Public Meetings on January 17, February 25 and April 4 January 17 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Public Meetings on January 17, February 25 and April 4

• January 17 Meeting
• 54 attendees signed-in
• Wide ranging discussion – frustration
• Suggested small discussion groups
• February 25 Meeting
• 38 attendees signed-in
• 4 focus groups
• 4 lists of issues / possible solutions
• April 4 Meeting
• 35 attendees signed-in
• Presentation of recommendations
• Discussion of many issues and recommendations

Recommendations for consideration.

1. The Township should proceed / continue with modifications to traffic signals, traffic signal timing, and additional signage as recommended by the recent PennDOT safety study along the Wertzville Road Corridor. 2. Continue and expand targeted enforcement by Hampden Township police to identify and ticket reckless or speeding motorists. 3. Work with East Pennsboro Township, Silver Spring Township, Middlesex Township, PennDOT and Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS) on a Land use and Corridor Traffic Study along the entire Wertzville Road (Rt 944) Corridor. 4. Develop a concept streetscape plan along the Hampden Township Wertzville Road Corridor that includes both traffic calming measures, safety enhancements and provides for multi- modal connectivity along the corridor. 5. Develop a Township-wide trail and sidewalk connectivity plan with a goal of increasing multi- modal facilities in the Township for pedestrian and bicycle connectivity. 6. Explore options for land use and zoning changes along the Wertzville Road Corridor in Hampden Township. Any action on any of these options should be delayed until the multi- municipal corridor study is completed.

RECOMMENDATION #1

The Township should proceed / continue with modifications to traffic signals, traffic signal timing, and additional signage as recommended by the recent PennDOT safety study along the Wertzville Road Corridor.

• Hampden Township’s traffic engineer is examining possible signal modifications as

suggested by PennDOT at a variety of intersections along Wertzville Road.

• A signal permit modification has already been issued for

Wertzville/Valley/Technology Parkway. Specifically, this work will include a Protected Left Turn Arrow while traveling westbound and turning on to Technology Parkway along with Advanced Dilemma Zone Detection technology for the Wertzville Road approaches.

RECOMMENDATION #1

The Township should proceed / continue with modifications to traffic signals, traffic signal timing, and additional signage as recommended by the recent PennDOT safety study along the Wertzville Road Corridor.

• Additional permit modifications are being pursued at Wertzville/Lamb’s Gap,

Wertzville/I-81 Northbound Ramp, Wertzville/Orr’s Bridge in hopes of enhancing safety at these intersections.

• Wertzville/Good Hope Road and Wertzville/I-81 Southbound Ramp intersections will

be evaluated with the Highway Occupancy Permit associated with transportation improvements for the Penn State Health Hospital project.

Note: Funding for these improvements is yet to be identified and

• secured. Recommendation is to aggressively pursue funding.

RECOMMENDATION #2

Continue and expand targeted enforcement by Hampden Township police to identify and ticket reckless or speeding motorists.

• Hampden Police and PA State Police have commented on the

challenges of enforcement along Wertzville west of Good Hope Road due to limited safe zones to pull motorists over.

Recommendation is to keep these efforts in full view of the

• residents. Note on-

going efforts on Township website and in newsletters

RECOMMENDATION #3

Work with East Pennsboro Township, Silver Spring Township, Middlesex Township, PennDOT and Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS) on a Land Use and Corridor Traffic Study along the entire Wertzville Road (Rt. 944) Corridor.

• Determine likely corridor development build-out over the next 25 years based on

existing zoning, each municipality’s Comprehensive Plan and market trends / projections.

• Project traffic growth beyond normal background increases based on likely

development.

• Develop concept level traffic control and roadway design improvements with

cost estimates that will make travel along the corridor safer.

Recommendation is to aggressively pursue funding through a multi-municipal application to complete this study.

