Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan Pages 113-168 by Fayette County Cultural Trust

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Chapter 5:

Housing Profile and Plan The housing profile and plan provides an overview on the current housing dynamics in the planning area. By analyzing housing trends and characteristics in the Connellsville area, including household type, household size, the percentage of renter occupied vs. owner occupied housing units, the number of vacant homes, and median housing values, many planning and development needs and opportunities become evident.

Households Household type and size illustrate the domestic make-up of a community. Higher average household size usually indicates more families with children. Communities with larger households often must consider more family-oriented recreational, educational services, and school facilities. Larger households require bigger houses and children require specific social and educational services. For planning purposes, particularly as it relates to housing, the number and type of households are more relevant than total population. Households create the demand for housing rather than individual people. As the table below illustrates, the planning area experienced a net increase of 224 households between 1990 and 2000. However, on a municipal basis, the differences are much more evident. Table 5-1. Household Trends, 1990-2000 1990 Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

3,841 984 836 5,661 4,495,954 56,110

2000

% Change

3,963 1,032 890 5,885 4,777,003 59,969

3.2% 4.9% 6.5% 4.0% 6.3% 6.9%

Source: DemographicsNow, Inc.; U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 SF3 P15

South Connellsville Borough experienced a net gain of 54 households during the 1990s, increasing its household population by 6.5%. Families likely moved into South Connellsville because it is a predominantly residential area with an affordable housing stock and good quality of life. It is close enough to amenities such as highways, grocery stores, barber shops, and pharmacies but lacks the hustle and bustle of a more urban area. The estimated number of households in 2007 shows a slight decrease to 870 households while 2012 projections anticipate further decline to 858 households, a 3.6% decrease from 20001. 1

2007 estimates and 2012 projections for number of households and housing units were provided by DemographicsNOW, Inc.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 1 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

In the rest of the planning area, Connellsville Townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s household population increased by 4.9% during the 1990s, resulting in a net gain of 48 households. The 2007 estimate for number of households shows a nominal increase to 1,035 households, while the 2012 projection shows a slight increase to 1,040 households, an overall increase of 0.7% from 2000. The City of Connellsville experienced the lowest percent change of households from 1990 to 2000 at 3.2%, or a net increase of 122 households. The estimated number of households in the City in 2007 shows a significant decrease to 3,796 households while the projected number of households in 2012 shows further decline to 3,703 households, a 6.6% decrease since 2000. Trends in household type and size are changing the planning areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing patterns and future housing needs. Overall household size in the planning area decreased from 2.62 persons in 1990 to 2.47 in 2000. This was accompanied by an increase in all types of households except married couple family households. (See Figure 5-4.) One person, non-family, and single parent households comprised 48.7% of all households in 1990 and increased to 53.7% in 2000. This shift to smaller households, a trend evident throughout the state and the nation, will mean a greater demand for smaller units and multifamily dwelling units accompanied by a decreasing demand for the more traditional larger, singlefamily homes in the planning area. Table 5-2. Trends in Average Household Size, 1990-2000 1990 2000 Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

2.39 2.61 2.62 2.62 2.57 2.56

2.28 2.40 2.53 2.47 2.48 2.43

% Change -4.6% -8.0% -3.4% -5.7% -3.5% -5.1%

Source: DemographicsNow, Inc.; U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 SF1 P18; 1990 STF1 P016

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 2 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Figure 5-1. Household Type Trends, 1990-2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Married Couple Families

Single Parent

2000 1990

Nonfamily

1 Person

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Housing Housing trends indicate growth or decline in a community. Housing markets where new construction activity is high and continuous means that the locale is marketable as a desirable place to live. A decline in the number of housing units may indicate a concurrent loss of population and the need for an active demolition program to eliminate vacant and deteriorated units. Between 1990 and 2000, there was a net gain of 340 housing units in the planning area. On a municipal basis, all three localities experienced net gains in their housing stock during the 1990s. Connellsville Township experienced the largest increase in the number of housing units at 6.5%, which was above the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increase of 6.3% but below Fayette Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increase of 8.3%. Table 5-3. Trends in Housing Units, 1990-2000 1990 Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

4,210 1,026 899 6,135 4,938,140 61,406

2000 4,434 1,093 948 6,475 5,249,750 66,490

% Change 5.3% 6.5% 5.5% 5.5% 6.3% 8.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; 2000 SF1 H1; 1990 STF1 H001

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 3 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

During the 1990s, the City of Connellsvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing stock increased by 224 units. Since 2000, however, this rate of increase has not continued. During the five-year period of 2003-2007, only three building permits were issued in the City for new single family and multifamily units as shown in the following table. Furthermore, the actual number of housing units is projected to decrease to 4,305 units by 2012, a decrease of 2.9% since 2000. Table 5-4. Total New Residential Building Permits Issued, 2003-2007 2003 Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Fayette County

2004

2005

2006

2007

Total

7 239

10 251

5 50

1 81

4 67

27 688

Source: Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, State of the Cities Data System

The growth in the number of housing units also slowed in Connellsville Township. Between 2003 and 2007, Connellsville Township issued 15 building permits for new housing construction. This activity accounted for 55% of all new housing permits issued in the planning area during that time span. Unlike the City of Connellsville, the number of housing units in Connellsville Township is projected to increase 4.8% by 2012, producing a projected net increase of 53 housing units. In South Connellsville Borough, nine building permits for new housing construction were issued between 2003 and 2007, accounting for 33% of all new housing permits issued in the Connellsville area. By 2012, the number of housing units in South Connellsville is projected to increase slightly to 951 units, an increase of 0.3%. Housing occupancy is described in several ways by the U.S. Census Bureau. First, all housing units are classified as either occupied or vacant. In the planning area, there were 5,868 occupied housing units, which accounted for 82.7% of the total housing stock in 2000. Table 5-5. Occupancy Status of Housing Stock, 2000

Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

% Vacant 80.8% 470

% For Rent 9.6% 199

% For Sale 4.1% 40

% 0.8%

Other Vacant 231

% 4.7%

88.3%

5.8%

2.3%

0.8%

2.7%

869 85.4% 5,868 82.7% 4,777,003 83.5% 59,969 82.1%

74 613 472,747 6,521

7.3% 8.6% 8.3% 8.9%

9 235 106,925 1,653

0.9% 3.3% 1.9% 2.3%

10 60 65,431 775

1.0% 0.8% 1.1% 1.1%

55 318 300,391 4,093

5.4% 4.5% 5.2% 5.6%

Occupied 3,955 1,044

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 SF3 H6 & H7

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 4 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

All occupied housing units were classified as either renter-occupied or owneroccupied, with the latter providing the rate of homeownership. The homeownership rate in the planning area decreased slightly from 60.6% in 1990 to 60.1% in 2000. Both of these rates were significantly lower than the state and county rates, which varied between 70.6% in 1990 to 73.1% in 2000. Table 5-6. Housing Tenure in the Planning Area, 1990-2000

Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

1990 2000 Occupied Owner Renter Occupied Owner Renter Units Occupied % Occupied % Units Occupied % Occupied % 3,845 1,993 51.8% 1,852 48.2% 3,955 1,978 50.0% 1,977 50.0% 974

777 79.8%

197 20.2%

1,044

857 82.1%

187 17.9%

836 657 78.6% 179 21.4% 869 693 79.7% 176 20.3% 5,655 3,427 60.6% 2,228 39.4% 5,868 3,528 60.1% 2,340 39.9% 4,495,966 3,176,693 70.7% 1,319,273 29.3% 4,777,003 3,406,167 71.3% 1,370,836 28.7% 56,110 40,595 72.3% 15,515 27.7% 59,969 43,859 73.1% 16,110 26.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 SF3 H7; 1990 STF3 H008

Type of Housing The predominant housing type in the planning area in 2000 was single-family, which accounted for 64.8% of the housing stock. Multifamily housing units in the planning area were primarily found in the City of Connellsville while the largest mobile home housing stock was found in Connellsville Township. Table 5-7. Type of Residential Units in Planning Area, 2000 Multi-Family Units Total Units Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

Single Family

4,425

2,605

2-4 1,123

5-9

10 or more 337 347

1,113

838

943

758

6,481 5,249,750 66,490

4,201 3,875,644 48,363

1,239 515,543 5,352

337 179,909 2,035

Total 1,807

Mobile Home

Other

232

112

347 415,405 2,156

1,923 1,110,857 9,543

357 258,551 8,354

-4,698 230

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 SF3 H30

Age of Housing The age of a structure is used to show the time the unit has been in the housing inventory and the duration of time over which substantial maintenance is necessary. The age threshold commonly used to signal a potential deficiency in structural conditions is 40 years old or over. Overall, the planning area has a notably high percentage of older housing units, with 70.7% (4,582 units) of the housing stock built prior to 1960. Figure 5-2 illustrates the age of the municipalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; respective housing stocks. Just less than 50% of the housing stock in the City of Connellsville was built Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 5 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

prior to 1940. In South Connellsville Borough, the majority of housing units were constructed prior to 1960. Connellsville Township had the highest rate of newer housing stock with 34% of housing units built since 1970. Figure 5-2. Age of Housing Stock Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2500

Number of Units

2000

1500 City of Connellsville Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough

1000

500

0 1999 to March 2000

1995 to 1998

1990 to 1994

1980 to 1989

1970 to 1979

1960 to 1969

1950 to 1059

1940 to 1949

1939 or earlier

Median Housing Value Median housing values across the planning area are indicative of the age of the housing stock as illustrated in Figure 5-3. Connellsville Township, with newer housing units and the highest number of building permits issued in the planning area, had the highest median value in 2000 at $70,100. In contrast, the City of Connellsville, the municipality with the oldest housing stock, had the lowest median housing value at $59,200.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 6 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Figure 5-3. Median Housing Value in the Planning Area, 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

$120,000

$97,000

$100,000

$80,000 $70,100

$60,000

$61,200

$59,200

$63,900

$40,000

$20,000

$0 City of Connellsville

Connellsville Twp

South Connellsville Borough

Fayette County

Pennsylvania

The following table illustrates the disparity between income and the cost of housing. Between 1990 and 2000, housing values rose 19.6% in the planning area while rents decreased by 2.3%. (These percentage changes reflect adjustments for inflation in order to compare dollar amounts on an equal basis.) During this same period, income increased by 11.5%. As a result, for the planning area as a whole, income did not keep pace with rising housing values (and concurrent costs), although the change in income did exceed rental housing costs. South Connellsville Borough is the only locality where the change in income kept pace with the increased costs associated with buying a home.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 7 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Table 5-8. Change in Median Household Income Compared to the Cost of Housing in the Planning Area, 1990-2000

Connellsville City Connellsville Township South Connellsville Borough Planning Area Total Pennsylvania Fayette County

% Change in % Change in Income Rents -3.9% -3.7%

% Change in Housing Value 20.1%

4.6%

9.8%

18.5%

33.3% 11.5% 4.7% 8.5%

-12.9% -2.3% -0.2% -0.8%

20.3% 19.6% 6.5% 23.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 SF3 P53; 1990 STF3 P080A; 2000 SF3 H63; 1990 STF3 H043A; 2000 SF3 H76; 1990 STF3 H061A

On a municipal basis, however, the picture is much different. In Connellsville Township, rising housing values outpaced income 18.5% to 4.6%. The disparity faced by renters was slightly smaller – rental rates increased 9.8%. In this community, income is not keeping up with the cost of housing. In the City of Connellsville, rising housing values exceeded income. Housing values rose 20.1% while incomes decreased 3.9%. Rental rates decreased 3.7%, almost equal to the decrease in incomes. In the City’s case, it has become more difficult to afford homeownership but renting remains affordable. South Connellsville remains an affordable housing market where income outpaced housing value 33.3% to 20.3%. Rental units also remain affordable with the rental rates decreasing 12.9%.

