COMPREHENSIVE. PLAN for BLAIR TOWNSHIPelibrary.pacounties.org/Documents/Blair_County/381... · Diane E. Schadenfroh, Secretary I11 Phyllis J. Grannas, Secretary I1 Thomas J. Haslett,

COMPREHENSIVE.

I

PLAN

i

BLAIR

for

TOWNSHIP

The preparation of the Blair Township Comprehensive Plan was financed in part through a comprehensive planning grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the provisions of Section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954, as amended and as administered by the Bureau of Planning, Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs.

Contract Nos. 03-00-1113-22 July 77 - June 78 July 76 - June 77 July 75 - June 76

03-11-1092-22 03-26-1083-20

Blair County Planning Commission July, 1978

I

BIBLIOGRAPHIC D A T A 11* No- 12. 13. Recipient's A c c e s s i o n No. - - .-

SHEET I BTCP 1303-01-78 I I 4. Title and Subtitle IS. Report Date 4 Blair Township Comprehensive Plan

U.S. Department of Housing 6 Urban Development Number Two, Allegheny Center Pittsburgh, PA 15212

of proposed development as well as the amount and location.

17. Key Words and Document Analys is . 170. Descriptors

17b. Identifiers/Open-Ended Terms Comprehensive plan Land use plan Centers concept Policies, Goals and Objectives Environmental Steep slope Flood lain

I 17c. COSATI E)irld/Group

18. Availability Statement 19. Security C l a s s ( T h i s 21. No. of P a g e s Copies available at the Blair Report) 123 UNCI-ASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED a-4 c5p 'I County Planning Commission, Highland Hall Annex, 20. Security C l a s s (This 22. Price

Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 Page

USCOMU-OC 14952-Pi THIS FORM MAY BE REPRODUCED FORM N T I S - 3 5 ( R E V . 3-72)

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RESOLUTION NO. '7 8 - /O I?ESOT,UTION OF TIIE B O A R 0 OF SUPERVISOI<S OF BLA R TOWNSHIP R E G A R D I N G TIIE ADOPTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLA FOR I ' L A I R TO\VNSIIIP ; PREPARED T N ACCORDANCE WITli THE PENI,SYJAVAh I A I\IUNICTPALITIES PLANNTNG CODE :

--

I

WHEREAS, t h e E.oard of S u p e r v i s o r s of B l a i r Township, h a v i n g i i , s t r u c t e d t h e

Blair Township P l a n n i n g Commission t o s t u d y t h e p r e s e n t developmerit: t r e n d s ,

p h y s i c a l a t t r i l m t e s ( s o i l s , geology, topography, and o t h e r 3 ; ' n i t a t o n s ) , and

needs of Rlair Town::hip; and t o p r e p a r e a comprehensive p l a n %o gu de f u t u r e

growth and developmcnt i t . Blair Township, and

WHEREAS, t.he RLair Township P l a n n i n g Commission, h a v i n g s t u d i c , d s o i l s , ge-

o logy , topography, p r e s e n t development p a t t e r n s and needs , ar:3 pro. e c t e d growth;

and having s o l i c i t e c p u b l i c o p i n i o n through two ( 2 ) pub1i.c i n p u t w' kshops , d i d

p r e p a r e a comprehensive p'l.an, and

WEREAS, ti 2 Board of S u p e r v i s o r s of Blair Township d i d h o l d 2 m b l i c

heal i n g on A Comprehensive P l a n f o r Blair Township on September 2 0 . 1978, pursu: n t

t o r tblic n o t i c e as r e q u i r e d by S e c t i o n 302 of t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a Mu1

Plan i n g Code (Act 247 as amended), and

J i p a l i t i e s

WHEREAS, t h e Board of S u p e r v i s o r s of B l a i r Township d i d s t u d y ie support ,r .g

d a t a , A Compit:hensi\e P l a n f o r Blair Township, and t h e t e s t i m o n y rc : ived a t t h e

pub1 i c hear i r - .,

NOW, t h e . - e f o r e , t h e i3oard of Supervisor::, of B1.aj.r Township, b y a v o t e of

3 c o n t a i n i n g :

.__. ad.?pt k,v r e s o l u t i o n A Comprehensive P l a n f o r B1.air Township,

:laps dei ' ic t ing l o c a t i o n o f Blair Township, B l a i r Township geology

and geologic:

Blair Township E x i s t ing Land U s e , Bla i r Township E x i s t i n g F a c i l i t i e s , Water ,

i n t e r p e t a t i o n s , Bla i r Township s o i l , B l a i r Township topography, x .

Sewer, and T r a n s p o r t a t i o n . B l a i r Township S t e e p S l o p e and Flood P l a i n Map, B l a i r

Township Lanc? Use P l a n (1985) , Blair Township Land Use P l a n ( 2 0 0 O ) , Proposed

I 1 1 I I I I

', . . a >\; S h e r S e r v i c e Areas, and Proposed lilater Ser - ice Areas; c h a r t s d e t a i l i n g gec l .og ica1

l i m i t a t i o n s , ! 'opulat ion n e n s i t y , Ilousing Un t s and C o n d i t i o v

b i l i t y , Acrea,:e P r o j e c t:i.c,ns by Land Use and o t h e r d a t a ; anci t e x t u : ~ l . matter. i n c l u d -

i n g Physiogra: ,hy, Land l!se

T r a n s p o r t a t i c 1, Economy/Economic Rase

Popula t ion PI i ject i .ms, J .md Use P l a n , Cornmunit; F a c i l i t i e s and Environmental

Q u a l i t y P l a n . Trans : )or ta - ' i.on P l a n , Economic P l a n , Housing r an , Human S e r v i c e s

P l a n , and Imp ement i t i o n .

Plan f o r R l a i i - Town:;hip.

Land Use Compati-

Community F a c i l -:ties and Envi rc : .menta l Q u a l i t y ,

P o p u l a t i o n , Housing, Goals and Objectives,

Thi.s r e s o l u t i o n ha l l become a J , r t o f A Comprehensive

Ordained t h i s 30 th day of October , 1978.

-- Date

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BLAIR TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS

I I

Robert A. Marshall, Chairman Arthur E. Taylor Francis Shaw G. Ray Cochran, Secretary, Blair Township

BLAIR TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

D r . Robert A. Hill, Chairman Arthur E. Taylor, Vice Chairman Roland F. Meyer, Secretary Richard Greubel Lantz Hoffman Terry Ventre

Technical assistance in the preparation of this plan was provided by the Blair County Planning Commission

BLAIR COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Cloyd F. Forsht, Chairman Cloyd E. Neely, Vice Chairman Mrs. William C. Bellamy, Secretary-Treasurer John R. Beyer J. Edward Biddle Harold E. Detwiler Robert A. DiVentura John M. Drake John L. Wike

BLAIR COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF

Richard T. Haines, Planning Director

Patrick M. Miller, Planner I1

R. Michael McClain, Planner I Robert E. Madden, Planning Technician I1 Margaret C. Strueber, Secretary I11 Diane E. Schadenfroh, Secretary I11 Phyllis J. Grannas, Secretary I1 Thomas J. Haslett, Technician Intern Tawny L. Kehler, Secretary Intern Denise Morning, Secretary Intern

"Sheryl A. Stolzenberg, Planner I11

*Frank J. Burggraf, Planner I

*The primary authors of the Comprehensive Plan f o r Blair Township are Sheryl A. Stolzenberg and Frank J. Burggraf.

ii

Introduction

The preparation of this comprehensive plan represents an important part of the overall planning efforts of the citizens of Blair Township, The Board of Supervisors, and The Blair Townships' Planning Commission to provide for orderly growth and development in Blair Township. continuous; including the (1) establishment of basic goals, policies, and objectives, (2) the study of existing social, economic, and physical conditions, ( 3 ) the formulation of plans to affect anticipated problems and to serve as guidelines for future growth and development, ( 4 ) the formulation of land use regulations that reflect and implement proposals initiated in this comprehensive plan, (5) and the continuous review and updating of the planning process t o reflect the changing needs and conditions of Blair Township.

The planning process is

The Blair Township Planning Commission requested the technical assistance of the Blair County Planning Commission to document and study the existing conditions of Blair Township and to advise the Township on the development of the Comprehensive Plan. policies, and objectives established by the residents, tomship supervisors, and the planning commission of Blair Township.

The Comprehensive Plan reflects the local goals,

The Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township incorporates three major sections. The first section includes studies of existing Physiography, Land Use, Community Facilities and Environmental Quality, Transportation, Economy/Economic Base, Population and Housing. The second section outlines Blair Township's Goals, Policies, and Objectives. The third section includes Population Projections, Land U s e P lan , Community Facilities and Environmental Quality Plan, Transportation Plan, Economic Plan, Housing Plan, Human Services Plan and Implementation.

Documentation of the initial research data and public input is on file at the Blair County Planning Commission Office, Highland Hall Annex, Courthouse, Holli- daysburg, PA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I 1 I I 1 I 1

Introduction

Chapter I - Physiography

Geographical Setting

Geology

Soil

Topography

Chapter I1 - Land Use

Blair Township Land Use

Relationship to Adjacent Areas

Chapter I11 - Community Facilities and Environmental Quality

Historic Sites

Community Facilities

Recreation

Environmental Quality

Chapter IV - Transportation

Highway Systems

Railway Systems

Mass Transit

Air Transport and Taxi Service

Chapter V - Economy/Economic Base

Chapter VI - Population Population Trends

Population Characteristics

Starts on page

iii

22

22

28

29

29

31

33

3.3

41

41

42

43

44

47

49

49

50

1 I 1

Starts on page

Chapter VI1 - Housing

Existing Housing Stock

Existing Housing Conditions

Analysis of Blair Township's Housing Market

Chapter VI11 - Draft Goals, Policies, and Objectives

Chapter IX - Population Projections

Chapter X - Land Use Plan

Purpose, Scope, and Goals

Land Use Suitability

Land Use Compatibility

Land Use Configurations

Acreage Projections by Land Use

Chapter XI - Community Facilities 6, Environmental Quality Plan

Chapter XI1 - Transportation Plan

Chapter XI11 - Economic Plan

Chapter XIV - Housing Plan

Housing Projections

Housing Needs

Chapter XV - Human Services Plan

Chapter XVI - Implementation Environmental Assessment

Historic Preservation Assessment

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Plate Number

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XVI I

LIST OF MAPS

MaD Title

. Location of Blair Township

Geological Map

Geological Interpretive Map

Soil Map

Topographic Map

Existing Land Use Map

Adjacent Municipalities Map

Existing Facilities Map

Volunteer Fire Company Service Areas

Existing Public Utilities (other than sewer and water)

Existing Water Service Areas

Existing Sewer Service Areas

Existing Transportation Systems

Steep Slope and Flood Plain Map

Existing Centers of Development

Land Use Plan (1985)

Land Use Plan (2000)

Proposed Sewer Service Areas

Proposed Water Service Areas

Page

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9

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Chart Number

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XVI I I

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XXVI

LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS

Title

Geological Formation of Blair Township

Interpretation of Blair Township Geology

Soil Limitations

General Existing Land Use Summary

Population Density Comparison

1976 Blair Township Employees

Number of Farms in Blair County

Starts On Page

5

7

10

25

28

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48

Population Trends (Blair Township 1850 - 1977) 49

Sex Composition and Ratios by Age Groups (Census Tract 111) 50

Sex Composition, and Ratios by Age Groups (Blair County)

Blair Township Population Composition by Age and Sex

Change in Number of Housing Units in (1950 - 1977)

Number of Housing Units by Condition

Number of Housing Units by Condition Type (1972)

Number of Families and Income Ranges

Blair Township

(1972)

and Structure

f o r Census Tract I11

Optimum Housing Value Vased on Median Income

Ratio of Housing Value to Median Income

Percentage of Income Paid f o r Rent

Percentage of Housing Units by Condition

Population Trends and Projection (Blair County)

Population Trends and Proj,ection (Blair Township)

Population Projections for Blair Township

Impact of Development on Natural Features

Land Use Compatibility

Results Generated by Land Use Type

Acreage Projections by Land Use vi i

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C h a r t Number

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LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS ( c o n t ' d )

T i t l e

XXVI I Proposed Timing and Locat ion o f Sewer and Water S e r v i c e Areas

X X V I I I Employment P r o j e c t i o n s

XXIX Housing Un i t P r o j e c t i o n s

xxx Housing P r o j e c t i o n s by Type of Un i t

XXXI Areas of Environmental Impact

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CHAPTER I

PHYSIOGRAPHY

PHYSIOGRAPHY

Physiography i s de f ined as t h e s tudy of t h e n a t u r a l f e a t u r e s of t h e land . A c l e a r understanding of physiography is necessary f o r v a l i d p lanning of f u t u r e development, because t h e n a t u r a l f e a t u r e s of land a f f e c t t h e type and amount of development which i s poss ib l e . Fea tu res of land may at t ract , gu ide , or l i m i t growth. p r e s e n t s an overview of n a t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of Blair Township. mation and d a t a summarizing p r e s e n t development w i l l be used t o shape t h e proposed p lan .

