of college graduates living in the Township was less than that of Perry County as a whole, as well as less than the State overall.

I I

High School 74.0 % 74.7 % Graduate

College Graduate I 5.2 % I 8.9 % I 17.9 % Source: 1990 U.S. Census of Powlation

An analysis of the number of Township residents who are gainfully employed, along with the types of occupations in which they are employed, provides additional useful information for planning purposes. Tables 3-8 and 3-9 provide comparisons of the Township to Perry County


I I I B I I I i I

I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 D D D I D I D I I

Service

RetaiVWholesale

and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the areas of (1 ) categories of employment in 1990, (2) percentage of the 16-year and over population that is employed, and (3) percentage composition of the work force by selected classes of workers.

10.4 % 8.9 % 10.5 %

21.6 % 19.8 % 20.2 %

Unemployed

Work Disability

~~

11 Manufacturina I 10.2 % I 15.2 % ~ I 18.8 % 11 7.2 % 4.0 % 6.0 %

7.7 % 5.8 % 4.3 %

Percent Working in 1990 by Gender

Male 81.9 % 79.6 % 76.5 %

Female I 63.8 % I 61.8 % I 57.8 %

Private Industry

Government

Self Employed

11 Class of Worker I I ~~ I 76.6 % 74.1 % 81.7 Yo

16.2 % 18.1 % 11.7 %

7.2 % 7.0 % 6.2 %

Unpaid Family Workers

0.0 % 0.7 %

11 Source: 1990 U.S. Census of Population 0.5 %


Population Projections

When evaluating future growth and housing needs, it is important to forecast the Township's anticipated future population. Population growth is affected by a multitude of variables including local and regional economy, infrastructure and the availability of suitable land for development. Table 3-1 0 presents population projections for the Township through the Year 201 0 that were prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and incorporated in the Perry Countv Seweraqe Plan in 1994. These projections reflect a continued increase in total Township population through the next two decades.

1990 (Actual) I 1,152 I 1,329

(1 5.4%)

(9.5%) 1,455

Source: Pennsylvania DEP (incorporated in the Perry Countv SeweraQe Plan prepared by TCRPC, 1994)

Housinq One of the most important assets of the community is the quality and condition of the Township's residential neighborhoods and housing stock. Both personal and public benefits are derived from a well-maintained and varied housing stock. In addition to the personal economic benefits derived from appreciating property values, the individual benefits from the opportunity to choose from a variety of different housing types, styles, prices, and environmental settings. The public benefits economically with the assurance of a sound residential tax base that will


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continue to appreciate as the housing stock is maintained and grows. Studying existing housing conditions and planning future housing initiatives is important for these reasons and in assuring the Township's residential living environment is both safe and healthful.

1 Unit Detached

1 Unit Attached

2 - 4 Units in Structure

5 - 9 Units in Structure

10 or More Units in Structure

Table 3-1 1 provides numerous characteristics of housing in Watts Township from the 1990 U.S. Census. As can be seen from the table, of the 436 total housing units in the Township in 1990, 322, or nearly 76 percent, were single family detached units. Only 32, or 7.3 percent, of the total housing units in the Township were in structures containing two units or more. Nearly 18 percent of the total units in the Township were mobile homes.

322 73.9 68.6 53.4

4 0.9 4.2 18.4

5 1.1 4.8 10.3

24 5.5 3.3 3.5

3 0.7 0.8 8.0

100.0 1 100.0 1 100.0 I 436 I Total Housing I/ Units I1

Mobile Home I 78 I 17.9 I 18.4 I 6.5 I Source: U.S. Census of Population and Housing

Of the 436 total housing units, 35, or 8 percent, were vacant (including 1 2 units which were classified for recreational, seasonal or occasional


use.) 82 percent of the occupied units were owner-occupied - with only 18 percent of the occupied units renter-occupied.

The number of persons per room statistic is an indicator of the size of dwelling units and the presence of overcrowded conditions. In 1990, only 6 of the 401 occupied units (1.5 percent) had an average of more than one person per room.