Fayette County Housing Market Analysis: Summary A Fayette County Housing Market Analysis was conducted in 2005 for the Fayette County Housing Consortium to better understand the overall housing market in the county, to better educate developers and builders who may have lacked confidence in the local housing market, and to complete the housing section of the county’s comprehensive plan. Much of the report is directly relevant to the planning area’s housing market and provides additional insight concerning the housing dynamics in the area. The following is a summary of some of the key points from the housing market analysis: • •

The housing market is a reflection of the local economy. The recent decline in the economy may, in the short-term, cause a slowing in the housing market. The county housing market experienced a large gain between 1990 and 2000, with an increase of 5,084 units, or an 8.3% increase. While this has likely slowed down in the last few years, the expectation is that the number of units will increase, though not as rapidly.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 8 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

The housing market analysis also calculated demand projections for both homeowner and renter markets using trends, census data, and household projections developed by Claritas, Inc., a national marketing and demographic firm. Past trends in household formation were used to predict the number of households that will be in need of housing in the future. This future demand for housing was then broken down by household income and age. This information was used to define six different classifications of households that will need housing through 2008, the end year for the projections. Those household types included the following: • • • • • •

Low-income households are households with an annual income under $25,000, including all age groups up to age 65. First-time homebuyers are generally younger households in the market for for-sale housing, ages 25-44 years old, with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000. Affordable households are homebuyers ages 45-64 with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000, and renters ages 25-64 in the same income range. Move-up households are households relocating from existing housing units and from beyond the county’s borders. They have annual incomes of over $75,000 and are found in age brackets up to age 64. High-income households have annual incomes in excess of $100,000 and ages up to 65. This household type is generally seeking the most expensive units in the county. Elderly households are households age 65 and over, regardless of income.

Although the data is from 2000 to 2008, the information from the analysis is relevant to understanding the demand for housing by various household types in the City of Connellsville, Connellsville Township, and South Connellsville Borough. The following tables outline housing unit demand projections for two areas that were categorized by the available data: Area 1 was for Connellsville Township, in addition to Bullskin Township, Dunbar Borough, Dunbar Township, Vanderbilt, and Dawson. Area 2 was for the City of Connellsville and South Connellsville Borough. The first section of each table outlines the projected household change for each household type by tenure. The second section carries over only the positive changes in projected households, and assumes that each new household will correlate to demand for a housing unit.2 The third section outlines how unit demand will be met – by the existing housing pool, or through

Because household growth is not occurring across all household types, calculations are based on those household types with only positive growth. Housing preferences also come into play in this calculation. Although the numbers suggest that most of the new higher income households could be absorbed by the existing pool of units vacated by the lower-income households, persons with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more are not likely to be interested in units previously occupied by persons with annual household incomes of under $25,000. Because of greater potential discrepancies in smaller numbers, demand of 10 units or less was not calculated. Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 9 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

new construction.3 The final section further breaks out the high-income category into two subcategories, and projects housing demand for each subcategory. Although potential housing prices have not been calculated for each household type, a general rule in the housing industry is that homebuyers can afford approximately 2.5-3 times their annual salary for housing. Area 1: Connellsville Township and Adjacent Communities4

low income first time a ffordable move up h igh er income e lde rly total

H ousehold Change 2000-2008 new new owner new renter h ouseholds households households -365 -267 -98 -226 -144 -92 -46 -128 400 369 31 493 451 42 181 201 -20 392 564 -173 H ousing Unit Nee d for sale rental total units units 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 400 369 31 493 451 42 201 201 0 1094 1021 73

D emand to be met by: Existing Housing (Sales/Rental/Rehab) N ew Co nstruction Total

owner 614 407 1021

new new higher incom e household breakout households owner h igh er income 493 451 1 00K-2 00K 483 440 2 00K+ 10 11 Source: Claritas, In c; Mullin & Lonergan Asso ciates, Inc.

renter 18 55 73 new renter 42 43 -1

Demand data for Area 1 analyzing for-sale units shows new construction demand was 407 units for the period from 2000 to 2008, or 50 units per year. For rental units, new construction demand was 55 units from 2000 to 2008, or seven units per year. â&#x20AC;˘

The homeowner housing demand was forecasted to be generated by buyers in the affordable, move up, higher income, and elderly housing

This section accounts for movement within the pool of existing housing, either by sales or rental of existing stock, or by rehabilitation efforts that may put underutilized housing units back into the housing pool. It also accounts for households that may have moved between household types because of income or age changes but are not in the market for a new housing unit. 4 Note that this data encompasses Connellsville Township, in addition to Bullskin Township, Dunbar Borough, Dunbar Township, Vanderbilt, and Dawson. The data, therefore, reflects a larger geographic area than Connellsville Township. Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 10 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

•

types. No demand for low-income, first-time, or affordable homebuyer households was predicted. The rental housing demand was forecasted be generated by renters in the move up and higher income categories. No demand for low-income, first-time, affordable, or elderly households was predicted.

Area 2: The City of Connellsville and South Connellsville Borough

low income first time affordable move up higher income elderly total

Household Change 2000-2008 new new owner new renter households households households -160 -93 -67 -20 -16 145 94 47 64 36 28 186 115 71 -38 -36 -2 177 100 77 Housing Unit Need for sale rental total units units 0 0 0 0 0 0 145 94 47 64 36 28 186 115 71 0 0 0 394 245 145 owner 206 39 245

renter

new new higher income household breakout households owner higher income 186 115 100K-200K 162 100 200K+ 24 15 Source: Claritas, Inc; Mullin & Lonergan Associates, Inc.

new renter

Demand to be met by: Existing Housing (Sales/Rental/Rehab) New Construction Total

87 58 145

71 62 9

Demand data for Area 2 analyzing for-sale units showed new construction demand was 39 units for the period from 2000 to 2008, or about five units per year. For rental units, new construction demand was 58 units, or seven units per year over the eight-year period. •

•

The homeowner housing demand was forecasted to be generated by buyers in the affordable, move up, and higher income housing types. No demand for low-income, first-time, or elderly homebuyer households was predicted. The rental housing demand was forecasted to be generated by renters in the affordable, move up, and higher income housing types. No demand for low-income, first-time, or elderly renter households was predicted.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 11 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Quick Test: Analysis of Potential for Additional Senior Housing Elderly residents are a significant planning consideration for municipalities in the Connellsville area, as they constitute one of its largest population groups. They also represent a subpopulation typically in need of affordable housing, as elderly persons often live on fixed or limited incomes. Of the 26,592 older households in Fayette County, more than half (50.9%) have incomes below $25,000, according to U.S. Census data. Many of these poor, elderly households are likely housed in substandard dwelling units. The Connellsville area was analyzed to determine the degree to which subsidized rental units serve the existing demand for affordable housing among the elderly. A “quick test” – an informal market analysis based on Census data – was conducted to compare the number of age- and income-eligible residents in the area to the number of existing subsidized rental units. This method attempts to determine if there is a sufficient pool of eligible residents for potential future developments. The quick test also determines if existing subsidized housing units adequately serve the market. It is important to note that a quick test only signifies that there is a sufficient population of age- and income-eligible households that could potentially qualify for age- and income-restricted housing. An independent market analysis would be required to verify that an actual demand exists within a specific market and at a specific location. A sufficient eligible population does not solely determine demand. Other factors include but are not limited to vacancy rates within the market area, waiting list information, population change patterns, future development plans, and economic activity.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 12 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

The quick-test area was defined as a five-mile radius centering on the midpoint of the three municipalities. The following map illustrates areas that fall within the quick test capture area. Existing subsidized housing sites are plotted on the map according to the number of units they contain. Elderly units appear in blue, while other affordable housing units are in orange. Map 5-1. Subsidized Housing Units in Connellsville Area

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 13 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

The following table provides a summary of the subsidized units in the greater Connellsville area. Table 5-9. Privately Assisted and Public Housing Units in the Connellsville Area Public Subsidized Housing Designated Units Development Units Units Elderly Family Accessible Connellsville Heritage Apartments 36 34 2 Connellsville Towers & Townhouses 110 90 10 Gibson Terrace 150 146 4 North Manor 100 100 Riverview Apartments 100 100 Rose Square Apartments 11 10 1 Woodland Hills Townhomes 64 64 Jefferson Courtyard 7 7 Total 378 200 224 320 24 Source: PHFA, Fayette County Housing Authority, Connellsville Housing Authority

General 10

Total Units 36 110 150 100 100 11 64 7 578

Unit numbers were determined based on a capture rate of 5%. A 5% capture rate assumes that 5% of the eligible population within the primary market area would be served by a potential project. In accordance with general guidelines used by PHFA when evaluating tax credit applications, projects in areas with overall capture rates (proposed project + existing subsidized housing units) of 25% or higher are not considered feasible. However, because the number of units calculated is the maximum possible, projects with smaller numbers of units may be feasible in those locations. Calculations are included in Appendix G. They indicate that the five-mile radial area centered on the three municipalities is heavily saturated with subsidized rental units, with about 25% of the eligible market served by its existing 224 units. The calculations indicate that the age- and income-eligible population in the area (904 persons) could support up to 45 additional units to get a capture rate close to 5%. However, because the overall capture rate would be 29% with the additional 45 units â&#x20AC;&#x201C;over the 25% thresholdâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; such a project is not feasible. Due to the number of existing senior housing units in the Connellsville area, it appears that the market is not likely to support additional subsidized senior housing units. While this is the case for subsidized housing, the market for market-rate senior housing appears to be viable.

Concentration of Subsidized Housing Units The City of Connellsville has a large number of subsidized housing units in comparison to the total number of units in the area. While a balance of affordable and market rate housing is healthy and creates living opportunities to meet a range of housing needs, an imbalance creates a burden on the community and results in a decline in home ownership and a loss of tax base. The following map shows the concentration of subsidized housing in the Connellsville area. Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 14 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Map 5-2. Subsidized Housing Units and Target Areas for Housing Resources in the City of Connellsville

The subsidized housing units are primarily concentrated in Census Tract 2608, Block Group 3, as shown in the map. This area is in close proximity to the central business district and U.S. Route 119. The following are highlights concerning the concentration of subsidized housing units in Census Tract 2608, Block Group 3, based on the 2000 U.S. Census data: • • •

There are 759 housing units, 687 of which are occupied. There are 431 renter occupied units (63% of all units). Of the 431 renter occupied units, 345, or almost 80%, are multifamily rental units.

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 15 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

• • • •

257 housing units are identified as affordable housing sites based on the list of subsidized and/or public housing units. This is almost 34% of all of the housing units in Census Tract 2608, Block Group 3. Almost 60% of all renter occupied units are subsidized and/or public housing units. The median housing value is the second lowest of any of the census tract block groups in the three communities. The gross rent is the second lowest of any of the census tract block groups in the three communities. The lowest median gross rent is in Census Tract 2608, Block Group 2.