I n l i g h t of t h e importance of t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of l and , t h i s chapter This i n fo r -

Geographical S e t t i n g

B l a i r Township i s l o c a t e d i n t h e sou thcen t r a l po r t ion of Blair County. The county i t s e l f i s s i t u a t e d i n sou thcen t r a l Pennsylvania.

The township i s p a r t of Planning Subregion Number 5 i n Blair County, and i s bounded by Allegheny Township and Duncansvi l le Borough on t h e nor thwes t , Holl idaysburg Borough on t h e n o r t h , Frankstown Township on t h e e a s t , Taylor Township on t h e s o u t h e a s t , and Freedom Township sha res t h e south-southwest boundary. surrounded by t h e township on a l l s i d e s .

Newry Borough l o c a t e d i n t h e southwest po r t ion of Blair Township, i s

A l and use survey of t h e township, conducted dur ing 1975, revea led a t o t a l acreage of 8,792.26 f o r Blair Township. recorded i n t h e township i n prev ious yea r s . by annexat ions on t h e p a r t of t h e Boroughs of Holl idaysburg and Duncansville. (Refer t o P l a t e I; "Location Map").

This r e p r e s e n t s a decrease i n acreage The decrease can be accounted f o r

Geology

The s tudy of geology encompasses t h e examination of t h e l o c a t i o n , com-

The importance of t h i s s tudy l i e s i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s u r f a c e upon posi . t ion, and condi t ion of rocks and minera ls found beneath t h e s u r f a c e of t h e e a r t h . which w e b u i l d is shaped and a f f e c t e d by subsur face cond i t ions . of b u i l d i n g i s governed by t h e cond i t ions below t h e su r face . s o i l s are determined by t h e subsur face s t r u c t u r e . o f groundwater, and t h e s t a b i l i t y and u t i l i t y of subsur face cond i t ions f o r foun- d a t i o n s a r e determined by t h e geo log ica l s t r u c t u r e . of' pr imary importance t o t h e p r e s e n t and f u t u r e development of B l a i r Township, th - i s s e c t i o n w i l l examine t h e geology of t h e township.

The f e a s i b i l i t y Topography and

The presence and condi t ion

Since t h e s e f a c t o r s a r e

The source f o r t h e d a t a used i n t h i s s e c t i o n i s t h e Holl idaysburg Quad- r ang le of t h e a t l a s e n t i t l e d I ' I n t e rp re t ing Geologic Maps f o r Engineer ing Pur- poses", publ i shed by t h e United S t a t e s Geological Survey, Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , i n 1953.

The atlas con ta ins gene ra l purpose geo log ica l maps -- which d e p i c t t h e a c t u a l l a y e r s of rock -- and maps which i n t e r p r e t t h e g e o l o g i c a l l a y e r s i n terms of t h e a f f e c t of geology upon development and groundwater a v a i l a b i l i t y . The maps and t a b l e s i n t h i s s e c t i o n summarize t h e geo log ica l d a t a and i n t e r - p r e t a t i o n s .

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BLAIR COUNTY

LOCATION OF BLAIR TOWNSHIP

PLATE I

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1 I I 1 1 1 I

I I 1 1 I 1

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The Blair Township "Geological Map", P l a t e 11, i l l u s t r a t e s t h e l o c a t i o n of geo log ica l formations which a f f e c t t h e township. Table I i d e n t i f i e s t h e formation by rock con ten t .

Plate 111, t h e "Geologic I n t e r p r e t i v e Map" of Blair Township, and Table I1 exp la in t h e l i m i t a t i o n s which t h e geo log ica l f e a t u r e s of Blair Township pre- s e n t f o r development.

S o i l s

The s o i l s p r e s e n t i n B l a i r Township are important from an a g r i c u l t u r a l s t andpo in t , b u t a l s o w i l l g r e a t l y a f f e c t t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r development i n t h e township. The c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of s o i l determine t h e a b i l i t y of a s i t e t o suppor t c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e f e a s i b i l i t y of d i spos ing of s a n i t a r y wastes i n an a r e a which i s remote from development, and t h e a f f e c t which b u i l d i n g w i l l have on ad jacen t a r eas . S o i l s a lone w i l l n o t determine t h e f u t u r e use of p a r t i c u l a r a r e a s , b u t t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of s o i l must be considered i n planning. h e r e n t i n c e r t a i n s o i l c l a s s e s may render some a r e a s u n f i t f o r development. Such development may be prone t o f lood ing o r may cause s e r i o u s ground water p o l l u t i o n which w i l l a f f e c t a r e a s downstream. Other s o i l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s however, may make an a r e a i d e a l f o r r e s i d e n t i a l development, b u t a l s o i d e a l f o r ag- r i c u l t u r a l uses . planned f o r such a r e a s , b u t t h i s planning must a l s o be based on s o i l c a p a b i l i t i e s and l i m i t a t i o n s .

L imi t a t ions in-

The goa l s of t h e community w i l l u l t i m a t e l y determine t h e uses

The in fo rma t ion , con ta ined i n t h i s s ec t ion i s taken from S o i l Survey In- t e r p r e t a t i o n s f o r B l a i r County, Pennsylvania, and addendums t o t h e S o i l Survey r e p o r t . This r e p o r t w a s prepared by t h e United S t a t e s Department of Agr icu l ture S o i l Conservation Se rv ice , i n cooperat ion wi th t h e Pennsylvania S t a t e Univers i ty A g r i c u l t u r a l Experiment S t a t i o n and A g r i c u l t u r a l Extension Se rv ice , and t h e Pcnnsylvania Department of Agr icu l ture .

The l o c a t i o n s of s o i l s e r i e s i n t h i s s e c t i o n a r e n e c e s s a r i l y genera l ized . S p e c i f i c s o i l information f o r a p a r t i c u l a r s i t e must be ob ta ined by s o i l survey and t e s t i n g of t h a t s i t e , and those who wish t o develop a s i t e should be ad- v i sed t o c o n t a c t S o i l S c i e n t i s t s t o conduct t h e s e t e s t s . However, t h e genera l overview provides information which can serve as a va luab le guide i n planning For t h e b e s t uses of l and i n Blair Township.

W l l i . s o i

The fo l lowing Table I11 "Soi l L imi ta t ion tF , i d e n t i f i e s t h e s o i l s e r i e s

S o i l s are r a t e d from Locat ions o f t h e s o i l s e r i e s are dep ic t ed on

ch appear i n Blair Township, desc r ib ing t h e a s s e t s and l i m i t a t i o n s of each 1 s e r i e s i n terms of l i m i t a t i o n s f o r development.

s l j g h t l i m i t a t i o n t o severe . P l a t e I V .

\ Topography

The topography of Blair Township i s a s tudy i n c o n t r a s t s . High p o i n t s and s t e e p r i d g e s form t h e sou theas t e rn boundary of t h e townsh ip and d i v i d e t h e township i n t o s e c t i o n s . However, t h e c e n t r a l po r t ion of t h e township i s char- a c t e r i z e d by a f a i r l y l e v e l p l a i n , c rossed by t h e Frankstown Branch of t h e J u n i a t a River and s e v e r a l major t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o r r i d o r s .

3

The h i g h e s t e l e v a t i o n i n t h e township - approximately 2,300 f e e t above

The sou theas t e rn boundary of t h e township, s l i g h t l y west of s e a l e v e l - occurs a t t h e e a s t e r n most p o i n t of t h e townsh ip , which i s p a r t of Loop Mountain. t h i s peak, i s 1,900 f e e t above s e a l e v e l a t i t s h i g h e s t p o i n t on Shor t Mountain. From t h e sou theas t e rn boundary, t h e t e r r a i n moving westward drops t o an e leva- t i o n of 1,000 f e e t above s e a l e v e l . This e l e v a t i o n , w i th a few small excep- t i o n s , i s maintained f o r 3,000 f e e t westward. t o t h e western boundary of t h e township. t i o n of t h e p l a i n . of 1,400 f e e t above s e a l e v e l . l eve l p l a i n i s t h e C a t f i s h Ridge. a r e a s i n i t s nor thwes t t o n o r t h e a s t passage.

A p o r t i o n of t h i s p l a i n cont inues Newry Borough i s loca ted i n t h i s por-

The r e s t of t h e t e r r a i n again r i s e s i n r i d g e s t o e l e v a t i o n s A major r idge which forms t h e boundary of t h e

This r idge e f f e c t i v e l y s e p a r a t e s developed

The topography has served t o channel much of t h e growth i n t h e township. The V i l l a g e s of Vicksburg and Brooks M i l l a r e s i t u a t e d on t h e p l a i n . The more l e v e l areas a d j a c e n t t o t h e boroughs of Holl idaysburg and Duncansvi l le , i n t h e nor thern p o r t i o n of t h e township, a r e a l s o exper ienc ing r e s i d e n t i a l growth which is d i s p l a c i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l land. Topography can be expected t o cont inue t o p l a y a major r o l e i n gu id ing t h e growth of t h e township.

The accompanying map, P l a t e V , "Topographic Map" i l l u s t r a t e s B l a i r Town- s h i p ' s topography.

I

4

I I 1 I

I I

Map Symbol

QAL.

SMK

SB

swc '

STW

DHB

D S 4

DR

DO

DM:

DH ''

DBK

Table I Geological Formations of Blair Township

Geological Formation

Alluvium.- Silt, sand, and gravel constituting the flood plains of present streams.

MeKenzie Formation - Blue thin - bedded fossil- ferous limestone and soft gray and green shale.

Bloomsburg Redbeds - Lumpy red shale and thick bedded ridge-making red sandstone.

Wills Creek Shale - Chiefly gray calcareous shale and some greenish limestone.

Tonoloway Limestone - lanunated dark limestone; sparingly fossiliferous.

Thin bedded finely

Helderberg Limestone - gray limestone with thin gray chert at top, chiefly Keyer Limestone, overlying colymaus and New Scotland limestone which are thin and locally absent; contains valuable quarry rock called "calieorock" is fossilized throughout.

Lower part is thick bedded

Shriver Limestone - Thin-bedded siliceous limestone, weathering to fine grained sandstone; black calcareous shale at bottom; sparingly fossiliferous.

Ridgeley Sandstone - Thick-bedded calcareous sandstone weathering to coarse friable sandstone locally a fine conglomerate at top with quartz pebbles, highly fossiliferous.

Onoudogo Formation - Gray shale, probably calcareous, and thin argillaceous limestone.

Marcellus Shale - Black fissile clay shale; grad upward into olive green shale.

Hamilton Formation - Principally olive-green shale with even-layered blocky-jointed sandstone and thin limestone at top; ridge-making sandstone at two horizons; sparingly fossiliferous; locally a foot o r two of limestone at top.

Harrell Shale - Burkey black shale in lower part; highly fossiliferous.

Soft gray shale i n upper part;

5

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

I I

PLATE I I

6

I I 1 I I I

Map Symbol

A

, B

C

D

~~

Interpretation if B̂ 1 ai r .Township G e o 1 ogy

Explanation

Excellent foundations, difficult excavation. Sandstone and quartzite. Requires blasting and power tools for removal. Strong, durable, well drained foundations. because of seepage. rocky surface for unimproved roads.

Minor slides may occur Fresh rock forms a very rough,

Excellent foundations and difficult excavation except in weathered zone. Requires blasting and power tools for removal. Fresh rock forms excellent, durable foundations, well drained. mineral blocks unless loose blocks are removed during construction. very rough, rocky surfaces.

Limestone and dolemite.

Seepage may cause slipping of

Unimproved roads will have

Moderately durable foundations, moderately difficult excavation. Mixed shale and sandstone, some limestone. Hardness is variable, but rocks are generally difficult to excavate, requiring drilling and blasting and use of power equipment. Soil above varies in character but is usually thin. Partly weathered rocks can be excavated by hand tools. Good foundations will be built on this geological formation where the layers are horizontal or are supported laterally. Landslides may occur if inclined layers are under- cut. Drainage fair to excellent. If sandstone and shale are in distinct smooth layers and dip toward a cut, slopes should be less than 30 -40 to prevent slipping due to seepage.

Weak, poor foundations, easily excavated. Shale. Weak material throughout; very poorly drained, except in upper most weathered zone. weathered and disintegrated to depths of 5 to 40 feet. absent. Easily excavated with hand tools. Roads in this geological formation require permeable base course to provide drainage and eliminate frost heave. Foundation not stable.

Partly

Clay soil above, which is very thin or

7

Map Symbol

E

F

Table I1 (Cont'd) Interpretation of Blair Township Geology

Explanation

Poor foundations, easily excavated. Flood plain alluvium. Irregular layers of gravel, cobbles, sand, and silt. Good drainage where above water table, but low topographic position makes materials subject to floods. Irregular distribution of materials and lack of compaction make it a poor foundation; surfaced roads require excessive maintenance because of differential settling - solution is a heavy base course, well-laid and compacted.

Poor foundations, easily excavated where weathered. Loosely cemented sandstone. Sand covering, due to weathering of rock. by 'hand. drainage.

