WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - E-Library

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Community FacilitiesSeveral significant vacant parcels remain in the borough. These parcels are zoned for indusrnial orcommercial development, which traditionally has a large degree of impervious surface. To enslue thatdevelopment on these parcels does not harm the quality of nearby streams and does not affecr floodlevels, stormwater management measures must be implemented.Community facilities services and utilities are necessary for the public health, safety, and welfve andhelp provide for the quality of life expected in Chalfont Borough. Planning for these facilities servicesand utilities should be interrelated and consistent with land use planning in the comprehensive plan.This chapter has surveyed and analyzed the facilities and services which serve Chalfont. This providesan opportunity to review these services and facilities and their interrelation with other chapters in theplan update such as the future land use plan.5The previous chapters on existing land uses and population and housing indicate that ChalfontBorough is almost fully developed. Because the present facilities and services which serve the boroughare generally adequate; management issues, such as staffing, funding and maintenance, are the primaryconcern. Future growth may necessitate more extensive study of facility and service expansion.Chalfont Borough Comprehensive Plan Update Draft 51
EIsAdiacent Land Use and ZoningThe communities surrounding Chalfont affect the borough in a variety of ways because of the diversityof land uses and zoning districts along the borough’s borders. For instance, an adjacent shoppingcenter in New Britain Township generates impacts far different from those of an adjacent larse-lotresidential development. A shopping center creates noise, traffic, and light impacts, while large-lotresidential uses create few impacts. The juxtaposition of diverse land uses or zoning districts alongmunicipal boundaries can be beneficial because it provides for a mix of land uses. This mix providesjobs and shopping next to homes and reduces the number and distance of trips necessary to meet dailyneeds. An inappropriate mix, such as a quarry next to a residential area, however, can be detrimental toresidents’ quality of life. It is important, therefore, to know the adjacent land uses. In cases where landuses differ significantly, efforts can be made to mitigate impacts.The importance of coordinating the planning function among adjacent municipalities has beenrecognized and confirmed by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in its decision in Miller vs.Upper Allen Township Zoning Hearing Board, 112. Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court 274,535A.2d 1195 (1987), where the Court held that aggrieved residents of a municipality could appeal orintervene in zoning decisions made within the boundary of an adjacent municipality. Consequently, itis important that planning in Chalfont does not create land use conflicts with adjacent communities andthat a regional approach is taken to planning. To ensure that planning activities are coordinated withadjacent municipalities, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Section 30 1 (a)(5)) requiresthat the comprehensive plan examine the relationship of the existing and proposed development of themunicipality and plans in contiguous municipalities. This review analyzes the land use and zoning inthe contiguous municipalities to determine compatibility.Zoning districts within a community should complement each other. However, zoning and land usebetween communities cannot always be complementary. The first step in an effort to enhancecompatibility between communities is to take stock of the land uses and zoning along municipalborders. A map of adjacent land uses and zoning (see Figure 7) follows on the next page.New Britain Township surrounds Chalfont on three sides to the north, south, and west. New BritainBorough adjoins Chalfont to the east. The predominant land use that abuts Chalfont is residential,which varies in density. Although much land in the adjacent township is vacant, the areas that abutChalfont including most of New Britain Borough, are substantially developed. The surrounding landuses will be presented in the following text. Existing zoning for all adjacent municipalities is shown inTable 15. Zoning for Chalfont where it abuts neighboring communities is shown at the end of thechapter in Table 19.New Britain Borough’s comprehensive plan, adopted in 1965, is consistent with its zoning code(1994). Where New Britain Borough adjoins Chalfont the land uses are residential, commercial, andindustrial. The zoning is R-2, C-1, and L-I. Multifamily Residential areas of New Britain Mews andCarousel Pointe abut the borough and are zoned R-2. Office and light industrial uses abut the boroughalong Bristol Road south of the SEPTA rail line. These uses are zoned L-I.Chalfont Borough Comprehensive Plan Update Draft 53
Page 10 and 11: Warminster Township Comprehensive P
Page 12: Warminster Township Comprehensive P
Page 15 and 16: Population and HousingTable 1 Popul
Page 17 and 18: Population and HousingFigure 2Chalf
Page 19 and 20: Population and HousingTable 5 Housi
Page 21 and 22: Population and HousingH ousi ng Aff
Page 23 and 24: Pooulation and Housingassumptions.
Page 25 and 26: Population and HousingThe high rang
Page 27 and 28: Chalfont 1990 PopulationBucks Count
Page 29 and 30: I1IIIIIIIIIBI11IIIIIExisting Land U
Page 31 and 32: Existing f and UseVacant LandAlthou
Page 34: Non con formitiesIIIEcIIIIIIIIIIITh
Page 37 and 38: TransportationPennsylvania, the Mun
Page 39 and 40: Tra nspo rta tionvehicles move slow
Page 41 and 42: Transporfa tionaccommodate the park
Page 43 and 44: Transportationnear future. Therefor
Page 45 and 46: Community Facilities1984. The basem
Page 47 and 48: Community facilitiesresponse time b
Page 49 and 50: I. .. . . . -I-This review of the b
Page 51 and 52: Community FacilitiesAlthough wastew
Page 53: Communitv Facilitiesmanagement tool
Page 57: Adjacent Land Use and Zoningresiden
Page 60 and 61: ~protectionHistoric PreservationIco
Page 62 and 63: Historic Preservationproperty owner
Page 64 and 65: -Historic PreservationHistoric Comm
Page 66 and 67: future Land UseIII.BIThe Future Lan
Page 68: future Land Usebusinesses which ser
Page 71 and 72: Statement of the Community Goal, Ob
Page 73 and 74: Statement of the Community Goal, Ob
Page 75 and 76: lmplemen ta tion of Recommendations
Page 77 and 78: Implementation of RecommendationsSh
Page 79: ~ .~Appendix AChalfont Midtlle Proj

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