The concentration of subsidized housing in one geographic area results in an imbalance in the housing market. All of the subsidized and public housing units appear to be well-maintained and fully occupied. This is most likely due to good management and client screening practices. Still, such a large concentration of subsidized units in such a small geographic area has had an impact on the surrounding neighborhood and the community as a whole. A key part of creating a new zoning ordinance for the City of Connellsville will be encouraging a mix of housing throughout areas where residential development is permitted. Higher density, multifamily housing should be encouraged in areas adjacent to the business district, but with a balance that allows for single-family and town house development as well.

Concentration of Multifamily Housing Units: Fair Share Analysis The following analysis compares multifamily housing units needs based on the Fayette County average with the number of multifamily units currently available in the City of Connellsville, Connellsville Township, and South Connellsville Borough. As of the 2000 Census, there were 6,479 multifamily units in Fayette County, representing 9.7% of all housing units. In the City of Connellsville, multifamily units represented more than a quarter of all housing (28.7%). By contrast, multifamily housing accounted for only 1.3% of the total units in Connellsville Township and 3.7% of units in South Connellsville Borough. In total, there were 1,321 multifamily units among the three municipalities, comprising 20.4% of all housing units. This suggests that multifamily units are concentrated in the City.

Opportunities for New Residential Development: City of Connellsville The City of Connellsville is a built-out environment with minimal opportunity for new development. New development that does occur will likely be a result of in-fill development or site assembly that permits a larger-scale development. The City of Connellsville’s current zoning ordinance places few restrictions on where residential development can occur. It is permitted by right in the areas zoned residential, but it is also permitted in the areas zoned for commercial and industrial use. Therefore, opportunities for new residential development are limited not so much by the current zoning ordinance but by other factors, including limited infill development sites and a slower residential housing Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 16 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

market. Still, the zoning ordinance needs to be re-written to encourage riverfront housing and mixed-use development in the downtown. See the enclosed “Gateway-to-Gateway” plan (which includes a portion of downtown from North Third Street to the Youghiogheny River, north of West Crawford Avenue) that provides more specifics concerning the potential for housing development involving housing rehabilitation and new residential development.

Opportunities for New Residential Development: Connellsville Township Connellsville Township, as shown in the housing data at the beginning of this section, has a higher percentage of single-family homes with a higher median value than the other two communities in the planning area. The Township has also had more building permits issued to develop housing. In addition, the housing stock is newer, with 34% of the housing stock having been built since 1970. Connellsville Township is focused on maintaining its reputation as a lowdensity residential community with a strong housing stock. While higher density housing does exist closer the City of Connellsville, many of the homes are on large lots that utilize on-lot septic systems, particularly off of Narrows Road and arterials extending off of SR 711. Areas of potential future residential development include the following: • • • • •

Narrows Road Area Rockridge Road Area The 26 acre Norton Avenue site off of East Crawford Avenue Isabella Road near the City of Connellsville Potentially higher density housing near the East Crawford Avenue and U.S Route 119 intersection.

Opportunities for New Residential Development: South Connellsville Borough South Connellsville Borough is primarily a bedroom community with singlefamily residential areas. South Connellsville Borough has some areas that could provide for additional residential development. Future development will likely be on McCormick Avenue towards the eastern portion of the borough. Dushane Avenue extension also presents some opportunities for residential development. Some limitations to new development include topography and public infrastructure (utility lines, water and sewer) to service larger-scale development. Growth will most likely occur from larger lot-by-lot single-family development. The community has expressed a desire to maintain its low-density residential housing stock.

Target Areas for Housing Resources City of Connellsville There are pockets of residential areas in the City of Connellsville that could benefit from targeted code enforcement, infill development, and housing Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 17 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

rehabilitation. These areas correspond to the map on page 15 outlined in yellow. These areas include the following: • • • • • • •

Between West Morton Avenue and West Crawford Avenue and the central business district (Southside area) Between West Crawford Avenue and Yough Park Between West Fayette Street and Witter Avenue Units adjacent to East Fairview Avenue Units adjacent to McCormick Avenue near Pittsburgh Street Units adjacent to U.S. Route 119 between West Crawford Avenue and Prince Street (Morrell Avenue Corridor) Units between 8th and 9th Streets north of West Crawford Avenue

Connellsville Township There are pockets of residential areas in Connellsville Township that could benefit from targeted code enforcement, infill development, and housing rehabilitation. The main area includes the following: •

Units adjacent to North Jefferson Street

South Connellsville Borough There are pockets of residential areas in South Connellsville Borough that could benefit from targeted code enforcement and housing rehabilitation. These areas include the following: • •

Along S. Pittsburgh Street between Woodlawn Avenue, the gateway into South Connellsville Borough, and West Painter Street Along S. Pittsburgh Street between Atlas Avenue and West Wine Street

Major Housing Issues The Connellsville area has a number of housing-related issues impacting the overall quality of life. Concentration of Subsidized Housing Subsidized housing can serve an important function in providing housing for those who are unable to adequately house themselves, including seniors and those with disabilities. Still, the large concentration of subsidized housing in a small geographic area can present a challenge for a community and serve to restrict a wide-range of housing options. In addition, it can result in lower property values and lower rents for non-subsidized units in the immediate vicinity. Concentration of Group Homes A concentration of group homes exists in the area, particularly in the City of Connellsville. While a wide variety of housing options is desirable, group homes serve those who have few housing options. A large concentration of group homes within a small geographic area can have a negative impact on the housing stock in an area. The City, in developing its new zoning ordinance, should explore opportunities to diversify the housing stock and to place reasonable limitations on group homes. This could include reviewing parking requirements and the maximum number of persons permitted to live together. Zoning Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 18 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

ordinances may generally restrict the ability of groups of unrelated persons to live together as long as the restrictions are imposed on all such groups. Housing Rehabilitation The housing stock in the area, particularly in the City of Connellsville, is old. Just less 50% of the housing stock in the City was built prior to 1940. While this can add to the character of a community, an older housing stock also requires ongoing maintenance and upkeep. A targeted housing rehabilitation program is necessary to maintain property values and to create an environment that is conducive to encouraging new residents to move into the area and maintaining current residents. Explore A Broader Range of Housing Alternatives Single-family housing accounts for almost 65% of the area’s housing stock, and its prevalence continues to grow as almost all new housing construction has been single-family detached units. Most of these newer units are being constructed in Connellsville Township. Developing a broader range of housing alternatives in the planning area involves many actions:

Actively working to revitalize the core area of the City of Connellsville, including assistance for housing rehabilitation and maintenance of older homes, rehabilitation, and/or construction of all types of housing;

Accurately assessing the market demand for alternative housing types, including the potential for market rate senior housing. The Fayette County Housing Market Analysis forecasted housing demand in affordable, move-up, and higher income housing. Housing products that meet this market demand should be developed;

Working with developers who are open to constructing alternatives to single-family housing units;

Ensuring that local zoning ordinances employ a variety of housing densities and types, including single-family, multifamily and mixed use zoning designations, and do not prohibit new infill development by requiring greater lot widths than what has traditionally been permitted; and

Ensuring that local ordinances do not require excessively large minimum lot sizes.

When housing units decline in quality, so does their market value. Such a unit might be affordable to a lower income homebuyer, but it might also be attractive to an entity interested in acquiring investment properties that could be converted to multifamily units or simply rented “as is.” When several units in close proximity to each other become investment properties owned by absentee landlords, the neighborhood homeownership rate generally decreases. This appears to have occurred in sections of the City of Connellsville. If the absentee landlords do not live in the area, property maintenance may not be a priority. Furthermore, if code enforcement is lax or property maintenance codes are not in place, the problem is exacerbated. Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 19 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Addressing declining housing units is one of the most important actions a local government can undertake to halt further population loss and to create an environment that new residents find attractive and desirable. Working to maintain and improve urban areas is efficient from a land use perspective as it builds upon existing infrastructure and developed land, lessening development pressures in the rural areas. It supports sustainable development where households of various income levels and housing preferences can live, play, and possibly even work. It also preserves distinctive, well-constructed housing units that are financially difficult to recreate in today’s market. Promote Efficient Residential Development Focusing revitalization efforts in urban areas, including the downtown area of the City of Connellsville, will have a greater impact if measures are taken to effectively manage growth in the more rural areas. Municipalities faced with growth pressures today need effective tools for regulating development in a costeffective and land-efficient manner. Higher density housing should be permitted where public water and sewer services exist but not beyond. Clustering new residential developments to preserve larger tracts of open space should be permitted by right, while traditional large-lot subdivisions should be the exception.

Conclusions The housing analysis of the Connellsville planning area reveals several important conclusions for planning and development. These implications serve as the basis for the goals and objectives developed to assist the planning area in achieving its long-term vision. Based on the housing analysis, the following conclusions can be made:

The planning area shares with the rest of Southwestern Pennsylvania the problems of declining older boroughs and sprawling new development in the rural townships, though to a much lesser degree. Connellsville Township is experiencing higher rates of new housing construction than elsewhere in the planning area. In order to preserve and maintain the rural environment that contributes to a high quality of life in the area, great care must be taken to plan for the management of future growth and development in ways that efficiently utilize existing infrastructure systems, conserves open space, and preserves environmentally sensitive features. See Chapter 12, Land Use Plan, for designated growth areas in Connellsville Township.

Household characteristics are changing significantly in the planning area. Smaller households consisting of one person, single parents with children, and non-family households are increasing in number and will demand smaller housing units, more multifamily units and a greater variety of housing types (such as townhouses and garden apartments, for example).

In the Connellsville area, incomes are not keeping pace with the increased costs associated with buying and owning a home. However, rental rates have decreased slightly and are keeping pace with increases

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 20 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

in income. Therefore, it is more affordable for many lower income households to rent rather than own.

Implementation The Housing Profile and Plan includes recommendations for enhancing the planning area’s housing stock, managing future growth, and developing the framework on which to base regulatory controls, such as zoning ordinances and subdivision and land development ordinances. The following goals and objectives are proposed to carry out the recommendations included within the Housing Plan. Goal: Promote the preservation of the existing housing stock to maintain affordable housing in the planning area. Objectives: 1. Enforce building codes and property maintenance codes in an equitable manner. 2. Work with the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority and the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette to market housing rehabilitation activities throughout the planning area. 3. Encourage the demolition and clearance of severely dilapidated structures in order to arrest further neighborhood deterioration and decay. 4. Maintain and upgrade infrastructure such as streets, sidewalks, and curbs to preserve the stability and integrity of existing residential neighborhoods. Goal: Promote the rehabilitation of housing units in proximity to the City of Connellsville’s central business district. Objectives: 1. Focus housing resources towards encouraging new homeownership. 2. Focus housing resources in the following targeted areas: City of Connellsville: •

First Time homebuyers program: Between West Morton Avenue and West Crawford Avenue and the central business district (Southside area)

Connellsville Township: •

Units adjacent to North Jefferson Street

South Connellsville Borough:

Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 21 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

• •

Along S. Pittsburgh Street between Woodlawn Avenue, the gateway into South Connellsville Borough, and West Painter Street Along S. Pittsburgh Street between Atlas Avenue and West Wine Street

3. Create a Vacant Property Review Committee (VPRC) under Act 94 of the Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment Law. 4. Explore the potential for an Elm Street program that would provide resources for redevelopment and rehabilitation. Goal: Encourage the location of higher density housing within walking distance and convenient commutable distance of employment, shopping and other activities through downtown revitalization, mixed use developments and other creative strategies. Objectives: 1. Adopt zoning regulations that foster the creation of housing units on the upper floors of commercial structures in the City of Connellsville and South Connellsville Borough in and adjacent to the core business districts. 2. Adopt zoning regulations that permit cluster residential developments by right. 3. Promote the inclusion of multifamily housing types, such as apartments and townhouses, in residential districts located in or near urbanized areas with existing infrastructure. 4. Adopt zoning regulations that encourage and permit infill residential development on existing lots of record (i.e., traditional narrow lots with lesser front setbacks, etc.). 5. Consider incorporating contextual design standards for new infill housing so that the new structures are compatible and similar in size, height and design to existing surrounding homes. Goal: Encourage the development of riverfront housing. Objectives: 1. Explore options for additional housing along the Youghiogheny Riverfront. • • •

Identify potential development sites on the riverfront. Explore current ownership. Check floodplain and any additional environmental factors. Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 22 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

• •

Explore potential for site assembly. Develop a financing plan.