Can usually be worked Weak foundations, but generally good

8

I BLAIR TOWNSHIP

PLATE 111

,-,

T a b l e 111 Sail Limi ta t ions

~~

1 -

Sewage E f f l u e n t

(On S i t e S e p t i c Tank) ;o i l s 6 Mapping Symbols Disposa l

delvin silt loam 4 SEVERE Flooding, h igh water t a b l e

Homesite Locat ion

With Basements

(3 s t o r i e s o r less)

S t r e e t s Fark ing Lo t s

(Sub-d iv is ions)

Lawns and Landscaping

SEVERE SEVERE SEVERE Flooding, h igh water Flooding, h igh water Flooding, h igh water t a b l e t a b l e t a b l e

I I

I I I I Vewark si l t loam 5 SEVERE SEVERE MODERATE SEVERE

Seasonal h igh water Seasonal h igh water Seasonal h igh water F loo d ing t a b l e , f l ood ing t a b l e , f l o o d i n g t a b l e , f 1 ooding

I I I I

Pope loam 6 SEVERE Flooding

SEVERE Flooding

Basher s o i l s 9

MODERATE Flooding

SEVERE Flooding, Seasonal high water t a b l e

SEVERE Flooding

SEVERE Flooding

1 I I

I I I I

MODERATE Flooding

SEVERE I Basher s o i l s

Atkins s i l t loam 10

MODERATE Flooding

SEVERE SEVERE SEVERE SEVERE Flooding, h igh water Flooding, high water Flooding, h igh water Flooding, h igh water t a b l e t a b l e t a b l e t a b l e

I I I I

Whitwell s i l t 18 B loam

MCDERATE SEVERE MODERATE SLIGHT Seasonal h igh water Seasonal h igh water Seasonal h igh water t a b l e , moderately t a b l e t a b l e , s l o p e slow permeab i l i t y

SEVERE Flooding

1 I 1 1 I I I I

I I I . I I I I I

Sewage E f f h e n t

(On S i t e Sept ic Tank) So i l s C Mapping Symbols Disposal

Monongahela s i l t 20 B SEVERE loam Seasonal high water

t a b l e , moderately slow permeabi l i ty

I I

I I

Homesite Location

With Basements

(3 s t o r i e s o r less)

M 0 DERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e

Lawns and Liindscaping

I I

Streets Parking Lots

(Sub-divisions)

MODERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e

I I

I I


Tyler silt loam 21

I I

SEVERE SEVERE Seasonal high water t a b l e , slow permea- t a b l e b i l i t y

Seasonal high water

Purdy silt loam 22 B SEVERE SEVERE High water t a b l e , slow permeabi l i ty

High water t a b l e

Rar i tan s i l t 24 A loam

SLIGHT

SEVERE MODERATE Slow permeabi l i ty , Seasonal high water seasonal high water t a b l e t a b l e

MODERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e , s lope

Hagerstown s i l t y 30 B c l ay loam

MODERATE MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, hazard of ground water contamination

Hazard of s inkholes , depth t o bedrock

I

30 C

SEVERE High water t a b l e

MODERATE MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, hazard of ground s lope water contamination, s lope

Depth t o bedrock,


SLIGHT MODERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e

MODERATE Eroded, su r f ace t e x t u r e

MODERATE Slope, depth t o bedrock

SEVERE Eroded, s lope

SEVERE Slope

. - _ . .

I I Home s i t e !

s o i l s C Mapping Symbols Sewage Eff luent

Disposal (On S i t e Sept ic Tank)

Locat ion With

Basements ( 3 s t o r i e s o r less)

Edom s i l t y c l ay 130 B loam


SEVERE Depth t o bedrock

Hagerstown s i l t y 30 D SEVERE Slope I c lay loam

Edom s i l t y c l ay 31 C loam

SEVERE Slope


lSBYERE Slope, eroded

Hagerstown very 34 CD rocky s i l t y c l ay loam

SEVERE SEVERE Rockiness, hazard of Slope, rockiness ground water contami- nat ion, slope

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock

34 EF

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, su r f ace t e x t u r e

SEVERE SEVERE . Slope, rockiness Slope, rockiness

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, s lope

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, s lope , sur face t e x t u r e

I I I 31 D SEVERE SEVERE 1 Depth t o bedrock,

s lope

ISEVERE Slope, rockiness

I I I

I I I Slope, rockiness ISEVERE

Hublersburg 35 B MODERATE cher ty s i l t y loam Hazard of ground

water contamina- t i o n , bedrock a t 3% t o 10 f e e t

SLIGHT

S t r e e t s P e k i n g Lots

(Sub-divisions)

SEVERE Slope


SEVERE Slope .

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope, rockiness

SEVERE Slope, rockiness

MODERATE Slope

CL w

. .

~~

S o i l s C Mapping Sumbols

Homesite Location Streets Lawns and Parking Lots

Sewage Ef f luen t

Landscaping (Sub-divis ions) Disposal With

(On S i t e Sep t i c Tank) Basements (3 s t o r i e s o r less)

Hublersburg 35 C cher ty s i l t y loam

I feet

MODERATE MODERATE Slope, hazard of ground Slope water contamination, bedrock a t 3% t o 10

MODERATE Slope

35 D

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE SEVERE Slope, hazard of ground Slope water contamination

Opequon s i l t y 36 C c l a y loam

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE SEVERE Bedrock a t % t o 1% Bedrock a t % t o 1% f e e t , slow permea- f e e t b i l i t y

SEVERE Slope '

36 D SEVERE SEVERE Bedrock a t % t o 1% feet , s lope, slow % t o 1% fee t permeabi l i ty

Slope, bedrock a t

SEVERE Bedrock a t % t o 1% fee t

SEVERE Slope, bedrock a t

t o 1% feet , eroded

SEVERE Slope, bedrock a t 3: t o 1% feet

SEVERE Slope, bedrock a t % t o 1% feet

Opequon s i l t y 36 EF c l ay loam

SEVERE Slope

I

I I I I

Frankstown 48 B gravel ly silt loam

.

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, hazard of ground water contamination

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope ISEVERE Slope

I I I I

I I 1 I MODERATE Depth t o bedrock

SLIGHT MODERATE Slope

P P

Soi l s C Mapping Symbols

I Sewage Eff luent


Locat ion With

Basements 1

I

Streets

(Sub-divisions)

Lawns and Landscaping Parking Lots

( 3 s t o r i e s or l e s s )

MODERATE

~~

48 D

MODERATE SEVERE

Morrison sandy 49 B loam

Frankstown 48 C gravel ly s i l t loam

49 c

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, hazard of ground water contamination, s lope

49 D

Morrison very 50 CD stony sandy loam

Morrison very 50 EF .sandy loam

SEVERE Slope

SLIGHT Hazard of ground water contamination

~~~ ~ ~

MODERATE Slope, hazard of ground water contamination

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Hazard of ground

,water contamination,

l S E Y E R E Slope

Homesite I I

Depth t o bedrock, s lope

Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

I I

I I SLIGHT MODE RATE

Surface t ex tu re MODERATE Slope

MODERATE Slope

MODERATE Slope, sur face t e x t u r e

SEVERE Slope

I I

I I SEVERE Slcpe Slope I SEVERE

lSEYLRE Slope 1 I

I I SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

Soi l s C Mapping Symbols Location

With. Basements

Berks channery 88 B si l t loam

88 C


88 D SEVERE Slope

88 EF

SEVERE Slope

Wil tshire silt 9 1 B loam


9 1 c

SLIGHT

Bla i r ton S i l t 99 c loam

~~

MODERATE Slope, seasonal high water t a b l e

Sewage Ef f luen t Disposal

(On S i t e Sept ic Tank)

MODERATE Slope


MODERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e , depth t o bedrock, s lope



SEVERE Slope, depth t o bedrock

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Seasonal high water t a b l e , moderately slow permeabi l i ty

SEVERE Seasonal high water t a b l e , moderately slow permeabi l i ty

SEVERE Seasonal high water t a b l e , depth t o bedrock, moderately slow permeabi l i ty

( 3 s t o r i e s o r less)





SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

Streets .

Parking Lots (Sub-divisions)


SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope


SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

- s o i l s C Mapping Symbols


Homesite 1

SEVERE Coarse fragments

Sewage Eff luent Disposal


SEVERE Depth t o bedrock, slope

S t r e e t s .


SEVERE Coarse fragments, s lope

Location With

Basements

Lawns and Land sc aping


MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, sur face t ex tu re

Edorn-Klinesville 52 B complex


MODERATE Slope, depth t o bedrock

MODERATE MODERATE Depth t o bedrock Depth t o bedrock,

sur face t ex tu re

-

Dekalb very 57 AB stony sandy loam

' 57 CD



SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Depth t o bedrock, slope

SEVERE Slope ISEVERE Slope

SEVERE .

Slope 57 EF SEVERE

Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

Lehew very 70 EF stony loam

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

Edom-Weikert 76 B complex



MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, slope

Edom-Weikert 76 C c omp 1 ex


SEVERE Slope

MODERATE Depth t o bedrock, s lope, sur face t e x t u r e

I

76 D SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Depth t o bedrock, s lope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

I

Soils & Mapping Symbols Locat ion With

Basements

Huntington silt 100 B loam, local a 11 uvi um

-. - Streets .


Lawns and Land sc aping

Lawrence silt 102 B loam

SEVERE Seasonal high water table

Murril1 108 AB extremely stony loam

MODERATE MODERATE Seasonal high water table table, slope

Seasonal high water

108 CD

Murri 11 109 c gravelly

Murrill 110 D gravelly

Laidig extremely 112 CD .stony loam

Sewage Effluent Disposal

(On Site Septic T a n k )

SEVERE Flooding

SEVERE Seasonal high water table, moderately slow permeability

MODERATE Large stones

SEVERE Slope

MODERATE Slope, hazard of ground water contamination

~ ~~

SEVERE Slope, hazard of ground water contamination

SEVERE Slope, moderately slow permeability

I

( 3 stories or less)

SEVERE Flooding

SLIGHT MOPERATE Slope

SEVERE Shrink, swell

MODERATE Large stones

MODERATE First action

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

MODERATE Slope .

MODERATE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Stoniness, slope

SEVERE Coarse fragments, slope

. . SEVERE Slope

I I

. -

I

Soi l s f Mapping Symbols Sewage Eff luent


-

Laidig extremely 112 EF stony loam

SEVERE Slope

I

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

Brinkerton si l t 113 B loam

I

SEVERE High water t ab le , slow permeabili ty

Laidig grave l ly 114 C loam *

1

SEVERE Moderately slow permeabili ty

Laidig very 116 CD stony loam

SEVERE Moderately slow permeabili ty, s lope

Home s i t e Location

With Basements


SEVERE Slope

Buchanan very 119 AB stony loam


SEVERE Seasonal high water t a b l e , slow permea- b i l i t y

MODERATE Slope

119 CD

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Seasonal high water t a b l e , s lope, slow permeabili ty

MODERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e , s ton iness

Andover grave l ly 120 B loam

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE High water t a b l e , slow permeabili ty



I I


S t r e e t s Parking Lots

(Sub-divisions)




MODERATE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Coarse fragments


SEVERE Slope, coarse fragments

SEVERE Slope

Soi l s f Mapping Symbols

SEVERE Slope


Andover very 122 AB stony loam

~~~~

SEVERE Slope

MODERATE Seasonal high water t a b l e , s lope , depth t o bedrock

Meckesville 124 B grave l ly s i l t loam

124 C

Meckesville 125 AB extremely stony s i l t loam

Meckesville very 125 CD stony s i l t loam

Berks and 188 CD Weikert shaly s i l t loams

Bla i r ton s i l t 199 B loam

Sewage Ef f luen t Disposal


SEVERE High water t a b l e , slow permeabi l i ty





SEVERE Slope, bedrock a t 1% t o 3% f e e t

SEVERE Seasonal high water t ab le , depth t o bedrock, moderately slow permeabili ty

Iiome s i t e Location

With Basements



SLIGHT

\IODERATE Slope

SEVERE Slope, stony

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

UODERATE Seasonal high water tab le , depth t o bedrock

Streets .


Lawns and Land scap ing



SLIGHT MODERATE Slope

MODERATE Slope

SEVERE Slope

I

SEVERE Slope, stony

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

SEVERE Slope

I

I BLAIR TOWNSHIP

SOILS MAP

PLATE I V

2 0

I

I I i I I I I

(c

I I I I I I n

SCALE : 1” = 3400‘ DATE: MARCH, 1978 PREPARED BV BLAIR COUNTV PLANNING COMMISSION

PLATE V

21

CHAPTER I1

LAND USE

LANO ysE - , . -. ,- .

Blair Township Land U s e

I

1 I I

b

I 1

Planning i s concerned wi th t h e guidance of f u t u r e growth, ,ut it must b u i l d upon p a s t and p r e s e n t development t o be v a l i d . cons ide r t h e e x i s t i n g p a t t e r n of development w i l l be u n r e a l i s t i c and p o s s i b l y n o t f e a s i b l e t o implement. E x i s t i n g development p a t t e r n s were guided by phy- s i c a l l i m i t a t i o n s , as w e l l as g e o - p o l i t i c a l boundaries , economic and s o c i a l cons ide ra t ions . M a n made l i m i t a t i o n s may produce f u t u r e development p a t t e r n s which may n o t be i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e community i f planning p r i n c i p l e s are n o t used. However, e x i s t i n g land use p a t t e r n s are a given cond i t ion , j u s t as p h y s i c a l l i m i t a t i o n s a r e , and both must be cons idered when planning f o r t h e f u t u r e . This chap te r t h e r e f o r e summarizes e x i s t i n g l and use i n Blair Township as determined by a f i e l d survey conducted dur ing 1977. i s t i n g l and use PlateVI-A).