RECOMMENDATION #4

Develop a concept streetscape plan along the Hampden Township Wertzville Road Corridor that includes both traffic calming measures, safety enhancements and provides for multi-modal connectivity along the corridor. Likely improvements include:

• Sidewalks
• Enhanced crosswalks with enhanced pedestrian signals
• On-road bicycle facilities (use full lane / improved shoulders)
• Pedestrian level lighting
• Low stature street trees (that will not interfere with overhead utilities) to

constrict perceived roadway volume, reduce motorist speeds and add beauty

• Safety and wayfinding signage
• Vehicle lane width reductions as permissible
• Drainage improvements to handle stormwater flows
• Pedestrian and cyclist connections to destinations both on and adjacent to the

Corridor

• Seek funding via TASA, Multi-Modal or other funding programs for design,

engineering and construction.

Existing

Possible

RECOMMENDATION #4

Develop a concept streetscape plan along the Hampden Township Wertzville Road Corridor that includes both traffic calming measures, safety enhancements and provides for multi-modal connectivity along the corridor. Why do a project like this?

• Protect / Enhance property values
• Multi-modal facilities enhance safety for all modes
• Constrict perceived volume of road will reduce speeds
• Equitable design – gives pedestrians and cyclists ability to use corridor
• Makes the corridor more attractive

Recommendation is to aggressively pursue funding. The multi-modal grant program can be used for preliminary engineering.

RECOMMENDATION #5

Develop a Township-wide trail and sidewalk connectivity plan with a goal of increasing multi-modal facilities in the Township for pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.

• Bicycle connectivity should focus on on-road bike routes since most
• f the Township is developed and the greatest opportunities for new

trails are on-road.

• Include off-road routes wherever possible.
• Eliminate sidewalk gaps on high priority routes and destinations.
• Add final connectivity proposed routes to the Township Official Map.

RECOMMENDATION #5

Develop a Township-wide trail and sidewalk connectivity plan with a goal of increasing multi-modal facilities in the Township for pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.

Recommendation is to aggressively pursue funding. DCNR, DCED and regional grants are available to create township wide trail and connectivity plans. Non-vehicular connectivity can be improved across the entire township. FYI, Camp Hill Borough recently completed a plan and Lower Allen Township is currently engaged in developing one.

RECOMMENDATION #6

Explore options for land use and zoning changes along the Wertzville Road Corridor in Hampden Township. Any action on any of these options MIGHT be delayed until the multi-municipal corridor study is completed. East of the I-81 interchange, these options include:

• Rezone RS Suburban Residential Area that fronts on the south side of

Wertzville Road to AO Apartment Office (or similar district) to allow transition of uses and facilitate Wertzville Road improvements / widening in this area. West of the I-81 interchange, these options include:

• No changes to existing RC zoning
• Add “home occupation” use for lots that front on Wertzville Road
• Conditional Use Overlay zoning district (that leaves RC zoning in place)

but allows additional uses with the assembly of larger lots and rear yard buffers.

Possible Rezone to AO

RS

RECOMMENDATION #6

Explore options for land use and zoning changes along the Wertzville Road Corridor in Hampden Township. Any action on any of these options MIGHT be delayed until the multi-municipal corridor study is completed. West of the I-81 interchange No changes to existing RC zoning. Permitted uses:

• Single Family, detached
• Family day care home
• Public Utilities & facilities
• Municipal buildings and uses
• Public park, playgrounds, open spaces
• Agriculture, horticulture, truck gardening, riding academies, public and private

stables

• No-impact home-based business
• Accessory uses
• Wind turbines (special exception)
• Outdoor wood-fired boilers
• Residential solar energy system
• Churches, convents and cemeteries (conditional use)
• Schools, libraries and museums (conditional use)

• A business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use

which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, and no pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use.