Goal: Encourage the development of housing that meets market demand. Objectives: 1. Explore the market potential for a wider range of housing, including housing for the affordable, move-up, and higherincome markets. • • •

Identify potential development sites (see sites identified earlier). Explore potential for site assembly. Develop a financing plan.

Goal: Revise the zoning ordinance in the City of Connellsville to clarify the types of housing permitted in residentially zoned areas. Update the zoning ordinance in Connellsville Township to allow for more residential development and to better manage the types of development. South Connellsville Borough should work with Fayette County to update the zoning ordinance for the community. Objectives: • • •

Revise and update the zoning ordinance relevant to housing per the comprehensive plan Encourage infill residential development close to the downtown areas Create opportunities for new development.

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Chapter 5 Housing Profile and Plan - 23 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Chapter 6

Historic and Cultural Resources

Introduction This section of the plan focuses on the importance of preserving the Connellsville area’s historic and cultural resources. Connellsville residents value these resources because they provide an enhanced understanding of the formation and progression of the area. Preserving historic resources can help connect today’s generation to yesterday’s way of life. People of all ages can better sense and appreciate the area’s societal and cultural changes through historic and cultural resources. Historic preservation and heritage tourism are also avenues of economic development.

Historic and Cultural Resources The National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historical and cultural resources worthy of preservation. These properties may include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture at the local, state, or national level. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Bureau for Historic Preservation is the agency that maintains this list in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Placement on the National Register allows local government oversight, and provides some protection from federal agencies that assist, permit, or license activities that have an effect on historic resources. In addition, income producing properties on the National Register may qualify for certain federal tax incentives, or become eligible for various grant opportunities. Numerous historically and architecturally significant structures and other resources are located within the Connellsville area. Table 6-1 contains a list of the properties within the planning area that are included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Connellsville Armory Chapter 6 Historic and Cultural Resources - 1 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Table 6-1 Historical Properties on the National Register Historic Name Carnegie Free Library Colonial National Bank Building Connellsville U.S. Post Office Connellsville Armory

Address South Pittsburgh Street 101 East Crawford Street 115 North Arch Street 108 West Washington Street

Status Listed Listed Listed Listed

Connellsville Union Passenger Depot 900 West Crawford Avenue

Listed

Dr. J.C. McClenathan House & Office 134 South Pittsburgh Street

Listed

Source: PA Historical and Museum Commission & the National Register of Historic Places

In addition to those properties listed on (or eligible for) the National Register, there are several other properties that have local historical significance. Table 62 lists these properties. Table 6-2 Properties of Historical Significance Historic Property

Address

Comments

Gibson House Brimstone Building

West Patterson Avenue East Crawford and Pittsburgh Streets

Wesley Building

Apple Street

Newmyer House

Pittsburgh Street

Aaron Building Meason House

Pittsburgh and Apple Streets Located off of Rt. 119

One of the oldest homes in Connellsville; future home of the Connellsville Historical Society Office Vacant; needs restoration Under renovation; future site of a boutique hotel with 8 guest suites, a coffee shop, and a gift shop Formerly a bed and breakfast; now a residential property Former Aaron Furniture Building; Currently vacant and severly deteriorated; in need of major renovations National Historic Landmark

Source: Connellsville Cultural Trust & Connellsville Historical Society

Gibson House

Brimstone Building Chapter 6 Historic and Cultural Resources - 2 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

In addition to those properties listed on the National Register as well as other properties that are of historical significance, there are also several events, famous residents, and historical markers throughout the Connellsville area that have local cultural and historical significance. Table 6-3 lists these items. Table 6-3 Persons, Places, and Things of Historical Significance Comments

Historic Event, Item, or Marker Woodruff Tree/ Olympic Oak Burial Site of Hughie Cannon

Planted at the Connellsville Area High School Stadium and Track Field Songwriter

Edwin Porter

Motion picture pioneer born in Connellsville

Connellsville Canteen Ladies WW II

At the old train station, Connellsville women prepared food and drink for WWII soldiers traveling through by train

Benjamin Well's Whiskey Rebellion

First real protest to the U.S. Constitution, specifically the federal excise tax on whiskey

Birthplace of Ray Scott

Shallow crossing area on the Youghiogheny River crossed by General Braddock Sports broadcaster and voice of the Green Bay Packers

Cecil Cole

Talent Scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Birthplace of Florence Shutsy-Reynolds

Connellsville native who joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots during WWII

Max C. Floto and Tom Scott Sr.

WWI veterans that promoted that November 11th be a National Day of Observance for Veterans

Harold Betters, Mr. Trombone

Legendary trombone player from Connellsville

John Woodruff

Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meter race

Connellsville Airport

First airport in the region; opened in 1938 and became a training ground for Army pilots

Stewart's Crossing

Source: Connellsville Cultural Trust & Connellsville Historical Society

Municipally Regulated Historic Districts Municipally regulated historic districts can be created under the Pennsylvania Historic District Act (Act 167). Such districts are subject to regulation and protection by local ordinances that govern demolition and exterior alteration of buildings and structures within the historic district. These ordinances can be freestanding or incorporated in the local zoning ordinance. There are no municipally regulated historic districts in the Connellsville planning area, and none of the comprehensive plan municipalities have incorporated historic preservation provisions in their zoning ordinances.

Chapter 6 Historic and Cultural Resources - 3 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

The Aaron's Building on Pittsburgh Street

Historical Societies There is an active historic preservation group located within the planning area – the Connellsville Cultural Trust. In addition to the Cultural Trust, there is a local historical society, the Connellsville Area Historical Society, and the county historical society, the Fayette County Historical Society. The comprehensive plan municipalities should work with the above county and local historical societies to identify any historically or culturally significant resources in the planning area that are not listed in Tables 6-1 or 6-2. If warranted, the municipalities should work with these agencies to pursue funding for historic designation and/or preservation measures. The comprehensive plan municipalities should also solicit citizen volunteers to prepare an inventory of the region’s historic and cultural resources. The municipalities should then support historic groups’ efforts to preserve these resources, including obtaining technical and financial assistance from county, state, and federal agencies, non-profit organizations (e.g., the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation), and other entities.

Chapter 6 Historic and Cultural Resources - 4 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Grave of Zachariah Connell, Founder of Connellsville

Heritage Trail Marker in the City of Connellsville

Goals and Objectives Goal: Identify, preserve, protect, and enhance the historic, architectural, and cultural resources in the Connellsville Area. Objectives: 1. Encourage the identification, preservation, protection, enhancement, and re-use (where appropriate) of historic and architectural resources, including but not limited to the Aaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building, Brimstone Building, Connellsville Armory, Great Allegheny Passage Trail, and the Youghiogheny Riverfront. 2. Collaborate with and support the efforts of the county and local historical societies to identify and preserve, restore and enhance historical, archeological, and cultural resources. 3. Through Fayette County, receive current information on historical preservation programs, and public and private sector funding sources. 4. Apply for National Register historic district designation where significant historic resources exist. 5. Create municipally regulated historic districts where significant historic resources exist, i.e. South Pittsburgh Street. 6. Incorporate historic preservation into local zoning ordinances. 7. Provide information about the 20% historic rehabilitation tax credit to owners of eligible properties. Chapter 6 Historic and Cultural Resources - 5 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

8. Work in close collaboration with county government, businesses, and others to apply for historic designation and funding under state, federal, and other programs. 9. Promote flexible building code interpretation and streamlining of local approval processes to facilitate rehabilitation of historic properties. 10. As warranted, develop historic overlays to protect resources, particularly those on the National Register (or eligible for the National Register) and those located in municipally regulated historic districts. 11. Continue to promote the Heritage Trail of Connellsville as an enriching educational activity for area residents and tourists alike. 12. Improve the overall landscaping and condition of the grave site of Zachariah Connell, founder of Connellsville, which is located on East Francis Avenue near Geibel Catholic High School. The grave site, once revitalized, could be maintained by volunteers.

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Chapter 6 Historic and Cultural Resources - 6 November 2009

Connellsville, South Connellsville, and Connellsville Township - Comprehensive Plan CONNELLSVILLE AV

Detail Area

Connellsville JO H N SO

Connellsville South Township

N LN

Connellsville

" è

Fayette County

O WS

CRAWF O

NARR

C NE

D KR

RD AV E T

TT SB Gen Braddock's Crossing UR GH

Home of Johnny Lujack

Home of Bob Bailor Col Crawford's Cabin FRANCIS

Hughie Cannon Burial Site

Connellsville Canteen Ladies WWII

WATER ST

Harold Betters "Mr Trombone"

" ò

Aaron Building IA

Colonial National Bank Building

L IA

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F OR RAW

Home of Edwin Porter

Stewart's Crossing

V IR FA

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Birthplace of Ray ScottW AV

Benjamin Wells Whiskey Rebellion

ME MO R

Stewart's Crossing Park

SNYDER ST

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ME MO R

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Connellsville U.S. Post Office

Newmyer House

Cecil Cole EIG H

WILLS RD

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Birthplace of Florence Shutsy-Reynolds of WASP

Brimstone Building

Dr. J.C. McClenathan House & Office

Connellsville Union Passenger Depot

Tom Scott SrTR& U Max Floto M

Carnegie Library & Col William Crawford Statue O W O D

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A R C H ST

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Youg hiogh e

NEWMEYER AV

A IS

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Connellsville PA National Guard Armory

A RD

Gibson House

Woodruff Tree

Gibson Stone House

Historic Resources

GI BS O

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# Name 1 Woodruff Tree 2 Hughie Cannon Burial Site 3 Home of Edwin Porter 4 Connellsville Canteen Ladies WWII 5 Benjamin Wells Whiskey Rebellion 6 Stewart's Crossing Park 7 Birthplace of Ray Scott 8 Cecil Cole 9 Birthplace of Florence Shutsy-Reynolds of WASP 10 Tom Scott Sr & Max Floto 11 Harold Betters "Mr Trombone" R D TY I 12RSHome of John Woodruff E IV N U 13 Gen Braddock's Crossing 14 Stewart's Crossing 15 Home of Johnny Lujack 16 Home of Bob Bailor 17 Connellsville PA National Guard Armory 18 Carnegie Library & Col William Crawford Statue 19 Col Crawford's Cabin 20 Gibson Stone House 21 Newmyer House 22 Gibson House 23 Dr. J.C. McClenathan House & Office 24 Connellsville Union Passenger Depot 25 Connellsville U.S. Post Office 26 Colonial National Bank Building 27 Aaron Building 28 Brimstone Building

REIDMORE RD

N AV

Home of John Woodruff

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US Highway

Lake/Reservoir

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State Route

River/Creek/Stream

Local Road

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Historically or Culturally Significant Site/Structure

600

300

The preparation of this map was financed in part through a Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development, as administered by the Governor’ s Center for Local Government Services, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

600 Feet

Draft October 29, 2009

Map Sources: Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) PASDA (Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access) Fayette County Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Historic & Cultural Resources Map DRAFT

2008 Pashek Associates Ltd.

INCOPRPORATED

pe nns yl va ni a c or por a t i on

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Chapter 7

Natural Resources Plan

Introduction Natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas – streams, wetlands, watersheds, steep slopes, floodplains, woodlands, ecological habitats, conservation areas, geological characteristics, etc. – provide many assets to an area. They offer scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and other benefits that contribute to a community’s overall livability. These features make a community more attractive to both prospective developers and residents, but they also pose constraints to land use and development. For example, steep slopes and floodplains restrict where development can occur, and municipalities have the prerogative to ban all development within floodplains or on slopes with a gradient greater than 25%. Therefore, a comprehensive plan must address the protection and preservation of natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas and also recognize the limitations they present for future development.