A p lan which does n o t

(Refer t o map of ex-

R e s i d e n t i a l

Much of t h e r e s i d e n t i a l acreage i n B l a i r Township i s concent ra ted i n s t r i p developments which fo l low main t r a n s p o r t a t i o n rou te s . of c l u s t e r e d r e s i d e n t i a l development i n t h e township, i nc lud ing t h e v i l l a g e s of Brooks M i l l s and Vicksburg, and a r e a s ad jacen t t o Newry and Holl idaysburg Boroughs, as w e l l as developed a r e a s near t h e Boroughs. acreage r e p r e s e n t s low d e n s i t y s i n g l e family housing, as w e l l as s c a t t e r e d farm houses , b u t mul t i - fami ly townhouse development appears i n t h e newer subd iv i s ions , and more h igh d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l l and uses are p r e s e n t i n t h e v i l l a g e s . predominant p a t t e r n , however, i s s t r i p development.

There are s e v e r a l a r e a s

Much of t h e r e s i d e n t i a l

The

R e s i d e n t i a l l and uses occupy 863.19 a c r e s i n B l a i r Township, which repre- s e n t s 9.82%of t h e t o t a l acreage i n t h e township, and 19.85%of t h e developed area.

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e s i d e n t i a l ca tegory inc ludes acreage f o r t hose residen- t i a l uses which occur i n a mixed use s t r u c t u r e , such as a b u i l d i n g which has a commercial use on t h e f i rs t f l o o r and apartments on t h e second level .

I n d u s t r i a l

I n d u s t r y i s n o t a major u s e r of land i n B l a i r Township. The p r i n c i p l e i n d u s t r i e s : l o c a t e d i n t h e township inc lude Shaw Brothers Wholesale Meats, Robert- son R i m Company, Chatham Elec t r ic Company and t h e Berwind R a i l w a y Service Company.

I n d u s t r i a l acreage i n B l a i r Township t o t a l s , 40.20 acres, which r e p r e s e n t s .46% of t h e t o t a l acreage of t h e township and .92'% of the .deve loped acreage.

Comer c i a1

The p a t t e r n of commercial l and uses i n B l a i r Township t ends toward d i s - p e r s a l . b u t n e i t h e r i s a pronounced tendency toward c e n t r a l i z a t i o n of commercial develop- men t .

A t r u e p a t t e r n of s t r i p development of commercial u ses is n o t ev iden t ,

22

1 Commercial development i s f a i r l y concent ra ted a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n of U.S.

Routes 220 and 22, and a l a r g e commercial a r e a appears on Route 36, sou th of Kladder S t a t i o n . Vicksburg and Brooks M i l l and along t h e main t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o r r i d o r s -- Routes 22 and 220, and l e g i s l a t i v e r o u t e 07011.

The remaining commercial l and appears i n t h e v i l l a g e s of

Commercial l and i n t h e township accounts f o r 67.08 acres, which r e p r e s e n t s .76'% of t o t a l township acreage and 1.54% of t h e developed acreage. development ranges from small r e t a i l es tab l i shments -- such as hobby shops, g rocery s t o r e s , and s e r v i c e s t a t i o n s -- t o automobile s a l e s , r e s t a u r a n t s , and warehouses which are l o c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of n a t i o n a l cha ins . l and uses t h e r e f o r e se rve bo th l o c a l and t r a n s i e n t customers.

Commercial

The commercial

T ranspor t a t ion , Communication, U t i l i t i e s

Included i n t h i s ca t egory are uses such as s t r e e t and highway right-of-way, u t i l i t y depots and s t a t i o n s , r a i l r o a d right-of-way, shops, and s t o r a g e , motor f r e i g h t t e rmina l s and depo t s , and o t h e r similar uses . of t h e township a r e accounted f o r by t h e s e l and uses . This r e p r e s e n t s 4,35%of t h e t o t a l acreage , ana 8.8Xof t h e developed acreage.

A t o t a l of 382.57)acres

I n s ti t u t i o n a l

Land uses i n t h i s ca tegory inc lude churches, s choo l s , government o f f i c e s , and similar l and uses . I n s t i t u t i o n a l land uses i n Blair Township t end t o be less d i spe r sed than r e s i d e n t i a l uses . The l a r g e s t i n s t i t u t i o n a l l and use i s t h a t of S t . Bernadine ' s Monastery which i s loca ted near Kladder S t a t i o n . u ses inc lude t h e township schoo l , S t a t e P o l i c e Headquarters and churches.

Other

A t o t a l of 26.06 a c r e s i n Blair Township f a l l i n t o t h i s category. This r e p r e s e n t s .30% of t h e t o t a l acreage and .6'0% of t h e developed acreage.

Open Space

The open space ca t egory inc ludes cemetar ies , open a r e a amusements and r e c r e a t i o n such as d r ive - in movies, b a s e b a l l f i e l d s , s tadiums and o t h e r outdo0 r e c r e a t i o n a l f ac i l i t i e s , and parks . This ca t egory does n o t i nc lude undeveloped vacan t f i e l d s , which a r e c l a s s i f i e d elsewhere.

Open space i s n o t a l a r g e u s e r of land i n B l a i r Township, comprising only 21.32 ac re s . This r e p r e s e n t s .32% of t h e t o t a l Bla i r Township acreage , and .49% of t h e developed acreage.

Agr i cu l tu re

The l a r g e s t amount of developed land i n Blair Township i s i n a g r i c u l t u r a l usage. This ca t egory inc ludes cropland, p a s t u r e , s t o r a g e space , barns and barnyards , and l and devoted t o t r e e farming and f o r e s t r y .

A g r i c u l t u r a l u ses account f o r a t o t a l of 2,949.22 acres i n B l a i r Township, which r e p r e s e n t s 33.54%of t h e t o t a l acreage , and '6?.80%of t h e developed acreage.

Tree farming and f o r e s t r y make up 3.00 acres of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l land use t o t a l .

23

1

1 t

Vacant

Vacant land i s t h e l a r g e s t l and use ca tegory i n Bla i r Township. Included i n t h i s ca tegory a r e vacant open f i e l d s (298.87 a c r e s ) , i n c i d e n t a l land t o r e s i d e n t i a l p rope r ty ( l a n d maintained bu t n o t developed wi th r e s i d e n t i a l s t ruc tu re3 (50.74 acres ) , non-commercial f o r e s t e d land (4085.88 acres) , s t a t e gamelands and areas i n which development i s no t permi t ted , s u r f a c e water, and r e s e r v o i r s (7 .13 acres). first f i e l d survey of land uses w a s conducted i n B l a i r Township i n 1967. o r i g i n a l survey r evea led a t o t a l of 4,689.17 acres o f vacant land i n Blair Township, which r ep resen ted 51.57% of t h e t o t a l acreage of t h e township. f i e l d survey conducted i n 1977 y i e l d e d a t o t a l vacant acreage O f 4,442,62 which r e p r e s e n t s 50,!33% of t h e township. 2,949.22 i n t h e 1977 f i e l d survey , has a l s o dec l ined from t h e 3,072.78 acreage recorded i n t h e 1967 survey. occu r r ing i n B l a i r Township. The inc reased r e s i d e n t i a l acreage (863.19 a c r e s p r e s e n t l y , and 712.30 acres i n 1967) i n d i c a t e s t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e change.

However, t h i s ca tegory has dec l ined s i n c e t h e The

The

A g r i c u l t u r a l acreage which t o t a l e d

These two s t a t i s t i c s i n d i c a t e t h a t change i s

The '1977 f i e l d survey i d e n t i f i e d t h e t o t a l developed acreage as 4,349-64 acres, which r ep resen ted 49.47% of t h e t o t a l municipal acreage.

24

Table.. I V

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

G E N E R A L E X I S T I N G L A N D U S E S U M M A R Y

1977

LAND PERCENT OF USE LAND USE AREA TOTAL DEVELOPED PERCENT 01

CODE CLASSIFICATION ( i n Acres) AREA GROSS ARE1

1 R e s i d e n t i a l 863.19 acres 19.85%

2 I n d u s t r i a l 40.20 .92%

4 Transpor t a t ion , 382.57 Communication, and U t i l i t i e s

8.80%

9.82% '

.46%

4.35%

5 Commercial 67.08 1.54% .76%

6 I n s t i t u t i o n a l 26.06 .68A .30%

7 Open Space, Parks , 21.32 and Recreat ion

.49% .24%

8 Agr icu l tu re 2,949.22 67.80% 33.54%

TOTAL DEVELOPED AREA: 4, 349.64 100.00% 49.47%

9 Vacant Land 4,442.62 50.53%

GROSS MUNICIPALITY AREA: 8, 792.26 a c r e s 100.00%

The r e s u l t s of t h e above l and use summary a r e d isp layed g r a p h i c a l l y on a map s e r i e s inc luding: '40' t o 1" = 400' scale. These'rnhps are on f i l e a t t h e B l a i r County Planning :ommission Office.

1" = 1,000' sca1e ;and tax.maps o f scales vapying from 1" =

25

BLAIR TOW

SCALE: 1"=3,400' DATE : MARCH.1878 PREPARED BY BLAIR CCUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

PLATE V I - A

26

I

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

n $ C U E : 1"= ?MILES DATE : MARCH,1978 PREPARED OV BLAIR COUNTY PLANNlNa CO"l$SlON

PLATE V I -B

I 27

Relationship to Adjacent Areas

The Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township has been prepared to be compatible with the local plans, goals and policies of the adjacent municipalities. In formulating this plan, Blair Township considered the adjacent physiography and land use, existing sewer, water, and community facilities and utilities, and the regional transportation network.

The relationship of Blair Township with adjacent municipalities, existing patterns of development, and muncipal activities indicate the need for a continued program of cooperation. palities should be furthered in the area of utilities, recreation, public protection and transportation.

Close cooperation between adjacent munici-

Concentrations of population usually denote concentrations of public and private services. with its neighboring municipalities. graphically the municipalities adjacent .to Blair Township.

The following Table V compares and contrasts Blair Township Plate VI-B, which follows the chart, shows

TABLE V

Population Density Comparison

Municipal Gross Municipality Acreage Total Population Persons Per Acr

Blair Township Duncansville Borough Hollidaysburg Borough Newry Borough

Allegheny Township Frankstown Township Freedom Township Juniata Township Taylor Township

8,792.26 4,333 1,427 6,262

18,500 26,903

17,140 14,960

11,200

5,943 4,842 2,522

879 2,003

.49 4.80 5.12 8.07

.32

.18

.23

.05

.13

I I I I I 1 I

I I I 1 I 1

28

1

1 I 1 I I I I

CHAPTER I11

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

COMMUNITY FACILXTTFS. D. ENVXRONMENTN. aQU,AT.ITY

I ' I 1 I I 1 I

1 1 1 I I I

?

H i s t o r i c S i t e s

Although t h e r e a r e f e w h i s t o r i c landmarks i n Blair Township, those which a re p re sen t are bas i c t o t h e founding of t h e county and Blair Township. loca t ion of h i s t o r i c landmarks i n t he township i s ind ica ted on P l a t e V I I .

The

When o r i g i n a l l y incorporated the County of Blair encompassed eleven townsh ips and t h e boroughs of Hollidaysburg and Gaysport. of t h e prominent r e s i d e n t s of Frankstown Township i n 1788 and t h e f a t h e r of Honorable John Blair was, p r i o r t o the beginning of t h e Revolution, a r e s iden t of Path Valley. H i s son, Hon. John Blair , was also a prominent and use fu l c i t i - zen, and res ided f o r many years a t t he same place. H i s usefulness and s tanding i n t h e community made him one of t he most important men of h i s day i n t h i s p a r t of t he s t a t e . road. Blair Township was named i n honor of him i n 1839, and i n 1846, when Hun- tingdon County was divided, h i s o ld f r i ends paid another t r i b u t e t o h i s memory by giving t h e new county h i s name.

Captain Thomas Blair , one

He was foremost i n t he development of t h e Canal and Portage R a i l -

Ca t f i sh House

"The o l d Ca t f i sh Hotel , near Kladder S ta t ion , has been i n operat ion a t least since 1846. of t h e r e se rvo i r , 1839 t o 1843, a t l e a s t i n t h e form of an e a r l i e r s t r u c t u r e . ) It faced t h e huge canal r e se rvo i r i n Blair Township, which was stocked with a l l kinds of food f i s h , of which t h e f a v o r i t e with t h e packers, drovers and wagoners were the t t c a t t i e s . l v The e n t i r e second f l o o r fac ing down t h e road towards Newry was used as a ballroom, but on n igh t s when no s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s were planned, beds were c a r r i e d i n and t r a v e l e r s accommodated. The o r i g i n a l s t a b l e s , now mostly disappeared, could take care of one hundred horses. Many wagoners looked forward t o breaking t h e journey from Bedford and beyond by a n igh t a t t he Ca t f i sh House where t h e r e was always good company; fox hunters and t h e i r l a d i e s , canallers, woodcutters, musicians, t r a v e l i n g salesmen ( c a l l e d then "bag- men" o r tfdrummerslf), o r a group of young f o l k s having a dancing par ty . Despite t h e fac t t h a t it was given ou t t h a t one hundred head of horses could be accommodated, some n ights t h e barns were f u l l , and t h e b ig Conestoga wagons, t h e i r b e l l s chiming a l l n i g h t as t h f y shook t h e i r shaggy heads, a l l c a r e f u l l y blanketed i n snowstorms."