• The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use of the property
• The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in

the dwelling

• There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory
• f a substantial nature
• There shall be no outside appearance of a business use
• The business activity may not use any equipment or process which creates noise,

vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical or electronic interference

• The business may not generate any excess solid waste or sewage discharge
• The business activity shall be conducted only within the dwelling

No-Impact Home-Based Business (Allowed Use )

Potential effects of maintaining existing RC zoning with no changes

• Properties will continue as residential
• Many more may go to rental
• Some may become vacant (smaller, older lots)
• Possible increase of no impact home based businesses
• No real options for new uses
• Property values may stagnate or decrease over time

One option to consider is to allow HOME OCCUPATION USE within the RC Zoning District for properties that front on Wertzville Road This is not a current use as defined by the Hampden Township Zoning Ordinance. There are nearby municipalities that do allow this use and we can use them as potential examples for consideration.

• A business or commercial activity that is conducted as an accessory use in a detached

dwelling unit, except a business or commercial activity that is a no-impact home based business as defined in this Zoning Ordinance

• The use shall be clearly incidental to the primary use of the premises as a dwelling

for living purposes

• Only residents of the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation use
• No more than one (1) home occupation may be located in any dwelling unit and the

home occupation shall not alter the appearance as a dwelling unit

• One (1) parking space per potential patron on site at one time shall be provided
• No mechanical equipment shall be employed in a home occupation, other than that

customarily utilized for hobby or domestic purposes

• No sales of any goods or merchandise shall occur on the premises, other than those

goods or merchandise which are produced on the premises

• No goods shall be displayed so as to be visible from the exterior of the premises
• Home occupations shall be limited to not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the

floor area of the dwelling unit, or five hundred (500) square feet, whichever is less

• Only one (1) sign advertising a home occupation shall be permitted

Home Occupation (Silver Spring Township)

Home Occupation (Lower Allen Township)

• An accessory business or commercial activity, conducted entirely within a residential

dwelling by one or more of the permanent residents, that is clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use

• A barber or beauty shop shall not include any non-resident employees, and all
• ther home occupations with impact shall be limited to one non-resident employee
• Where more than one home occupation with impact is proposed within a residential

dwelling, there shall be no more than one employee for the sum of all home

• ccupations
• Sale of retail goods may not involve any display of goods visible outside of the

dwelling

• One (1) parking space per potential patron on site at one time shall be provided
• Changes to the outside appearance of the home are limited to provision of required
• ff-street parking, erection of signs by special exception, and egress lighting
• The business activity may not occupy more than 25% of the gross floor area of the

dwelling.

• Bed-and-breakfast establishments shall be considered home occupations, when

meeting required criteria

Potential effects of adding Home Occupation in RC zoning district

• Properties will continue as residential
• Many more may still go to rental
• Some may still become vacant (smaller, older lots)
• Possible increase of no impact home based businesses
• Home Occupation creates an option for a new use
• Insignificant impacts to traffic likely
• Property values may still stagnate or decrease over time

Recommendation is to add Home Occupation Business Activity (NOT RETAIL) to the Township Zoning Ordinance as a permitted use and allow it on in the RC Zoning District for properties that front on major arterial roads.

RECOMMENDATION #6

Explore options for land use and zoning changes along the Wertzville Road Corridor in Hampden Township. Any action on any of these options MIGHT be delayed until the multi-municipal corridor study is completed. West of the I-81 interchange, these options include:

• Conditional Use Overlay zoning district (that leaves RC zoning in place)

but allows additional uses with the assembly of larger lots and rear yard buffers.

• Existing RC zoning stays in place and an additional district “overlays” this

District

• New uses permitted only if certain conditions are met, such as larger lot

size, buffers to residential properties, height controls, coverage, design standards, etc.

• Could be limited to specific types of uses (professional and medical
• ffice)

An overlay district could include the following provisions

• Minimum Lot size to opt into district (for example 2 acres)
• Height limits could be less than current in RC zoning (35 feet)
• Required rear and side yard buffers to residential uses

Potential benefits of possible overlay uses + May lead to fewer driveways onto Wertzville Road (safety improvement) + New uses for lots fronting on Wertzville Road + Maintain or increase property values Potential liabilities of possible overlay uses

• Increased traffic

– will it be significant?

• Loss of residential character? (could be controlled by design requirements)
• May not be economically feasible to assemble lots for new uses

Recommendation is not to move forward with an overlay zone at this time.