Environmentally Sensitive Areas •

Slopes The Connellsville planning area contains many steeply sloped areas. Slopes with a gradient of 15% or less are generally developable for all types of land uses. Slopes between 15% and 25% can be developed with some limitations. Development on slopes greater than 25% entails substantial grading, retaining walls, erosion controls, and use restrictions. Such measures often make development on steep slopes cost prohibitive. Consequently, slopes of 25% or more are often best preserved as open space, e.g., woodlands, conservation zones, recreation area activities (hiking, hunting, etc.), wildlife habitats, etc. The Steep Slopes (greater than 25%) within the planning area are shown on the Natural Resources map.

•

Floodplain The 100-year floodplain is the area adjacent to a river, stream, or watercourse that would be covered by water in the event of a 100-year flood. A 100-year flood is defined as a flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in magnitude in any given year. Floodplains benefit communities by helping to control stormwater flow. Development within a floodplain may constrict the area over which floodwaters flow, resulting in increased flood damage downstream due to increased floodwater flow velocities. If development is not prohibited in a 100-year floodplain, mitigative measures (e.g., maintaining pervious surfaces along stream banks) may be required to avoid adverse effects of such development. Communities that have land within the 100-year floodplain can participate in the National Flood Insurance Protection Program. This program assists communities with the adoption and enforcement of floodplain management Chapter 7 Natural Resources Plan - 1 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

ordinances to reduce future flood damage. The three comprehensive plan municipalities currently do not have floodplain ordinances. However, they do participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Within the next year, the City of Connellsville will be updating its zoning ordinance and it is recommended that a floodplain ordinance be adopted by the City. In addition, Connellsville Township and South Connellsville Borough should also adopt a floodplain ordinance. Portions of the Connellsville Area that are within the 100-year floodplain are indicated on the Natural Resources Map and include areas in the City of Connellsville, Connellsville Township, and South Connellsville Borough that are located along the Youghiogheny River and several significant tributary streams including Connell Run, Dunbar Creek, and Mounts Creek. •

Woodlands Forests provide many benefits to the planning area. They offer scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, recreation opportunities, erosion prevention, water filtration, slope stabilization, etc. Forests within the planning area should therefore be preserved, and any large-scale harvesting of trees that occurs should be subject to mitigation and protection measures – erosion control, replanting, etc. State Game Lands #51, shown on the Parks and Recreation Map, are located in Connellsville Township and are used for hunting by people throughout the region. The Natural Resources Map shows the location of other forested lands within the planning area.

•

Wetlands Wetlands are areas that are normally saturated with surface water. These areas include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands provide wildlife and aquatic habitats, flood control, and other environmental benefits. The Connellsville area has several wetlands. At the time of the last National Wetland Inventory, Connellsville Township contained 6 wetlands, including Whites Creek and Galley Run, two area streams surrounded by native hardwood vegetation. In addition, there are three large ponds also located in the Township, including one near Foley’s Dam, one north of Mounts Creek near Coldbrook, and one at the filtration plant near the Connellsville City border along the Youghiogheny River. The final wetland in the Township is a river island that varies in size depending on the water level. This Palestine Emergent is located near Broadford in the Youghiogheny River. The National Wetlands Inventory does not list any wetlands within the City and Borough, but there are small areas of wetlands scattered throughout these areas that are not large enough to be included in the national inventory.

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Landscape Conservation Areas Landscape Conservation Areas (LCAs) are large, contiguous areas that are important because of their size, open space, habitats, and/or inclusion of one or more Biological Diversity Areas. Although most LCAs include a variety of land uses, they are typically not heavily disturbed and thus retain much of their natural character. There is one LCA located in the Connellsville area, the Youghiogheny River LCA, which has a rating of exceptional significance Chapter 7 Natural Resources Plan - 2 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

to the region’s ecological integrity. This LCA encompasses an area of contiguous forest, rugged topography, and high natural diversity featuring the Youghiogheny River gorge within the Allegheny Mountains. •

Biodiversity Areas Biodiversity areas (BDA) contain a wide variety of important plant and/or animal species and should be protected from development or other disturbances that could negatively impact the natural ecology and integrity of these areas. Their protection through land management and purchase, conservation easements, zoning practices, and other measures will preserve key ecosystems. The Fayette County Natural Heritage Inventory (2000) prepared by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy identified the county’s BDAs. It ranked them as Exceptional, High, or Notable according to their significance and the relative importance of their protection. The four BDAs in the Connellsville area are listed in Table 7-1 and are shown on the Natural Diversity Areas Map.

Table 7-1 Biodiversity Areas in the Connellsville Area Municipality

Area and Description

Rating

Connellsville Township

Broadford Shores BDA - Lower slopes and island of the Youghiogheny River that is the location of a plant species of special concern Notable Connell Run Slopes BDA - Rich woods and sandstone outcrops that are the location of an animal species of special concern Notable

City of Connellsville and South Connellsville Borough

Dunbar Creek Confluence BDA Forested floodplain that is the location of a plant species of special concern

High

Connellsville Township

South Connellsville Slopes BDA - Rich woods and sandstone outcrops that provide habitat for a population of a special concern animal species

Notable

Connellsville Township

Source: Fayette County National Heritage Inventory; http://www.paconserve.org/rc/cnhifayette.html

•

Landslide Prone Areas Landslides are a common hazard in the Appalachian Plateau Province and have a high susceptibility rating in Fayette County. The term “landslide” is generally understood to include slope movements that involve falls, topples, spreads, flows and/or avalanches, as well as slides where failure occurs along a specific surface or combination of surfaces.

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Fill slides are particularly common as a result of steep slopes, weak rock strata, abundant colluviums, and a large number of springs. The problems are compounded by coal mining and related spoil piles and by refuse placement. Non-engineered fills, poor fill placement, and compaction are responsible for many landslides. Landslides are a common hazard in certain sections of the planning area. They can be particularly dangerous to people when they block roads or threaten homes. Development should not occur in or near landslide prone areas without consideration of slope, soil characteristics, drainage, etc. Any such development will entail mitigation measures, i.e. grading and slope stabilization.

Watersheds and Water Bodies •

Watersheds The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines a watershed as an area of land that catches rain and snow that drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater. These surface waters and groundwater are sources of drinking water for the area. Therefore, protection of the water quality in a watershed is essential to insuring an adequate supply of clean water for people, wildlife and vegetation. Communities and environmental groups (e.g., watershed associations) must maintain efforts to reduce or eliminate surface water and groundwater pollutants. All of the Connellsville area’s watercourses drain into the Youghiogheny River watershed, which is part of the larger Monongahela watershed. The largest sub-watersheds that lie completely or partially within the Connellsville area are the Jacobs Creek watershed and the Indian watershed.

•

Waterways The only navigable waterway in the area, the Youghiogheny River, is a tributary of the Monongahela River and is approximately 122 miles long. The Youghiogheny River is located in the states of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It drains an area on the west side of the Allegheny Mountains northward into Pennsylvania, providing the drainage for extreme western Maryland in the watershed of the Mississippi River. The Youghiogheny River provides a mode of transportation, recreational opportunities, and a habitat for wildlife and plants. The Middle Youghiogheny River Corridor Conservation Plan (2001) addresses the preservation and protection of environmental resources along the river’s corridor. The planning area also contains a number of streams, ponds, and lakes that provide visual appeal, aquatic habitats, storm water retention, and other environmental benefits. The area’s major streams include Laurel Run, Dunbar Creek, Whites Creek, Connell Run, Jacobs Creek, and Mounts Creek.

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FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

The water quality of these surface waters and the area’s groundwater is an important issue because both are sources of drinking water. Pollution of these sources thus has a direct impact on area residents, plants, and wildlife. Common sources of pollution include malfunctioning sewage systems (including raw sewage discharge), fertilizers, pesticides, industrial discharges, storm runoff, and abandoned mine drainage. One example of a program that protects water quality in rural areas is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s stream bank fencing program. Such fencing controls livestock access to streams, thereby improving water quality and stabilizing stream banks. The fencing program and related programs provide farmers with financial and technical assistance to plan, design, construct, and maintain stream fencing. Since watersheds and waterways cross municipal boundaries, addressing watershed issues entails cooperation among watershed municipalities. The comprehensive plan municipalities should collaborate with each other and county, regional, state, and federal agencies to achieve their mutual goals of watershed and waterways preservation, conservation, protection, and enhancement. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) promotes these goals throughout the state.

Soils •

Soil Associations Soils are classified based on their permeability and load bearing capacity. Therefore, the qualities of soils present in an area help determine suitable land uses for that area. For example, soils that do not drain well may have water saturation levels that preclude development or restrict the placement of on-lot septic systems. There are five predominant soil associations within the Connellsville Area – Guernsey-Westmoreland-Clarksburg, Monongahela-Philo-Atkins, GilpinWharton-Ernest, Upshur-Albright, and Dekalb-Hazelton-Cookport. Guernsey-Westmoreland-Clarksburg soils are located in the Coldbrook area of Connellsville Township and are generally good soils for farming; however, surface runoff can be rapid if slopes are steep. The MonongahelaPhilo-Atkins soils are found along the Youghiogheny River and are wellsuited for field crops but can also be developed. In addition, the GilpinWharton-Ernest soils are characterized by smooth rounded hills, irregular undulating slopes, and prime agricultural soils on slopes up to 15%. Due to the steep slopes associated with these soils, moderate to severe building limitations exist. The Upshur-Albright soils classification occupies smooth upper slopes and drainage divides. The Upshur-Albright soils are very rocky and contain a high concentration of organic matter. The Dekalb-HazeltonCookport soils are typically tree covered and the soils are very permeable. There are numerous varied soil types within these major soil associations.