(I t may have dated from soon after t h e bui ld ing

The Ca t f i sh House i s now i n use as a convalescent home. The amount of o r i g i n a l s t r u c t u r e remaining underneath the e x i s t i n g facade i s no t known.

'Col'. Henry W. Shoemaker, "Old Highways and Inns of B l a i r County," i n Blair County's kirst Hundred Years, ed-by George A. Wolf, e t . al . ; t he Blair County H i s t o r i c a l Society; (Altoona, PA: Mir ror Press 1945-3 ?.

1 I 29

Fort Fetter

"A bronze plaque erected on September 30, 1922, with the cooperation of the Society, to designate the site of Fort Fetter, alogg the'william Penn Highway one mile .west of Hollidaysburg.l!

The Blair County Historical Society has marked the original site of Fort Fetter. and the site is owned by the Vipond family. the home.

The "William Penn Highway" is now identified as U.S. Route 22 The marker is located next to

The following is a short historical description of Fort Fetter's contribution to the protection of Blair County.

"Fort Fetter was garrisoned during the Revolutionary War by militia and rangers to afford protection for the frontier settlers against incursions by the Indians. in this section of Pennsylvania and was intended to cover the approach of hostile forces using the tfittanning War Path through the gaps of the Allegheny Mountains."

This was the fort farthest west

"There is no record of any of these forts being attacked or destroyed by the Indians, but many of the pioneers who refused to take advantage of this protection or did not have time to do so, were massacred or carried off into captivity. Many, upon return- ing to their homes from the fgrts, found their cabins burned and their possessions destroyed."

No physical remains of the fort exist today.

Holliday Graves

The Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) have placed'a marker next to the graves of Adam and William Holliday. D.A.R. has also placed a stone monument in the Holliday burial ground to mark the area where William Holliday's children were massacred during the Revolutionary War. The area is presently surrounded on three sides by residential development. The Blair Township supervisors have accepted the maintenance of the site.

'Floyd G. Hoenstine, !'The' Blair County Historical Society," in Blair County's First Hundred Years, ed. by George A. Wolf, et al.; The Blair County Historical Society; (Altoona, PA: Mirror Press 19451, p. 420

'Ibid. - 4W. Ray Metz, "The History of this Territory Prior to 1846," in Blair County's First Hundred Years, ed. by George A. Wolf, -- et al. ; t h r Bhir County Historical Society; (Altoona, PA: Mirror Pres 19451, p. 13

30

Community Facilities

I I I 1 I I

I I I

Community facilities are those basic services provided, for the most part, by local government, to insure the health, safety and general we3fare of the residents of the community.

The number, type and adequacy of these facilities determines to a large measure the quality and general livability of the environment and the growth potential of the community. ability of the municipality to attract new residents, reduce out-migration, and attract new employers to locate in the area. icipal tax base is strengthened and the municipality can realize the max- imum return on dollars invested in improved community facilities.

These facilities increase the

A s a result, the mun-

The facilities summarized in this section are graphically portrayed on Plate VII.

Municipal Buildings

The township presently has no municipal building. Therefore, no central and easily accessible site is available for local government activities.

Presently, the secretary of Blair Township conducts business and stores information in his home; the supervisors and planning commission have no central meeting place to conduct municipal business. and the Hollidaysburg School District permit the use of their facilities for meetings in Hollidaysburg.

The county of Blair

Fire Protection

There is no centralized municipal or volunteer fire station located in Blair Township. companies.'

The township is presently served by five ( 5 ) volunteer fire

Duncansville Volunteer Fire Company, located in the Borough of Dun- cansville, serves the western portion of Blair Township extending east to Route 36 south, Newry Borough area, Route 220 south, Penn Farms area and development directly south of Duncansville.

The Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company, located in Hollidaysburg Borough, also serves the Penn Farms area, as well as the Chimney Rocks and Loop areas, the Reservoir area south to Kladder Station, Route 36 south to Kladder Station, Fort Fetter area and areas of Blair Township surrounding Hollidaysburg Borough.

Geeseytown Community Fire Company serves the Reservoir area.

Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company serves the southern portion of Blair Township including the McKee, Vicksburg and Brooks Mills areas.

Roaring Spring Volunteer Fire Company serves the McKee/Brooks Mills area of Blair Township.

31

Police

Blair Township presently employs one (1) chief of police, one (1) full time, and one (1) part time patrolman. One (1) fully equipped police cruiser is available and is operational around the clock. The communication link between Blair Township police and other municipalities' police facilities is the Blair Radio network, owned by Blair Township. neled through the Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters Troop G, located directly west of Hollidaysburg Borough in Blair Township. from Blair Township and other municipalities is made available through this communication system. and this will connect him with the communication center who will then dispatch the officer. ships police records are located in the homes of the officers. tion of a centralized facility is being discussed by Blair Township supervisors.

Information is chan-

Police assistance

The Blair Township resident need only dial 695-8260

Again, because of the lack of a central facility, Blair Town- The construc-

Educational Facilities

The Blair Township Elementary School is the only public educational facility located in Blair Township. This school is operated by the Hollidaysburg School District. The Blair Township Elementary School contains twelve (12) classrooms with a capacity to accommodate 360 students. The 1977-78 enrollment was 277 students. This is a drop of 88 students from the 1966-67 enrollment of 365. Twelve (12) full time teachers and two (2) part time teachers are employed by the district for this school. The prospects of adding on or of further developing the site are minimal.

The school teaches grades one (1) through and including five ( 5 ) . A kindergarten, located in Frankstown Township, handles all students of kindergarten age in Blair Township.

All areas of Blair Township are served by Blair Township Elementary School except the following:

Penn Farms area and the Fort Fetter area are served by Central Elemen- tary School of Hollidaysburg. in part by Allegheny School No. 1 Cross Keys and also by Central Elementary School.

The area of North Juniata Street is served

The fifth grade students only in the Loop area of Blair Township are served by the Blair Township Elementary School. including fourth grade students of the Loop area attend Frankstown Elemen- tary School.

The first through and

All non parochial students above fifth grade attend either the Junior or Senior High School of Hollidaysburg.

Saint Patricks Elementary School, located in Newry Borough, serves Blair Township with six (6) classrooms, five (5) lay teachers, one (1) sister teaching full time, one (1) sister who functions as a teaching principal and three ( 3 ) sisters who teach part time. This educational facility handles first thz-ough and including sixth grade. Seventh grade was closed and the room is now being used as a library. In September 1978, a kindergarten class with a capacity for twenty-five (25) students will begin. The 1977-78 enrollment of the school was 119 students, 165 less than the 1966- 67 enrollment of 284 students.

Eighth grade was also closed and remains empty.

This class will use the vacated eighth grade classroom.

32

I I I I

I I I I I I

I I

l g Recreation

I I I 1 I I

I

I I

There are' few.developed recreational sites in Blair Township. Only three sites are known to exist. Plate VI1 identifies the location of these sites.

The first site is Newry Lions Park, located 1/3 of a mile southwest of

There are

Electrical and

Newry Borough on Lions Club Road. hall, which houses full kitchen facilities and seats 170 people. also two ( 2 ) ballfields, one of which is a little league field. area is also prqvided as well as a camping area for trailers. water connections are available.

The facilities include a heated recreation

A picnic

The Blair Township Elementary School is the location of the second site. The facilities include two (2) swing sets,\a blacktopped play area, and a ballfield without a finished playing surface.

A small ballfield is located in the Loop Area between legislative Route 07012, the Conrail right-of-way and the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River. There is a backstop erected on the site.

A fourth recreational site located next to Saint Patrick's School in Newry Borough is available to Blair Township residents. ties include a baseball field, basketball court and playground apparatus.

Recreational facili-

Environmental Quality

Utilities are the basic services which insure the health and safety of residents. Utilities such as water, sewer, and solid waste disposal may be provided by local government when development is concentrated, or may be the responsibility of individual property owners when development is dispersed. Utilities such as electricity, petroleum, and natural gas are usually provided through agreements between developers and the utilities, or individual property owners and the utilities. The availability, quality and adequacy of these services are a most important determinant for insuring the future orderly growth and development of an area.

Water

The availability of sufficient quantities of potable water for drinking, and water for fire protective, is a primary determinant of urban development. (Refer to Plate X, existing water service areas).

Duncansville Borough owns and operates a water system comprised of a well field, impounding dam, chlorination facilities, transmission line, and distribution system.

The Duncansville water system presently serves fringe areas of Blair Town- ship that border Duncansville Borough. This includes small areas south of the Wye Switches area and south of Duncansville. Farm area and seven (7) customers served by a 2" line between Duncansville and Penn Farms area.

This also includes the Forshe

33

The Hollidaysburg Borough water system serves the Fort Fetter area, Jbniata Street development in Blair Township, adjacent to and including the State Highway Department and PennDOT District #9 Offices. Hollidaysburg also serves the Blair Township Elementary School and twenty-five ( 2 5 ) res- idences, Berwind Railway Service Company, Howard Johnson's and Wye Motor Lodge area.

Blair Gap Water Supply Company serves the Chatham Electric Complex.

Fire hydrants are located on Plate X. Where no hydrants are available, the area is served by the adjacent municipalitie's pumper fire trucks.

Sewer

The availability of sewage treatment on a municipal scale is a prime determinant of the density of development permitted in an area. especially relevant to municipalities in Blair County, because soil and subsurface conditions often preclude on site waste disposal systems. fer to Plate XI; existing sewer service areas).

This is

(Re-

Duncansville Borough provides treatment for small areas south of Wye Switches area and south of Duncansville.

Hollidaysburg Borough treats waste from all areas of Blair Township north of Route 22, including the Berwind Railway Service Company, Chatham Electric complex, Fort Fetter area, Howard Johnson's restaurant and Wye Motor Lodge areas. by the Hollidaysburg treatment plant.

The Perm Farms area was recently sewered, and is served

Solid Waste Disposal

Private collection of refuse is still the only type of collection system in.Blair Township. to maintaining a healthy, aesthetically pleasing community and environment. The Parshall landfill site in Antis Township is the only disposal site now utilized by Blair Township residents.

Proper refuse collection and disposal is essential

Electricity, Petroleum, and Natural Gas

The major electrical power, petroleum, and natural gas lines in Blair Township are depicted on plate IX.

The supplier of electrical power for Blair Township is the Pennsylvania Electric Company.

I I I I 1 1 I

I I I I I I

9

The Sinclair and Texaco companies on Route 220, south of Duncansville, are supplied by the only major oil line in Blair Township - the Laurel Pipe Line Company.

34

I

I 1

Electricity, Petroleum, and Natural Gas (Con't)

Other oil companies have distribution facilities in Blair County, but have no major pipelines transversing Blair Township.

The major natural gas lines in Blair Township are located in developed areas; including Juniata Street area, Penn Farms and Newry Lane area, the U.S. Route 22 area and the Fort Fetter area.

I

35

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

LEGEND

HISTORIC SITES - @CATFISH HOUSE

0 HOLLIDAY GRAVES @FORT FETTER

PO.CICE - \ \ .<? \ I: ’

i /

/ 4

@ ~ A D I O NETWORK BASE STATION -\\j ’: o’v ‘i McKee 9;)

@BLAIR TOWNSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOO~, / @SAINT PATRICK’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -4 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES -

RECREATION - BNEWRY LIONS PARK BBLAlR TOWNSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LOOP AREA BALLFIELD SAINT PATRICK’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 36

4 I

3) I I I 1 I I

I 1

1

1 n A I

I

I I

-E: 1”=3,400’ DATE : YARCH,1918 PREPARED BY BLAIR COUNTY PLANNIW COYY18810N

I PLATE VI1

I BLAIR TOWNSHIP

I I I I I I I I

!

I I

. VOLUNTEER FIRE

.. . .. -.-

AREAS - 1. DUNCANSVILLE 2.FREEDOM

TOWNSHIP 3.GEESEYTOWN

COMMUNITY w: 1"=3,400' MVS : YIRcH,101b rnm BY U A l R CQWnr CLANWU3-

PLATE V l l l

~ BLAIR TOWNSHIP

A n -E: 1"=3,400' DATE : Y*RCH,1@78 PREPARED BY BLAIR COUNTY PLANNINQ COYMISSION

PLATE IX

38

1 I I I 1

I I 1 1 I I

1 I

&

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

b 1 1 1 I 1 I 1

1 I 1

t

m

I I

EXISTING WATER SERVICE AREAS

SERVICE AREA

HOLLIDAYSBURG SERVICE AREA

SERVICE AREA

FIRE HYDRANTS- 0 EXISTING HYDRANT

PROPOSED HYDRANT

A n

39

PLATE X

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

PLATE X I

40

CHAPTER IV

TRANSPORTATION

1 Highway Systems

I I

The existing highway system of Blair Township has evolved since the first settlers came to the area in the late 1700's. the major transportation routes are located along the valley floors, where a major portion of the development has occurred. An exception is a section of Route 36, (known locally as the 'Tatfish") which crosses Catfish Ridge.