As the population of Watts Township increases, additional housing will be needed. The types of housing that may be built depends greatly on the values and desires of the population. While the number of additional dwelling that may be needed can be estimated based on projection of overall Township population, the types of dwelling units that may be constructed can not be estimated. What is important from the perspective of the Township is that a wide range of opportunities for all types and costs of housing be provided to existing and future Township residents. This can best be accomplished by providing for various types and densities of housing through the adoption of a Township Zoning Ordinance, as well as providing for innovative approaches to residential development - such as clustering - in the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

Existinq Land Use For the Township to plan for its future, it must have a good understanding of its past, and of its resources. Prior sections of this Chapter evaluated the physical and social aspects of the Township, and identified a number of resources and constraints.

One of the most important elements of this Comprehensive Plan is an analysis of how land has historically and currently being used. This section is an analysis of the Township's existing land uses, or how land is being used today. This information is necessary for the following reasons:


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An existing land use analysis will provide a framework in which to understand the historic forces and trends that have resulted in the current arrangement of land uses.

The analysis will reveal constraints to future development.

The analysis will help identify areas suitable for future development.

The analysis will result in information regarding the size and use of property.

The analysis will determine the amount of land required for various types of use; the areas and locations within the Townshb best suited for various uses; and the appropriate types and boundaries of any proposed zoning districts.

The analysis can help to establish a framework for programming future activities and patterns of density.

The analysis will help to ensure that the Future land Use Plan does not cause conflict with existing landowners.

The actual analysis utilized a number of different information sources. First, a map showing basic land information had t o be created. This map was created from digital versions of U.S. Geological Survey Maps and copies of Tax Assessment Maps provided by Perry County. This map also included roadways, major watercourses, and Township boundaries. The County Tax Assessment Maps were used as the basis for a "field survey", in which each property was assigned a specific land use category. This survey was conducted in the Fall of 1996. The results of this survey are shown on the Existing Land Use Map (Map 6).

In general, land uses in Watts Township include agriculture, woodland areas, single-family detached dwellings, limited multi-family dwellings, scattered commerciaMndustriaI areas, recreational areas, and community facilities.


For planning purposes, existing land use was divided into the following categories:

Woodland Agricultural Residential

Commercial/lndustriaI Public/Quasi-Pu blic Vacant Land

The Township’s growth has been influenced by a number of factors, including its distance from areas of concentrated development, the existence of U.S. Routes 1 1 /1 5 and 22/322 (major highway arteries in the region), and a history of agricultural activities. The pattern of land use is characterized as follows:

Woodland As can been seen on the Existing Land Use Map, a significant portion of the total land area of Watts Township is wooded. The largest contiguous tracts of woodland are located on or along the slopes of Half Falls Mountain in the northern portion of the Township and along Us 22/322 in the western portion of the Township. Many of the numerous stream valleys in the Township are also wooded. The Township’s woodlands also encompass State Game Lands and are the location for permanent as well as seasonal dwellings, and hunting/outdoor recreational uses.

Agricultural This land use category includes farms, farm dwellings and structures. Geographically, this area comprises approximately the same amount of land area in Watts Township as woodlands, and extends throughout the Township. The dominant type of agricultural activity includes the raising of field crops. The sizes of farms vary, but most range between 5 0 and 1 5 0 acres. The agricultural areas take advantage of the better quality soils in the Township.

Residential This land use category is dominated by single family detached dwellings on lots in planned subdivisions, dwellings in older, established rural hamlets, dwellings fronting along U .S. Route 1 1 / I 5, and scattered dwellings and individual mobile homes located throughout the woodland and agricultural areas. The three planned


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residential subdivisions of significant size are located (1 ) along Huggins and Amity Roads (including Rising Sun Drive), (2) along Huggins and Black Snake Roads (northwest of New Buffalo Borough) and (3) along Pine Tree Road (northeast of New Buffalo). Other small, and somewhat isolated, subdivisions are located in what would otherwise be characterized as agricultural areas. Frequently, lots have been created along the frontages of larger parcels, which remain farmed in the remaining interior areas. This type of land usage in economically attractive because it takes advantage of roadway access, but creates an impression of less open space than actually exists, because th

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