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Table 7-2 Types of Soils in the Connellsville Area Soil Association

Characteristics

Limitations

Monongahela-Philo-Atkins

Deep to moderately deep, well drained to poorly drained, medium textured, nearly level to slopping soils on stream terraces and flood plains Deep, moderately well drained and poorly drained, nearly level to sloping, on stream terraces and flood plains

Gilpin-Wharton-Ernest

Deep to moderately deep, well drained to moderately drained, medium texture, nearly level to very slopping soils underlain The limitations to use for onsite sewage by acid shale and some sandstone bedrock on hills and ridges disposal are severe

Upshur-Albrights

Deep, well drained to poorly drained, gently to very steep sloping reddish solid on hills and ridges

Dekalb-Hazelton-Cookport

Moderately deep to deep, well to moderately drained, medium to moderately course texture, nearly level to very steep soils underlain by bedrock that is dominantly acid sandstone on foot slopes Dekalb soils are poorly suited as sites for of hills and on mountains ponds

Guernsey-WestmorelandClarksburg

Limitations to use for onsite sewage disposal and farm ponds Limitations to use for onsite sewage disposal are severe because of flooding

Location

Coldbrook Area Low lying areas near the Youghiogheny River and other streams

Rock Ridge Road Area

Limitations to use for onsite sewage disposal are severe because permeability High elevations of Chestnut is restricted and wetness results Ridge

Commercial Stone Area extending south to Youghiogheny River

Source: Fayette County Comprehensive Plan & the Middle Youghiogheny River Corridor Conservation Plan (2001)

â&#x20AC;˘

Prime Agricultural Soils The Connellsville area, outside of the City, is a rural area that contains some prime agricultural soil, i.e., soil whose characteristics make it naturally more suited for farming. The United States Department of Agriculture states that prime farmland is best suited for food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and produces the highest yields with minimal inputs of energy and economic resources. Consequently, farming on prime agricultural soils results in the least damage to the environment. There are four areas within Connellsville Township that contain a significant amount of prime agricultural soil. The first area is located along the Youghiogheny River from the Connellsville City border near Mounts Creek to Narrows Road extending to Redwood Street. The second area is a small area located on the grounds of Connellsville High School, which has already been developed. Another area is located on the western most part of State Route 711 in the Whites Creek floodplain near the low lying areas of McCoy Road and the Commercial Stone Quarry. The final prime agricultural soil location is the State Game Lands along Laurel Run, near Foleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dam. (Note: Prime agricultural soil areas must be distinguished from agricultural security areas. Areas with prime agricultural soils are delineated by soil characteristics, while agricultural security areas are established to protect farmland from encroachment of non-agricultural uses without regard to the soil quality within the security areas.)

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Mineral Extraction Mineral extraction may impact water supply sources, and mineral extraction is governed by statutes that specify replacement and restoration of water resources. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection administers and enforces regulations related to the mining of coal and industrial minerals. •

Coal & Coke As noted previously, the Connellsville area’s early economy centered on the coal and coke industry, and most of the planning area consists of undermined areas. Fayette County does not currently have any active underground mining operations. However, the coal and coke legacy of the Connellsville area has left behind a number of abandoned mine problem areas. These areas have a significant impact on future development within the County and the Connellsville area. Another legacy of the area’s mining heritage is mine subsidence. Mine subsidence can cause substantial damage to property and roads. Often times, mine subsidence can result in damage or destruction to homes or property. The comprehensive plan municipalities should continue to work with county, regional, state, and federal agencies to address the issues presented by the area’s mining heritage. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining, and the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation are three agencies that can provide assistance with the area’s mine reclamation and abandoned mine drainage problems.

Marcellus Shall The Marcellus Shale deposit, which is located beneath parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and West Virginia, is about 4,000-8,000 feet deep and covers more than 30 million acres across these four states. The Marcellus Shale formation is a black, organic-rich shale in a blanket formation with lowpermeability. Moreover, it is rich in natural gas deposits that are often difficult to remove. The technology used to drill this natural gas has advanced in recent years, making the Marcellus Shale formation a more viable economic opportunity for parts of Pennsylvania. At the same time, there are environmental issues concerning waste water disposal that need to be addressed to protect the environment and drinking water supply while meeting the energy needs of the economy. As the natural gas industry responds to increased energy market demands, Pennsylvania has become a hot-bed for gas exploration and development. Fayette County is no exception. Drilling and exploration have the potential to create a significant boost to the local economy, as they also provide opportunities for

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service companies such as earthmoving contractors, drilling companies, pipe and equipment suppliers and maintenance workers. In 2007, Atlas Energy Resources, an oil and natural gas exploration company opened a facility in Uniontown. The company has described Fayette County as the anchor for drilling and exploration efforts. Recently, a horizontal well was successfully dug in the western portion of Fayette County. Development of gas wells in the Marcellus play requires the use of large volumes of water for hydraulic fracturing operations. This hydraulic fracturing has the potential to generate a considerable amount of wastewater, both initial flow back water from fracturing and longer term production brines. Estimates from the industry indicate that demand for brine water treatment in Pennsylvania will reach approximately nine Million Gallons per Day (MGD) in 2009, 16 MGD in 2010, and 19 MGD in 2011. To support development of the Marcellus Shale formation, acceptable wastewater treatment and disposal pathways must be clearly defined. DEP staff have met with numerous industry representatives seeking to participate in the wastewater treatment and disposal market related to Marcellus Shale development. Some of the proposed treatment and disposal pathways do not involve the discharge of high-TDS (total dissolved solids) wastewaters (non-discharge options). Other proposals involve the partial removal of TDS from wastewater (low-discharge options). Both non-discharge and low-discharge options may be designed to maximize reuse of wastewater, and production of a viable end product from the recovered solids (e.g. road salt). Still, proper treatment and disposal of these wastewaters via surface discharge will be necessary. Drilling of the Marcellus Shale formations throughout Pennsylvania and specifically in Fayette County should be explored and discussed in more detail as an economic development tool that can generate jobs and revenues and potentially lead to an increase in population and a boost to the existing housing markets. This could provide an economic boost to the area and increase demand for office, industrial, and warehousing space in the Connellsville area. At the same time, the three communities need to ensure that the natural beauty of the area is protected and the Youghiogheny River, as well as other water ways in the region, are protected to maintain clean drinking water and to enhance tourism and recreational use.

Air Quality Clean air is another natural resource that requires protection and preservation, and air quality can pose limitations for future development. In conformance with the federal Clean Air Act, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates air quality non-attainment areas for three pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter) and classifies them in accordance with the severity of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air pollution problem. Assignment of an area to one of the non-attainment classifications triggers various planning requirements with which the area must comply in order to meet the air quality conformity standards for projects listed on the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Transportation Improvement Program Chapter 7 Natural Resources Plan - 8 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

(TIP). (See Chapter 9.) Non-attainment areas meet the required conformity standards for proposed transportation projects if the TIP projects will result in reduced pollution emissions when compared to 2002 emissions. Fayette County is one of 10 counties for which the Southwestern PA Commission (SPC) determines air quality conformity. The county is part of the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley non-attainment area. SPC had made air quality conformity determinations for the 10-county 2009-2012 TIP and the 2035 Transportation and Development Plan and concluded that they satisfy the applicable conformity criteria.

Other Factors There are other factors that can detract from an area’s natural resources and assets. One such factor is illegal dumping. Another is abandoned vehicles. There is evidence of both in the Connellsville area and both factors have negative impacts on the area’s visual aesthetics. In addition, these conditions may also significantly degrade the environment depending on the type of material that is dumped. The comprehensive plan communities should continue to enforce property maintenance ordinances and other ordinances to address these problems.

Protective Measures There are a number of measures that communities can take to preserve and protect natural resources. These measures included conservation easements and sustainable forestry management programs. •

Conservation Easements A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a property owner and a conservation organization, e.g., the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy or the Allegheny Land Trust. Through a conservation easement, a property owner retains the ownership and use of the land, while the conservation organization obtains the development rights to the land. Conservation groups use conservation easements to conserve an area’s natural, scenic and historic features, e.g., watersheds, wildlife habits, open space, woodlands, and rural character. There currently are no conservation easements in the Connellsville area, but interested property owners can obtain information about these easements from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (www.paconserv.org) and the Allegheny Land Trust (www.alleghenylandtrust.org).

•

Sustainable Forestry Management Programs Communities can enhance the quality of life they offer current and future residents by developing sustainable forestry management programs. These programs provide communities with technical and financial assistance, as well as training and educational opportunities. Through these programs,

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FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

communities can restore and preserve trees, green spaces and wildlife habitats via tree planting, maintenance, and other activities. To date, none of the three comprehensive plan municipalities have established a sustainable forestry management program. The Penn State Cooperative Extension in Uniontown, PA provides assistance to municipalities wishing to develop such a program. For more information, call 724-438-0111 or visit http://fayette.extension.psu.edu/. •

Urban Sustainability Guidelines See Appendix D.

Conclusions Natural resources help determine an area’s quality of life. They are important assets that make a community attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors. Therefore, it is essential to both protect and enhance natural resources and recognize the constraints they present to development. The three comprehensive plan municipalities must act both locally and in collaboration with county, regional, state, and federal agencies to preserve the area’s natural resources for present and future residents.

Implementation The following goals and objectives are proposed regarding the Connellsville area’s natural resources. Goal: Identify, preserve, conserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the planning area for current and future generations Objectives: 1. Protect and retain water resources to assure the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater for recreational use, wildlife habitats, and water supply. This can be achieved through land use regulations that identify and protect natural resources and environmentally sensitive features, e.g., watersheds, floodplains, riparian buffers, wetlands, steep slope areas, biodiversity areas, and ecosystems. A stream corridor overlay district within a zoning ordinance is one example of this type of land use regulation. 2. Protect and manage woodlands by incorporating measures to encourage tree protection and conservation design methods in land use regulations. 3. Encourage the reclamation and redevelopment of former mineral extraction sites for recreational and other appropriate uses. Chapter 7 Natural Resources Plan - 10 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

4. Collaborate with regional partners to acquire, remediate, reclaim and/or reuse abandoned mine sites. 5. Collaborate with county, regional, state, and federal agencies to implement the Middle Youghiogheny River Corridor Conservation Plan. 6. Encourage and support the efforts of environmental and conservation agencies, including land acquisition, conservation easements, etc. to preserve and protect natural resources. 7. When reviewing land development proposals, require soil survey analysis to insure the suitability of the site for such development, and identify natural resources, i.e., wetlands, floodplains, natural heritage areas, etc. 8. Update and implement storm water management plans and ordinances. 9. Enact and enforce property maintenance codes and other ordinances to curtail illegal dumping and abandoned vehicles. 10. Adopt a floodplain ordinance that is consistent with State and Federal regulations to protect the respective municipalities should any floods or other natural disasters occur. 11. Collaborate with county, regional, state, and federal agencies, the Fayette County Conservation District, Fayette County Planning Commission, and local watershed associations to pursue funding to prepare and implement plans that address the preservation, conservation, protection, and enhancement of natural resources, e.g., sustainable forestry management programs. 12. Work with the Fayette County Planning, Zoning, and Community Development office, DEP, and other agencies to keep up-to-date on the environmental and regulatory issues related to the Marcellus Shale development. W:\CLIENT\PA\CONNELLSVILLE\COMP PLAN\Document\Ch 7 Natural Resources Plan.doc

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Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services Introduction This element of the Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan addresses the public facilities and services located within the City of Connellsville, Connellsville Township, and South Connellsville Borough. Community facilities and services must be provided according to existing and projected needs of the planning area. In reality, the Land Use Plan and the Community Facilities and Services Plan are developed in a coordinated manner. The location and capacity of water and sewer service, in particular, influence where and how much development can be accommodated in a municipality or planning area. Furthermore, by limiting where new services (particularly water and sewer) are provided, a governing body can manage and guide future development to locations where these services are already provided, or where they can be provided in a more cost-effective manner. According to the Fayette County Comprehensive Plan community development objectives, the majority of growth should be directed to urban areas and limited in rural areas. Areas appropriate for growth include land designated as such on the comprehensive plan; existing cities and boroughs; certain designated unincorporated settlements; and land which is currently, or is planned to be, fully serviced by public water and sewer systems, with adequate transportation capability.