For the most part,

(Refer to Plate XI1 for an indication of the highway transportation network. )

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has established a statewide highway classification system, which is an integral part of a National Functional Classification System. Functional classification is the process by which streets and highways are grouped into classes, or systems, according to the character of service they are intended to provide.

Paved roadways in Blair Township are described by three ( 3 ) categories:

1. Arterials A . Principal B. Minor

2. Collectors A. Major B. Minor

3 . Local Systems

(1A) Principal Arterials

In the western section of Blair Township, a two lane, open access principal arterial, U.S. Route 220, traverses the township from north to south, connecting Altoona to Blair Township. U.S. Route 220 is a major north-south arterial in Pennsylvania. Locally, the arterial is utilized by commercial, industrial, and residential traffic entering and exiting the numerous and uncontrolled points along the highway. Adding through traffic to this situation slows traffic, and creates hazardous conditions along the length of U.S. Route 220.

In the northern section of Blair Township, a small portion of U.S. Route 22 in,the Wye Switches and Fort Fetter area connects Duncansville with Hollidays- burg. U.S. Route 22 is a major east-west arterial in Pennsylvania. Locally, the arterial is utilized by through traffic and locdtraffic between Duncansville, Hollidaysburg, and Blair Township. The businesses located along the road, also cater to the traveler.

A relocated U.S. Route 220 is proposed to be constructed east of existing U.S. Route 220, as a four lane, limited access highway. A main purposed of this arterial will be to absorb inter-county traffic from the existing Route 220. No access will be available in Blair Township. agricultural tract of land in the northern section of Blair Township and will be adjacent to the residential development east of existing U.S. Route 220. The arterial may act as a negative influence on these few (existing residential

The highway will divide a large

41

development) areas, for this residential area is already adjacent to one principal arterial and pressured by commercial development.

(1B) Minor Arterials

Route 36 traverses the township from Hollidaysburg in the north to the Brooks Mill area in the south. Hollidaysburg, Roaring Spring and Everett; and, by way of connecting Route 164, connects Altoona with Martinsburg. by the farming community of Kladder Station and south, as well as inter- township and inter-county travelers. There is a potential traffic problem slightly south of the Kladder Station crossroads area where existing sight lines prohibit a safe entrance into and exit from the minor collector connecting the Kladder Station Area with Newry Borough.

This route also connects Altoona with?,

Locally this route is utilized

(2A) Major Collectors

Reservoir Road (legislative Routes 07011 and 07056) connects Route 22 at Frankstown in the north with Route 36 at McKee in the south of Blair Township. elopment; traffic is mainly from single family and mobile homes, and some agricultural related traffic. burg.

Locally this roaaway serves an area of low density residential dev-

This is also the main service road for Vicks-

(2B) Minor Collectors

Paved roadways connecting major residential developments, arterials, and major collectors are located in the Penn Farms, Newry, Vicksburg, Brooks Mill and Loop areas. and unpaved roads.

These minor collectors are fed by many local paved roads

(3) Local Systems

The local road system provides vehicular and pedestrian access to adjacent lhd, and provides service to travel over relatively short distances, as contrasted with collectors or other higher systems. traffic volumes should be light so as not to impair land access. traffic, buses and heavy trucks should be excluded on such streets, except where the street serves a commercial or industrial business.

Moving Through

Railway Systems

Two major Conrail lines pass through Blair Township. One line passes from the Hollidaysburg railyards south to Vicksburg where it divides, with one line traveling south along U.S. Route 220 t o Bedford and one southeast toward Roaring Spring, and Martinsburg.

The second line splits at the Wye Switches and travels east to Holli- ,

I I I I I 1 I

I I 1 I I I

4 2

daysburg, north to Altoona, west to the Muleshoe curve and back again .east and nort into Allegheny Township, eventually arriving at Gallitzen.

I I

i I

1

The rail traffic is freight oriented, serving only Suburban Gas Co. This service is provided five days a week, Monday in the town of McKee.

through Friday. through wooded and agricultural land. presents a traffic flow problem in Blair Township, which is intensified when the principal arterials, U.S. Route 22 and 220 are blocked.

The rail right-of-way, for most of its length, passes The grade crossing at Wye Switches

An overall view of the township reveals a north to south pattern of transportation routes following the valleys. ever increasing number of business and residential properties. development causes congestion of vehicular traffic and its subsequent dangers to the commuters and pedestrians of Blair Township. This problem may be alleviated by wise positioning of adjacent land uses in the future and centralization 08 development.

Along these routes is an This

(Refer'to Plate X I 1 for an indication of the railway transportation network.)

Mass Transit

The major bus lines which provide service to Blair Township are the Blue and White Lines, Inc., and Hollidaysburg Transportation C o . , Inc. of Altoona. (Refer to Plate XI1 for an indication of the bus stops located near Blair Township.)

Two bus routes cover the central valley of Blair Township. The routes follow U . S . Route 220 from Duncansville, sould?.through Blair Township.

The first route connects Altoona with Duncansville, Roaring Spring, and Martinsburg. Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, Newry, Leamersville, East Freedom and McKee. The following is a schedule of the Blue and White bus service which serves Blair Township:

Locally this route stops at the State Hospital and in

..

ALTO ONA- DUNCANSVILLE-ROARING WRING-HARTINSBURG - __

The first route connects Altoona with Duncansville, Roaring Spring, and Martinsburg. Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, Newry, Leamersville, East Freedom and McKee. The following is a schedule of the Blue and White bus service which serves Blair Township:

Locally this route stops at the State Hospital and in

..

ALTO ONA- DUNCANSVILLE-ROARING WRING-HARTINSBURG - __

Holld.ysr New Years, Memorial,

12 d p rn.-Saturday only to State

I -Will sto at Loreto College Friday

,, Independence Labor Thanks , . iving and Chkistrna; days.

Hospitfll \ o n ~ v 2 !h p.m. West I

_ _ AM LI&:ht Face PM-Bold Pace.

- I1

Mon or +Monday only. Sun-Sunday only. 1 Sit.-Saturday only. ESuH-Daily except Sundays and:

Eisli-Daily except Saturday, Sun i

MWF-Monday, Wednesday and 7

Holidays.

day and Holidays.

Fridav . . . --, . FSu or *-Frida and Sunday on1 11s-Tuesday {hursday and S a t

urday onl; Creston. Portage to ! Johnitowti.

day only in thernonth.

Iitzin.

DI Dail !&-d will operate first Tues:

*-Operates via St. Thomas in &I-

. . (ETFiyed.'

astern Time.-

43

The second route connects Altoona with Bedford, Breezewood and Cumberland, Maryland. Locally t h i s route serves Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, Newry and East Freedom. Transportation Co. bus service:

The following i s a schedule of t h e Hollidaysburg

ALTO ONA-BE D F OR D-EREUEW 0 0 D- CUMBLRUND, MD. 2213 UP

TWi-Trailways. Inc. GL- Greyhound Lines, Inc.

- - .. . - . - .

Mon or a-Monday only. Sun-Sunday only. Sat.-Saturday only. ESuH-Daily except Sundays and.

Holidays. LuH-Daily except Saturday, Sui1

day and Holidays. MWF-Monday. Wednesday and

Friday. I FSU or 0-Frida and Sunday onty. 11s-Tuesday. fhursday and Sat-

urday only Creston, Portage to Johnstown.

!k?$& will operate first Tues- ' day only in themonth.

r a p e r a t e s via St. Thomas in Gal- ,

Iitzin. 9-Station having drop-off service ;

for prepaid express on1 .-Agency station to w h i c t bag-

gage may be checked and prepaid express only may b e con-- si ned.

(ET)-% astern Time. Holldayr: New Years, Memorial, '

Independence, Labor. Thanks- iving and Christmas days.

12 3% P. m.-Saturday only tn State Hospital.

t-Will stop at Loreto College Frid.ly only2 25 p.ni. West.

7-irnrl s h w n in I lALICSrndi<dc rrrcirr r ia connrrlin# l r ip or f r i p s .

A M -Lieht Face. PM--Bold Face; . . . . I

A i r Transport and T a x i Service

Although the re a re no a i r p o r t s i n B la i r Township, Blue Knob Valley Airport i s located 1 .5 miles northwest of t h e western municipal boundary, i n Freedom Township. The f a c i l i t y can be reached by c a r by following U.S. Route 220 t o Newry Borough, l e g i s l a t i v e route 07049 west toward Puzzletown, then north by routes 383 and 286. Exis t ing f a c i l i t i e s include hangers f o r f i f t e e n (15) l i g h t planes, t i e downs f o r twenty ( 2 0 ) l i g h t planes, and o f f i ces . The f a c i l i t i e s are present ly expanding. with planes taking o f f and landing from the e a s t o r west, depending upon wind d i rec t ion . rangirgfrom 500 f e e t t o 1000 f e e t .

The runway d i rec t ion is e a s t t o west,

The f l i g h t pa t te rn i s d i r e c t l y over Newry Borough, a t a l t i t u d e s

A s out l ined i n t h e Pennsylvania Statewide Airport System P l a n , prepared by Michael Baker Jr . , Inc. and R. Dixon Speas Associates Inc. fo r t h e De- partment of Transportation, t he Blue Knob Valley Airport f a c i l i t y w i l l be expanding as a bas ic u t i l i t y a i rpo r t . have reached 42% of capaci ty and w i l l serve seventy-eight (78) l i g h t a i r c r a f t .

By t h e year 1995, t h e f a c i l i t y w i l l

This f a c i l i t y i s avai lable t o B la i r Township res idents f o r pr iva te f l i g h t s , f l i g h t t r a in ing and cha r t e r f l i g h t s . However, f l i g h t path and number of f l i g h t s c r ea t e a po ten t i a l ly dangerous condition f o r B la i r Township's e a s t e m slope, and the va l iey f l o o r adjacent t o the a i r p o r t ' s runway. therefore , b e t t e r support t h e recrea t iona l , ag r i cu l tu ra l , and open space needs of B l a i r Township res idents , and should not be used f o r r e s i d e n t i a l development.

This area would,

The Altoona-Blair County Airport is located one (1) mile south of

44 1

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I I I , I I I I t R :I I 1 I I

I 1

b

1

Martinsburg Borough. B l a i r Township and can be reached by ca r by following Route 36 t o Roaring Spring, 164 e a s t t o Martinsburg and 866 south t o the a i rpo r t . is classed as a "Commuter Service" a i r p o r t by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. engine a i r c r a f t . f l i g h t (70% of general av ia t ion ) ; and business and cha r t e r f l i g h t s (24% of t h e general av ia t ion) .

The a i r p o r t l i e s nine and one ha l f miles southeast of

The a i r p o r t

As of 1973, t h e f a c i l i t y based 26 s ing le engine and 12 multi The major purposes f o r using the f a c i l i t y would be t r a in ing

(Refer t o Plate XI1 f o r t h e locat ion of t he a i r p o r t s avai lable t o res idents i n B l a i r Township.)

T a x i Service

The Yellow Cab Company serv ice area covers a l l of Blair Township. This

If more than one passenger is car r ied , t h e pr iva te serv ice i s ava i lab le f o r a fee of 65@ a t t he outse t and 50@ addi t ional charge f o r each addi t ional mile. cos t of t h e t r i p can be shared among t h e r ide r s .

45

BLAIR TOWNSHIP 1

PLATE XI1 I 1 46

CHAPTER V

ECONOMY/ECONOMIC BASE

1 1

4 ?

II I I I I

ECONOMY/ECONOMIC BASE

1 Employment data was obtained by using Bureau of Employment Security (BES)

Places os employment are grouped by the Standard Industrial Class data and a detailed telephone survey conducted by the Blair County Planning Commission. ification (SIC) Code. (9) related groups below:

The standard codes were further grouped into the nine

Table VI

1976 Blair Township Employees

SIC Code Categories

Mining Contract construction Food manufacturing and processing Machinery manufacturing Transportation 6 Motor Freight Service Wholesale and retail trade Finance, insurance, real estate Services Public Administration

Total Employees

Blair Township Employees

2 173 49 8

303 218 15 31 629

1,428 -

% of Total Employees in Blair Townshin

.14

3.40 1.00 21.20 15.30 1.00 2.20 44.00

12.10 . .

100%

Source: 1976 Bureau of Employment Security Department of Labor and Industry. 1976 Telephone Survey conducted by the Blair County Planning Commission.

Agriculture and its related employment is not outlined on this page.

From this table, it can be seen that the largest employer is Public Admin- This large istration; 629 persons or 44 percent of the total persons employed.

figure is due to the State Police District'#9 headquarters and the State highway Department located on Juniata Street. Services, and Wholesale and Retail Trade make up a large part of the township's employment force; 521 employees or 36.5 percent of the work force.

Transportation and Motor Freight

In Blair County as a whole, definite economic trends are evident. Agri- cultural employment and the number of farms are both declining. growth is anticipated in the growth areas of the County, and the concentration of retail establishments appears to be shifting.

Some industrial

Agriculture is a large user of land in Blair Township. However, there is no reason to believe that Blair Township will not follow the county trend. number of farms and agricultural jobs can be expected to decrease, especially as the demand for residential units in the Township continues to grow.

The

'Department of Labor and Industry (BES)

2Standard Industrial Classification Manual, Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget.

47

The following t a b l e i l l u s t r a t e s t he declining number of farms i n B la i r county :

Table VI1

Number of Farms i n Blair County

1974 Catt le 600 490

Hog 2 50 180

80 Chic ken

- 1971 - Dairy 255 220

Sheep 40 45 - 170 -

Total* 700 620

Source: 1971, 1974: Bureau of t he Census

*Some farms produce more than one product. The t o t a l i s the ac tua l t o t a l , no t t h e sum of farms by product,

Once farms are taken out of production by the s t r ipp ing of land f o r con- s t ruc t ion purposes, t h e land i n most cases never re turns t o good farmable land. Therefore a decl ine over th ree years i n farms is an accurate measure t h a t farms are decl ining i n number and w i l l continue t o decline unless something i s done t o conserve farmland o r r ed i r ec t fu ture development.

I 1 I I I I I

The number of r e t a i l establishments i n Blair County appears t o have declined between 1963 and 1967. a d e f i n i t i v e trend. However, growth i n ac tua l numbers of r e t a i l es tabl ish- ments was noted i n Logan Township, f o r t h i s same t i m e period. It i s l i k e l y t h a t similar growth i n r e t a i l establishments could occur i n Blair Township, which is a l s o i n a "growth corridor" because of t h e Township's expected highway improvements and proximity t o population concentration.

This i s too shor t a time period t o e s t ab l i sh

I

48

CHAPTER VI

POPULATION

POPULATION

I

I'

This chapter is intended to provide an overview of Blair Township population as it relates to the future of the township. All phases of a planning*program in one way or another involves people. For example, plans are prepared for the movement of people; the provision of services and facilities to meet the needs of the citizens, and the environment in which people live. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the characteristics of the resident population which make up the township. of characteristics and growth trends of the population is essential in determining future land area requirements of residential, commercial, industrial, public, and other land uses. In addition, population needs bear a direct relationship upon the adequacy of community facilities, including educational and recreational facilitieg as well as the provision of service.

The analysis

Population Trends

Many changes have taken place in the population of Blair Township, particularly within the past twenty years. that the population increased from decade to decade, from 1043 persons in 1900 to 4333 persons in 1977. substantial growth took place between 1960 and 1977.

The most significant change is

As shown in the following table, the most

Year

18 50 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1977

Table VI11 Population Trends

Blair Township 1850-1977

Population Increase From Previous Decade

Numeric a1 Percent

991 1176 1571 1094 1279 1043 1134 1441 1828 2068 2105 2478 3228 4333

- 185 395

-477 185

-236 91 307 387 240 37 373 7 50 1105

18.7 33.6

16.9

8.7 27.1 26.9 13.1 1.8 17.7 30.3 34.2

-30.4

-18.5

I 49

I n 1900, Blair Township had a recorded population of 1043. During t h e next 4 decades, t h e Community f lourished and t h e population doubled. How- ever, from 1940 t o 1960, t h e population increased by only 410 persons, an increase of only 19.8%. of t h e present decade, t h e popu la t im increased by 74.9% o r 1,855 persons. In e f fec t , t h e township's population has almost doubled i n less than two decades.

I n t h e decade between 1960 and 1970 and seven years

Under 5 Years 5 t o 9 Years 10 t o 14 Years 15 t o 19 Years 20 t o 24 Years 25 t o 34 Years 35 t o 44 Years 45 t o 54 Years 55 t o '59 Years 60 t o 64 Years 65 t o 74 Years 75 Years 6, Over i

Population Charac te r i s t ics

1 . Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census, 1970 Census of Population

Age i s a most important population c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . I t i s usefu l i n pred ic t ing b i r t h and death rates and t h e population change caused by t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l i n such rates.

Studies of t h e number of people of each agd and sex revea ls which age groups occur most o f t en o r l eas t o f t en i n a population group. This information i s valuable i n determining employment po ten t i a l , b i r t h r a t e , change i n age composition and sex rates, and o ther f a c t o r s which can serve as t h e b a s i s f o r planning f o r t h e needs of t h e population.

The following t a b l e contains t h e sex composition and r a t i o s by age groups f o r t h e population of Census Tract I11 (Bla i r Township, Newry Borough and Duncansville Borough), as presented i n t h e 1970 Census of Population. Due t o t h e fact t h a t information concerning population c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i s n'ot r ead i ly ava i lab le f o r Blair Township ind iv idua l ly , population character- ist ics w i l l be furnished a t t h e t rac t l eve l .

Table I X

Census Tract I11

Sex Composition 6 Ratios By Age Groups

Sex Ratio- Age Group Male Female Total Males/100 Females

237 274 287 237 149 315 2 90 305 131 95 117 67

2 54 243 272 2 44 190 330 321 320 110 101 133 77

491 517 559 481 339 645 61 1 625 241 196 2 50 144

93.3 112.8 105.5 97.1 78.4 95.5 90.3 95.3 119.1 94.1 88.0 87.0

I I I I I 1 I

I I I I I I

50

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I I I I I I

The preceding t z b l e i l l u s t r a t e s t h a t within Census Trac t 111, f o r t h e age groups i n t h e range from 1 5 t o 7 4 years and over , there a r e genera l ly more females than males.

A quick look a t t h e same information concerning sex composition and r a t i o s by age group f o r a l l munic ipa l i t i es i n B l a i r County r evea l s s i m i l i a r f indings. The following t a b l e lists t h i s information for B l a i r County.

Age Group

Under 5 Years 5 t o 9 Years 10 t o 1 4 Years 15 t o 1 9 Years 20 t o 24 Years 2 5 t o 3 4 Years 35 t o 44 Years 45 t o 54 Years 55 t o 59 Years 60 t o 64 Years 65 t o 7 4 Years 75 Years & Over

Table X

Sex Composition 6 Ratios by Age Groups

B l a i r County

Sex Ratio- Male Female Total Males/100 Females

5357 6297 6773 6032 3737 6771 7036 8101 3554 3165 4457 2631

5260 5996 6265 6176 4833 7443 7900 9117 4179 3891 6119 4266

10,617 12,293 13,038 12,208

8,570 14,214 14,936 17,218

7,056 10,576

6,897 '

7,733

101.8 105.0 108.1

97.7 77.3 91.0 89.1 88.9 85.0 81.3 72.8 - 61.7

Source: U.S. Dept. of.Commerce, Bureau of t h e Census, 1970 Census of Population.

Table I X r evea l s t h a t a l a r g e number of t h e r e s iden t s i n c e n s u s T r a c t ' I I I a r e youngand o lde r a d u l t s (25-54) while t h e r e are a smal le r amount of o lder a d u l t s (60-75+). Also, t h e r e i s a small amount of people between t h e ages of : ( 1 5-24 ) .

These f a c t s imply t h a t B l a i r Township population i s composed of an increas ing number of young middle age adu l t s and young teenagers . u l a t i o n i s a l s o composed of a l e s s e r number o f o lde r adults(60-754 and young a d u l t s (15-24).

The pop-

This type of information on population composltion is important where p lans a r e prepared f o r schools , parks , and o the r f a c i l i t i e s .

I I 5 1

I 1, I I I I I I I

I I

I I I I 1 I

I I

I I

AGE

75+ 65 - 74 60-64 55-59 45-54 35 -44

Chart XI

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

POPU L AT I ON COMPOSITION

BY AGE AND SEX

( POPUL AT I ON)

MALE (POPULATION)

FEMALE

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF CENSUS, 1970 CENSUS

52 OF POPULATION

25-34 20 -24 15 -19 10 -14 5 -9 0 - 4

CHAPTER VI1

HOUSING

.. HOUSING

FIousing Units 1950

5 98

This section of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township is oriented to an overview of housing in Blair Township. of housing as well as its availability in terms of meeting existing housing needs.

Emphasis is placed on the condition

1 I

Housing Housing Housing Housing Housing Units Units Units Units Units 1960 1967 1970 1972 1977

712 791 964 1116 1409

Existing Housing Stock

According to the definitions used by the U.S. Census of Population and Housing, a housing unit is defined as "houses, apartments, groups of rooms, and single rooms which are either occupied or vacant but intended for occupancy as separate living quarters." structure.

A unit should therefore not be equated with a

The information presented concerning the existing housing stock is available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the housing survey conducted by the Blair County Planning Commission in 1972 and the land use survey conducted by the Blair County Planning Commission during 1977-78.

The change in numbers of Blair Township's existing housing stock is summarized below in Table

Table XI1

Change in Number of Housing Units in Blair Township

(1950 - 1977)

~ 7- I I

Source: U.S. Census of Housing, 1950, 1960, and 1970; Housing Blair County Planning Commission, 1967 and 1972.

*Estimated housing unit count for Blair Township; Blair County

Change in

Number of Housing

1950 - 1977

+813

Survey by the

Planning Commission.

Blair To-wnship new hotising construction has averaged approximately 50 units per year for the last five years. pected to continue experiencing new construction at approximately the same rate as it has in the past. Blair County Planning Commission to estimate the location of future growth, Blair Township can be expected to continue developing around Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, and Newry Boroughs.

The township is well situated and can thus be ex-

According to the "Centers Concept" of growth used by the '

53

Existing Housing Conditions

In preparing the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair

I i

Township, the condition of existing housing must be analyzed in order to determine the stability of the municipality's tax base and the general safety of the municipality's citizens.

The study of the condition of the township's housing was performed by the Blair County Planning Commission in 1972. The study consisted of an exterior visual survey of all housing structures in the township which were recorded in the County Assessment department. The units were evaluated on a point system developed by the Blair County Planning Commission and its housing consultant. Units were then classified into the following categories of condition:

Standard/Sound - A unit which has no defects or only slight defects which are corrected during the course of regular maintenance. Can also be defined as a structure with no violations of housing or building codes.

In Need of Minor Rehabilitation (Deteriorated to a minor degree) - A unit which is a substandard building having deficiencies which cannot be corrected through normal maintenance. Deficiencies are limited to noncritical structure elements such as inadequate chimneys, porches and stairs, doors and windows. Extensive defects in a number of the above could qualify a structure for major rehabilitation.

I I

1 I 1

In Need of Major Rehabilitation (Deteriorated to a major degree - sub-

9 standard structure having deficiencies in critical structural elements such as inadequate foundations, exterior walls, chimneys and roofs, but which is still salvageable.

In Need of Replacement (Delapidated) - A structure with a total lack or failure of a critical structural element to a point where major rehabilitation is not feasible. present condition endangers the health, safety and wel1;bsing of the occupants.

Such housing does not provide safe and adequate shelter and its

As noted in TableXII, above, the number of housing units in Blair Town- ship has increased by 293 units since the 1972 survey. These new units will not be included in the analysis of the housing conditions. housing conditions will be based upon the completed housing conditions survey included in Part I1 of the Blair County Housing Plan and Program. tables present a summary of the township's housing survey.

The analysis of

The following

Table XIII

Number of Housing Units by Condition 1972

I I Total Housing Standard Minor Major Need

Units Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Replaced

1116 928 4 178 6 100% , 83.2% 0.3% 15.9% . 0.6%

I

I 1 Source: Blair County Housing Plan and Program, Part I1

54

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11 I I

1972 Housing Survey

Table XIV

Number of Housing Units by Condition and Structure Type

Single Two Multi Mobile Mise.* TOTAL Family Family Homes

TOTAL UNITS 1013 18 % STANDARD 7 5% 8 3% % Minor Rehab. 1% - % Major Rehab. 20% 17% % Replace 4% -

84 233** 61 1409 - 81% 100% 8 3% - 1% - 1% - 18% - 15% - - - 17%

Source: Blair County Housing Plan and Program, Part I1 *Miscellaneous - Residential and Commercial mixed, residential hotels and transit lodging.

**Should have anchors or tie-downs in order to insure the safety of residents.

Table XIV reflects the information as obtained by the 1977 Land Use Survey" Detailed information is available which identifies all units by the various condition ratings. With this information, individual dilapidated and deteriorated units can be identified. concentrated Neighborhood and Housing Rehabilitation Programs.

This information can be used in developing

Analysis of Blair Township's Housing Market

The purpose of a housing market analysis is to establish the number of housing units that are needed in the township.

The market analysis investigates the relationship of income to housing ex- penditure. The best indication of the ability to purchase or rent is reflected in the families income. Generally a family which lives in a rental unit should spend about 20 to 25% of its gross monthly income on rent; a family which wants to own a home should spend 2 to 2.5 times its gross annual income for a home.