Sewage Facilities In Pennsylvania, municipalities are responsible for wastewater planning as authorized by the Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537). Each municipality is required to have an official wastewater facilities plan that sets forth guidance on wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal. The plan must set forth strategies to correct existing problems and to prevent future problems. As a result, municipalities are required to engage in proper planning and permitting of all types of sewage systems, permitting of individual and community on-lot systems, and uniform standards for on-lot systems. A municipalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Act 537 Plan should be consistent with its comprehensive plan. The Future Land Use Plan of the planning area should guide the development of and amendments to the Act 537 Plan. Connellsville Municipal Authority serves the Connellsville Township, Bullskin Township, City of Connellsville, and South Connellsville Borough. The Connellsville Municipal Authority treatment plant has an NPDES Permit Number of PA 0026905. The plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity is 3.24 million gallons per day (MGD) and has 1.178 MGD of remaining capacity. The plant discharges to the Youghiogheny River. Connellsville Municipal Authority has 5,617 customers and charges a monthly rate of $49.63 for the first 3,500 gallons used, then $2.75 per 1,000 gallons used after the first 3,500 gallons. The Connellsville Township Collection System and South Connellsville Borough Collection System are included in this system. The service area is outlined Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -1 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

on Map 8-1 on the following page. In addition, the Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewer Authority provides service only to Connellsville Township. They have 880-890 customers who pay a flat monthly rate of $38.30.

Proposed Areas of Public Sewer Service •

The Connellsville Township Collection System is proposing to increase its 750-customer base by constructing new sewer lines in the northern section of the Township. The resulting sewage will be treated at the Connellsville Municipal Authority.

•

South Connellsville Borough Collection System is proposing to expand its 900-customer base by constructing new sewer lines in the eastern half of the Borough. The resulting sewage will be treated at the Connellsville Municipal Authority.

•

The Connellsville Municipal Authority has 1.178 MGD of capacity to handle future expansions of public sewer service areas.

In those areas of the planning area where public sewer service is not available, on-lot septic systems provide coverage. This is particularly true in Connellsville Township, where an estimated 30% of the land in the township had public sewerage available. These systems are privately owned and maintained by the homeowner. In rural areas, septic systems are common and proper maintenance is required to ensure public health and safety. These systems are required to be constructed, installed and operated in accordance with DEP standards, but local municipalities are responsible for enforcing the state regulations. The lack of public sewer service can be viewed as a deterrent to growth and development. Much of Connellsville Township will more than likely remain without public sewer service for the foreseeable future. As a result, new residential development will be limited to single-family housing units on larger lots to accommodate adequate absorption areas for the systems. In developing the Land Use map, entities in the planning area considered the potential for future sewer service areas and balanced it with the knowledge that development follows closely on the heels of sewer service.

Water Service Facilities Public water service is available to a significantly greater area than public sewer service within the Connellsville area. The Pennsylvania American Water Company Connellsville District is the area’s primary water source. Penn American Water (Connellsville District) serves the City of Connellsville, South Connellsville Borough, Connellsville Township, Bullskin Township, and Dunbar Township. Penn American Water (Connellsville District) has a Public Water Supply Number of 5260022. Penn American Water (Connellsville District) receives water from the Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -2 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and North Fayette Municipal Authority. The transfer capacity is 3,264,011 gallons per day (GPD) with a remaining capacity of 1,235,989 GPD. The system has one pump station and one tank that can hold 158,000 gallons. The Connellsville District has 13,320 customers and charges monthly rates of $9.30 plus $0.438 per 100 gallons used. Approximately 90% of Connellsville Township has access to the public water system, with close to 100% available in South Connellsville Borough and 100% available in the City of Connellsville.

Water Supply Groundwater is defined as water under the surface of the earth in the saturated zone (PA DEP, 2004). Groundwater is a daily source of water for all types of community need, including residential, agricultural and industrial uses. Many man-made circumstances impact the quality of groundwater, such as abandoned mine drainage, malfunctioning septic systems, and excess sediment from new development activities. In order to provide clean and safe drinking water, municipalities should control those activities over which they have authority. Requiring developers to manage the quality and quantity of water runoff from new construction activities can be regulated through zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances. The Fayette County Conservation District is responsible for requiring developers to comply with state and federal regulations on stormwater management from development sites. However, there is a need for stormwater management ordinances throughout the Connellsville area. South Connellsville Borough identified stormwater management, particularly in hilly areas, as an infrastructure activity the borough would like to target resources towards improving. In addition, Connellsville Township is working with the Pennsylvania American Water Company on a waterline extension project on Norton Avenue to enable residential development. The project has experienced long delays and developers are waiting for the completion of the extension.

Schools The Connellsville School District serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade who reside in the City of Connellsville, Connellsville Township, and South Connellsville Borough.

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Table 8-1. Connellsville School District Enrollment School Level Elem entary Clifford Springfield Zachariah Dunbar Bullskin Southside Dunbary Township Connellsville Jr. High Jr. High West Jr. High East High School Senior High Tech/Career School

November-08 2,661 253 333 369 227 430 300 617 132 1,271 505 766 1,559 1,340 219

January-09 2,659 249 335 365 222 435 302 620 131 1,251 505 746 1,368 1,141 227

Location Saltlick Township Springfield Township City of Connesllville Dunbary Township Bullskin Township City of Connesllville Dunbary Township Connellsville Township Dunbary Township City of Connellsville City of Connellsville City of Connellsville

Source: Connellsville School District

According to enrollment projections prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, overall enrollment is projected to decline by 5.6% between the 2008-2009 school year and the 2012-2013 school year. This decline is projected to occur through the 2017-2018 school year, with a projected decline of 3.3%. In addition to public schools, families also have the choice of homeschooling their children or sending them to private schools in the planning area. In 2008, a total of 31 students were home-schooled. These students were educated at home, typically by one or both parents, and followed a curriculum established by the state. The Connellsville School District is responsible for tracking these students and their progress; however, the district receives no state or federal subsidy for these 31 students. Geibel Catholic High School, located in Connellsville Township, provides a private education for both males and females between 8th and 12th grades. Geibel Catholic High School attracts students from surrounding municipalities and counties in addition to Fayette County. In addition, there is a cyber school program. available.

No enrollment data was

Hospitals There are three hospitals located with a 30-minute drive of Connellsville: Highland Hospital, Uniontown Hospital (the largest hospital in the area), and Frick Hospital and Community Health Center.

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -4 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Police Services Within the Connellsville area, municipalities utilize a combination of municipal police officers and/or Pennsylvania state police officers. The City of Connellsville has 16 full-time officers and no part-time officers. South Connellsville Borough has two police officers. Connellsville Township is covered by the state police. The state police also assist South Connellsville Borough when needed. The City of Connellsville police typically receive 600 calls per month. Few crime problems exist in the central business district. Police calls have generally occurred due to domestic disturbances. One concept that has been mentioned to bolster tourism is instituting a tourist police officer who would keep the trail near Connellsville safe in addition to providing guidance to tourists. Due to the tight municipal budget, the hiring of a tourist officer is unlikely at this time, but the concept should be explored for future implementation. See the Summary of Government Operations for more information.

Fire Protection Services There are several fire departments that provide protection in the Connellsville area, including one municipal fire department and three volunteer fire departments. The City of Connellsville has its own fire department. In addition, the New Haven Hose Company Volunteer Fire Department also provides service to City of Connellsville residents. Connellsville Township and South Connellsville Borough have their own respective volunteer fire departments. See the Summary of Government Operations for more information.

Emergency Medical Services / 9-1-1 There is one EMS facility located in the City of Connellsville. This facility provides emergency medical services to South Connellsville Borough and Connellsville Township.

Solid Waste Management Solid waste management is the responsibility of the county, which is required by state law to develop a solid waste plan for the proper removal of municipal, industrial, and medical wastes. According to the County Comprehensive Plan, Fayette County updated its solid waste management plan in 2003. The plan determined that the current system of collection and disposal of solid waste is sufficient and offered several policy recommendations for local municipal officials to follow in order to reduce cost and improve services to residents. The plan strongly encourages a more aggressive and proactive approach to recycling programs and also outlines the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy of providing technical expertise and coordinating

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -5 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

activities to facilitate improvements to local solid waste plans. There are no new waste facilities planned for the county at this time. Municipalities in Pennsylvania with populations above 5,000 are required to provide recycling programs for residents. Municipalities that participate in the program are eligible for Recycling Program Performance grants. The grant awards are based on the total tons recycled and the applicant's recycling rate. Funds from this grant may be used for any municipal purpose. Post-consumer aluminum and steel cans, glass, plastics, corrugated cardboard, newspapers and other marketable grades of paper are materials eligible for the grants. All eligible materials collected from residents, business, schools, colleges, universities and community events can be factored into the grant awards. Applicants must retain documentation demonstrating that materials claimed in the application were eligible for the grant, were generated within the applicant's boundaries, and were recycled or marketed in the year covered by the application. DEP administers the program under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act.

Public Libraries There is one public library in the City of Connellsville. The library is part of the Carnegie Free Library System.

Utilities Electric service for the planning area is provided by Allegheny Power Company. Natural gas service in the planning area is provided by Columbia Gas. Residents of the planning area have a variety of telephone service providers to choose from. These include:

T-Mobile

Verizon

Trac Phone

Nextel

Cricket

Next Wave

Cingular

AT&T Wireless, and

Sprint.

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -6 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Summary of Government Operations Introduction This section provides an analysis of the history of inter-municipal cooperation among the City of Connellsville, Connellsville Township, and South Connellsville Borough as well as a summary of existing government operations in the three municipalities and the potential for additional intermunicipal cooperation in the form of shared services and programs. There are several opportunities and advantages to multi-municipal planning. Multi-municipal planning is an opportunity to explore voluntary relationships to address mutual problems and concerns. One advantage is to save money by cooperating in public infrastructure and services. Another benefit is more clout in regard to local and state funding and better results by working together and pooling resources. Strategic targeting and priority setting for capital projects, designation of growth and rural areas, and a shared vision and goals are additional advantages of multi-municipal planning.

History of Inter-Municipal Planning in the Connellsville Area Currently, the fire departments in the three municipalities in the planning area have a history of working with and communicating well with one another. However, this relationship is not set up as an official municipal shared service. There are four fire departments in the Connellsville area, including the New Haven Hose Company Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Connellsville Municipal Fire Department in the City, the Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department, and the South Connellsville Borough Volunteer Fire Department. According to municipal representatives, the fire departments have a great working relationship that has benefited all three municipalities. Several years ago, South Connellsville Borough provided police services to Connellsville Township. This service continued for a while and ended due to payment issues. This partnership is something that the Borough would be interested in trying to pursue again, if the Township felt it was in need of such services. In addition to municipal-related services, the three municipalities share a vision for the Connellsville area that can lead to additional ventures in shared services, should the respective municipal governments decide these ventures are feasible, beneficial to all, and worth exploring. Some of the potential shared services that the planning area could explore include road maintenance, street cleaning, and police services.

City of Connellsville In 2007, the City of Connellsville hired Resource Development & Management, Inc. to conduct a financial condition assessment and trend analysis on its municipal budget and fiscal polices. Since that time, the City of Connellsville has been working diligently to address its structural deficit as growth in expenses continues to surpass growth in revenues. The City has also been working on a strategy to replenish its reserve funds. After a review of the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core expenditures, RD&M found that the three largest budget Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -7 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

line items are police, fire, and public works. In addition, the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remaining line items are for personnel expenses, general government, and miscellaneous items. In 2008, the balanced budget approved by Connellsville City Council had revenues and expenditures totaling $2,630,332, respectively. The majority of revenues were from taxes, specifically real estate, residence, and Act 511 taxes totaling $1,876,948, or 71% of total revenues. In regard to expenses, the police department accounted for $1,132,500.46, or 43% of the budget. In addition, the expenses for the department of public works were $277,888.20, or 10.6% of the budget. The fire department accounted for $230,839.21 or 8.8%. Table 8-2, City of Connellsville Revenues and Expenditures, 2007-2009 2007

2008

2009

Revenues Real Estate Taxes Residence Taxes Act 511 Taxes Licenses and Permits Fines and Forfeits Intergovermental Revenues Departmental Earnings Miscellaneous Revenues Liquid Fuel Funds Other Total Revenues

$981,846.71 $14,500.00 $795,500.00 $19,000.00 $82,650.00 $389,609.68 $6,000.00 $172,200.00 $110,000.00 $19,000.00 $2,590,306.39

$1,029,000.00 $14,000.00 $833,948.00 $37,000.00 $82,600.00 $387,584.00 $6,000.00 $187,200.00 $0.00 $53,000.00 $2,630,332.00

$1,108,000.00 $16,000.00 $851,000.00 $48,500.00 $115,100.00 $359,467.00 $7,000.00 $194,464.29 $0.00 $21,000.00 $2,720,531.29

Expenditures PA League of Cities Mayor's Office Accounts and Finance Treasurer and Tax Office Legal Department Public Buildings Police Department Fire Deparment Code Enforcement and Health Public Works Miscellaneous Expenses Contracted Utilities Total Expenditures

$3,000.00 $1,292.00 $91,500.52 $29,718.10 $26,875.00 $58,594.12 $1,199,551.17 $216,277.21 $45,004.65 $272,853.20 $703,640.42 $42,000.00 $2,690,306.39

$3,100.00 $1,295.00 $99,789.95 $31,057.55 $20,000.00 $60,058.63 $1,132,500.46 $230,839.21 $46,310.56 $277,888.20 $685,492.44 $42,000.00 $2,630,332.00

$3,330.00 $1,295.00 $105,089.95 $31,258.88 $23,000.00 $64,655.00 $1,216,115.61 $176,981.09 $33,717.50 $317,224.37 $705,863.89 $42,000.00 $2,720,531.29

Source: City of Connellsville

The 2009 budget for the City of Connellsville was approved on December 16, 2008 with revenues and expenditures balancing at $2,720,531.29, an increase of 3.4% from the 2008 budget. Trends in municipal spending for 2009 are predicted to be similar to those in 2008. The police department will again make up the largest portion of the budget with estimated expenses totaling $1,216,115.61, or almost 45%. The predicted expenditures for the Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -8 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

department of public works totals $317,224.37, or 11.6% of the municipal budget, while the fire department was able to cut expenses to $176,981.09, or 6.5%. The City of Connellsville has an extensive staff to handle the needs of the City and its residents. In the 2009 budget, there are 30 full-time positions and two part-time positions. Full time positions include 16 police officers ranging from chief to patrolmen, four fire department officials, five public works employees, and several clerical, management, and administrative staff. The part-time positions do not include seasonal employees of the public works department or the summer recreation program. The City has no direct history of shared municipal services with the Township or Borough. However, it has been noted that the fire departments all seem to work very well together, though it is not an official municipal shared service among the municipalities.

Connellsville Township Connellsville Township, being a significantly smaller municipality in the Connellsville area, has a much smaller budget and list of paid staff than the City. The Townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paid list of staff members includes 3 full-time road crew members in the public works department. In addition, there are several part-time positions including the Township Secretary, a local zoning official, tax collector, and code enforcement officer. The Township currently administers its own zoning ordinance. In 2008, the townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total revenues were $374,060. The majority of revenues in the Township are from real estate taxes, earned income taxes, and the motor vehicle fuel tax from the State. These revenues together totaled $283,000 or just over 75% of revenues. Expenses in 2008 totaled $228,587 for a surplus of $145,473. The majority of expenses are for personnel and repairs and maintenance of area streets and bridges. Table 8-3, Connellsville Township Revenues and Expenditures, 2007-2009

Revenues Expenditures Surplus/(Deficit)

2007

2008

2009

$374,044 $357,608 $16,436

$374,060 $228,587 $145,473

$374,534 $373,452 $1,082

Source: Connellsville Township

Regarding the 2009 projected budget, revenues are estimated at $374,534 and expenditures at $373,452, resulting in a surplus of $1,082. Similar to 2008, the majority of revenues will be from real estate taxes, earned income taxes, and the motor vehicle fuel tax. In regard to expenses, personnel-related expenses including salaries and employee benefits as well as expenses to repair and maintain area roads and bridges accounted for $238,400, or 64%, of total expenses. Road maintenance, repair, and cleaning as well as police are potential shared municipal services that the Township could explore with neighboring South Connellsville Borough and the City of Connellsville. The Connellsville

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -9 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Township Public Works Department currently has 19 miles of Township roads to maintain. Township services are limited to road maintenance on Township roads. In addition, the Township does not have its own police department and has to rely on patrols by the Pennsylvania State Police which equates to longer response times and an overall lack of police presence in the Township. The Townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tax base is almost entirely residential. Township officials are interested in exploring their options on increasing revenues but do not want higher property taxes to be the solution. The Township is also interested in recruiting businesses to locate along State Route 711/E. Crawford Avenue to increase business tax revenues and to provide residents with essential services close to their homes. An additional joint venture in Connellsville Township is the Bullskin Township/ Connellsville Township Joint Sewer Authority.

South Connellsville Borough South Connellsville Borough has four full-time and three part-time staff members. Part-time staff includes an administrative coordinator who works 20 hours per week at the municipal offices located on South Pittsburgh Street and a part-time treasurer. The Borough also has its own police department made up of two full-time officers and one part-time officer. Regarding road maintenance and repairs, the Borough has a two-person, full-time public works crew that performs road maintenance on all Borough roads as well as Pittsburgh Street, which should be maintained by PennDOT. Currently, the Borough is under Fayette Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoning Ordinance. Like the other municipal governments in the Connellsville area, police, public works, and personnel make up the large majority of Borough expenses while real estate and earned income tax revenues account for the majority of revenues taken in each year. Road maintenance costs in the Borough are highlighted in the following table: Table 8-4, South Connellsville Borough Street Fund, 2007-2009 Capital Improvements Snow Removal Highway Street Lighting Repairs to Equipment Road Maintenance & Repairs Road Resurfacing Total Expenses Source: South Connellsville Borough

2007 $9,546.60 $8,285.12 $18,844.61 $1,059.37 $10,968.62 $29,901.42 $78,605.74

2008 $5,000.00 $10,000.00 $18,500.00 $4,000.00 $12,000.00 $19,793.77 $69,293.77

2009 $3,180.62 $12,000.00 $20,000.00 $3,000.00 $15,000.00 $25,000.00 $78,180.62

With regard to potential shared services, the Borough would be interested in bringing up to Borough Council the possibility of reestablishing police services with the Township on a contract basis. In addition, they would consider having a joint zoning officer with the other municipalities.

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -10 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

Potential for Future Municipal Shared Services After several meetings with municipal representatives from the three municipalities, there are several areas in which shared services would be possible, provided all municipalities would agree to the formation of such partnerships and agreements. Potential shared municipal services in the Connellsville planning area are as follows: •

A zoning/ code enforcement officer to be shared by all municipalities – The City of Connellsville currently does not have a code enforcement officer. This position has been vacant for a few months. There is no better time than the present to look into the possibility of a shared zoning and/ or code enforcement officer to work in all three municipalities. The City of Connellsville and Connellsville Township currently administer their own zoning ordinances. South Connellsville Borough is currently under the Fayette County Zoning Code.

•

Road maintenance and street cleaning services – The Township and Borough have extensive miles of roads to cover and limited resources and personnel to do so. If road maintenance was a shared service, all municipalities could benefit from this arrangement, potentially saving operating costs in the long run and experiencing better response times during inclement weather.

•

Police services – The Township has identified the need for local police presence. The municipalities should explore the potential for shared police services.

Implementation The Community Facilities and Services Plan establishes policies for providing public facilities and services within the planning area. The following goals and objectives are proposed to carry out the recommendations included within the Community Facilities Plan. Goal: Guide the development of the planning area in order to provide the most efficient use of existing and planned public facilities and utilities. Objectives: 1. Designate appropriate growth areas for future development to provide employment opportunities and a range of housing types and services for residents. This includes providing public sewer service to the 26 acres of land on East Crawford in Connellsville Township to provide development opportunities. 2. Preserve the valued rural environment by maintaining open space and parks/recreation areas.

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -11 November 2009

FINAL DRAFT MULTI-MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, CONNELLSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE BOROUGH

3. Require higher density housing to locate in existing population centers where public facilities are already provided. Goal: Provide for safe conveyance and treatment of wastewater. Objectives: 1. Develop new and enhance existing partnerships between local governments and developers to assure the provision of adequate infrastructure. 2. Ensure that all municipalities in the planning area have current Act 537 Plans, as required by DEP. 3. Require adequate sewage facilities planning and infrastructure in all subdivision and land development plans. 4. The Connellsville Township Collection System is proposing to construct new sewer lines in the northern section of the Township. 5. The South Connellsville Borough Collection System is proposing to construct new sewer lines in the eastern half of the Borough. Goal: Ensure that the best quality and quantity of potable water is available to residents. Objectives: 1. Regulate new development activity through adequate land use and development ordinances to ensure groundwater supplies are protected. 2. Continue to collaborate with surrounding local units of government on issues that cross municipal boundaries, such as watershed areas. Goal: Foster regional planning and implementation initiatives for municipal services and other areas of local government. Objectives: 1. Continue to investigate opportunities to share planning and delivery of municipal services with neighboring municipalities both within and outside of the planning area. 2. Explore applying for a Shared Municipal Services (SMS) Program Grant. 3. Explore applying for a COPS grant to improve police services.

Chapter 8 Community Facilities and Services -12 November 2009