Table xv Number of Families 6, Income Ranges

for Census Tract I11 (Blair Township, Newry Borough, Duncansville Borough)

Income Category Number of Monthly Housing Purchase Fami lies Rent Power Based Upon

Census Tract Ranges Income I11

All Families 1399 - Less than $1000 9 $0-20 $1000 - $1,999 42 20-39

- 0-$2,000

2000-$4,000

55

Income Cat. No. of Fam. Mo. Rent Housing Purchase

2000 - 2999 3000 - 3999 4000 - 4999 5000 - 5999 6000 - 6999 7000 - 7999 8000 - 8999 9000 - 9999

12000 - 14,999 15000 - 24,999 25000 - 49,999

10000 - 11,999

50000 or more

60 83 91 86 124 137 170 85

226 126 112 36 12

39-58 58-77 77-96 96-115

11 5-135 135-154 154-173 173-192 192-231 231-288 288-481 481-962

962

4000 - $6000 6000 - $8000 8000 - $10,000 12C.00 - $14,000 14000 - $16,000 16000 - $18,000 18000 - $20,000 20000 - $24,000 24000 - $30,000 30000 - $50,000 50000 - $100,000

10000 - $12,000

$100,000 +

Sources:l.U.S. Census of Housing, 1970. (Data available only at the tract level 1

2.Blair County Housing Plan and Program

The median family income for Blair Township was $8,397 based upon,1970 incomes. The median value of housing for the municipality should be somewhere in line -

with the following table: Table XVI

Optimum Housing Value Based on Median Income . .

Median Family Optimum Optimum Income Rents Housing Value

$8,397 $161 $16,800

Blair County Housing Plan and Program, Part I11 Source:

Seventy-six percent (76%) of the housing units in Blair Township are owner- occupied. The following table indicates the average value of owner-occupied housing with the ratio of income level and the percent of income spent on rent.

As can be seen, home ownership is far more popular than renting.

Table XVII Ratio of Housing Value to Median Income

Median Family Income

Averaee Value of Owner Occupied

Housing

Ratio of Average value to income

I

I I I 1 I 1 I

i 1

I

t

$8,397 $10,100 1.2

Source: Blair County Housing Plan and Program, Part I11

The above information indicates that people yho can afford higher valued

4 housing are not purchasing it. available to lower income families. Families at the lower income levels can find little housing that they can afford'and thus have to pay a higher ratio to satisfy their housing needs.

The effect of this is to reduce the housing

I In part, this can be explained by the lack

I 56

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I I ' I I I

of low income housing in the township. the rental market as indicated below.

The same general situation occurs in

Table XVIII Percentage of Income Paid for

Rent

Number of Families by Income $0 - $4,999 $5,000 - $9,999 10,000 - 14,999

Under 20% 14 104 ** Over 20% 72 3 6.

**Information not available I The above table indicates that the lower income groups in the township

pay a rental fee which is a greater portion of the family income, and that families with higher incomes are paying less than they can afford for rent. An explanation for this may lie in the fact that most low income housing is presently not constructed in the township.

Chart XIX,depicts the relationship of Blair Township's housing condition with the other townships as a whole and Blair County.

57

- . I ) = = = = r D - * = = I = = I - m = PERCENTAGE OF HOUSING UNITS BY

CONDITION = BLAIR COUNTY (METROPOLITAN BALANCE), TOWNSHIPS

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

90

ml

69

LEGEND BLAIR COUNTY co Ln

I METROPOLITAN BALANCE I

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIPS

SOURCE: BLAIR COUNTY HOUSING PLAN AND

PROGRAM PARTII,III

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I I

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1

CHAPTER VI11

DRAFT GOALS, P O L I C I E S , AND O B J E C T I V E S

BLAIR TOWNSHIP

Draft Goals. Policies. and Ob-iectives

I

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Goals, policies, and objectives were prepared for Blair Township by the Blair Township Planning Commission, following two ( 2 ) public workshops. The goals and policies are based upon public opinion regarding the desired future for Blair Township, as well as existing conditions, state and federal laws, )environmental and economic considerations, and historic and esthetic values. encouraged, in order to achieve the desired goals.

The objectives are specific statements of actions which will be

LAND USE

GOAL: Encourage the best use of the township land to accommodate future growth.

Policy 1:

Policy 2:

'Policy 3:

Policv 4:

Encourage growth in areas closest t o utilities.

Encourage growth in proximity to transportation.

Provide appropriate sites for industry.

Prevent the mixing of incompatible uses.

Policy 5:

Policy 6:

I

Encourage orderly, staged development.

In areas where studies have been performed in accordance with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program and the llfloodwaylf (area of actual passage of flood waters), and "floodway fringe" (the remainder of the 100 year flood plain" have been identified, restrict the use of the floodway to recreation, open space, or agricultural uses. Floodway fringe areas shall be developed in accordance with the building code ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township to comply with the regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program. identifying the floodway, and floodway fringe areas have not been conducted, the flood plain will be delineated with the use of soils information from the soil survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Conservation Service. In these instances, developers will be asked'to furnish proof that the proposed development will not take place in a floodway. Such proof shall be provided by engineering studies, or documented information detailing flood elevations in the area. Development of floodplains identified with flood soil information, where a floodway is not present, shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of the building code ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township to comply with the regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program. When studies identifying the floodway and floodway fringe are completed, these studies will be used to amend the land use plan, and regulations governing the floodway shall then take effect.

In areas where studies

59

Pol icy 7: Discourage development of s t e e p s lopes.

OBJECTIVE 1: Tree farming and r ec rea t iona l uses w i l l be encouraged i n t h e s t e e p s lope areas Short Mountains, e a s t of Reservoir Road, through t h e use of a zoning ordinance.

of t h e township such as Loop and

SOCIAL GOALS

- GOAL: To encourage growth of educat ional oppor tun i t i e s and provis ion of h e a l t h se rv i ces .

OBJECTIVE : To encourage r e se rva t ion of appropr ia te s i tes f o r schools.

OBJECTIVE :

OBJECTIVE :

To reserve "appropriate s i t e ( s ) f o r a c l i n i c .

To encourage f u l l e r use of educat ional bu i ld ings f o r evening a d u l t classes, r ec rea t iona l uses , and day care cen te r s ( f o r example ) .

OBJECTIVE : ' To encourage t h e use of ramps as access ways f o r t h e handicapped i n t o publ ic bu i ld ings .

ECONOMIC GOALS

- GOAL:

GOAL:

To ' reserve appropr ia te si tes f o r economic development wi th in t h e township.

To assist i n r e t e n t i o n of e x i s t i n g i n d u s t r i e s , and t o a t t r a c t new i n d u s t r i e s .

-

POLICY: To provide water and sewer t o s i tes where indus t ry should be encouraged.

GOAL: To assist i n r e t e n t i o n of t h e h ighes t q u a l i t y a g r i c u l t u r a l land. - OBJECTIVE:

OBJECTIVE:

To encourage t h e development of a farmers market.

To avoid p lac ing development pressures on a g r i c u l t u r a l land.

- GOAL: To promote t h e development of environmentally sound r ec rea t iona l i ndus t ry i n s t e e p s lope areas.

OBJECTIVE: Short and Loch Mountain a rea east of Reservoir Road, from McKee t o t h e Loop i n t h e undeveloped areas should be used f o r r ec rea t iona l uses such as t h e following:

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1. Camping 2. Hiking 3 . Hunting i n season 4. 5. Cross country s k i i n g

Snow mobiling and d i r t b ik ing i n spec i f i ed areas

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OBJECTIVE 2:

OBJECTIVE 3:

Adoption of a zoning ordinance t o guide growth.

Adoption of a subdivis ion ordinance t o guide growth.

TRANSPORTATION

- GOAL: To provide an e f f i c i e n t , safe, and economical t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system f o r t h e township.

P o l i c y 1: Provide improved access i n t o crowded areas .

OBJECTIVE 1: A l l e v i a t e t h e t ra f f ic t i e up around Le igh ty ' s Market 'wi th t h e use of s i g n a l i z a t i o n .

OBJECTIVE 2: Widen t h e curve a t t h e Sam Rea Shops, i n s t a l l s i g n a l i z a t i o n , o r use one way en t r ances t o a l l e v i a t e congestion.

P o l i c y 2: Encourage pub l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f o r t hose people i n need of it.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

- GOAL: To provide adequate water, sewerage, and s o l i d waste d i s p o s a l s e r v i c e s t o t h e developed and developing areas of t h e township.

P o l i c y 1:

P o l i c v 2:

P o l i c y 3:

Maintain cons i s t ency with p rev ious ly adopted p l ans f o r t h e county and Southcentral B l a i r County.

Encourage a l l new u t i l i t y l i n e s t o be p u t underground.

A l l p u b l i c u t i l i t y l i n e s (sewered and water) should be mapped, and maps should be given t o t h e township.

- GOAL: To discour ge growth i n and p r o t e c t environmentally and h i s t o r i c a l l s e n s i t i v e a reas .

P o l i c y 1: Growth s h a l l n o t be encouraged i n environmentally s e n s i t i v e areas such as major watersheds and ccnse rva t ion watersheds, on t h e s i tes of h i s t o r i c a l l y o r a rcheo log ica l ly important f i n d i n g s , o r on s i t e s of g r e a t n a t u r a l beauty.

HOUSING

GOAL: To encourage p rov i s ion of a wide choice of adequate housing t h a t w s e rve t h e va ry ing housing needs of t h e township.

__. 1

P o l i c y 1: Adoption and use of housing and b u i l d i n g codes t o maintain and enforce housing s tandards.

P o l i c y 2: Encourage r e h a b i l i t a t i o n of substandard houses through low i n t e r e s t loan program.

P o l i c y 3:

P o l i c y 4:

Encourage fa i r housing i n t h e township.

Adopt subd iv i s ion r e g u l a t i o n s t o guide housing development.

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CHAPTER IX

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

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POPULATION PROJECTIONS

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r? 6000 5000 2 4000 5 -- 3000 -_ 2000 g -- l O O O ~ , ,

Of all the population studies prepared f o r planning purposes, the population projections are by far the most important. ively for the future orderly growth and development of Blair Township an indication of the probable future size of the population must be available.

In order to plan effect-

Comparison between growth rates of Blair Township and Blair County reveals that even though county population declined from 1950 to 1970,

.r Township's population continued increasing. Blair

857 --

2068 '

ii I 1943

I

The following displays the population trends and projection f o r both Blair Township and Blair County.

BLAIR COUNTYChart xx 160 + Population Trend and

Projection 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 0

CI v)

Z v) 3 0 I I-

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B l a i r Township's p a s t popula t ion f i g u r e s i n d i c a t e a con t inua l i nc rease i n t h e township 's popula t ion . increases i n t h e popula t ion . i n c r e a s e s i n t h e p a s t decade b u t r a t h e r a gradual and s t eady inc rease .

Future p r o j e c t i o n s a l s o i n d i c a t e a d d i t i o n a l This increase, however, may n o t be as r ap id as

For t h e purpose o f t h i s s tudy t h e township 's p r o j e c t i o n s are made f o r t h r e e ( 3 ) , f ive (51, and t e n ( 1 0 ) y e a r pe r iods - t h e y e a r s 1980, 1985, 1990, 2000. This informat ion i s d isp layed i n t h e fo l lowing t a b l e .

Table XXII

Popula t ion P r o j e c t i o n s f o r B l a i r Township

Change Year Popula t ion Numerical Percent

1977 4333 1980 4807 1985 5070 1990 5332 2000 58 57

L_ -- 474 10.9 263 5.5 262 5.2 52 5 10.0

Source: B l a i r County Planning Commission, 1974 and 1978.

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CHAPTER X

LAND USE PLAN

PURPOSE, SCOPE AND GOALS

The Land Use Plan for Blair Township is the synthesis of basic studies in the aforementioned sections of this Comprehensive Plan, acreage projections, basic design standards, public input, and goals, policies and objectives outlined in a previous section. The purpose of the Land Use Plan is to provide a guide for future development of Blair Township, identify appropriate land use relationships within the township, and formulate desirable criteria for determining the land use configurations. Township Land Use Plan is consistent with the land use goals and policies of the Blair County Planning Commission. Blair Township confines itself to the municipal boundary, adjacent municipal plans, studies, ordinances, and existing development have been taken into consideration in developing the Blair Township Comprehensive Plan. This was achieved through technical assistance by the Blair County Planning Commission and consistency with Blair County's Areawide Comprehensive Plan.

The Blair

Although the Land Use Plan for

As stated in the "Goals, Policies and Objectives" section of Blair Township's Comprehensive Plan, the township prepared this plan to encourage the best use of the land to accommodate future growth. Plan identify the constraints used in formulating this plan.

The following sections of the Land Use

LAND USE SUITABILITY

The majority of developable land in Blair Township is either farmland, wooded, or vacant land. pressured to develop due to its proximity to utilities, existing development, and transportation.

The'farmland close to centers of development is presently

By concentrating development in close proximity to utilities, transportation, and developing centers, the rural nature of Blair Township, specifically agricultural land located in the more remote areas of Blair Township, will hopefully be conserved as expressed by public input workshops held by the Blair Township Planning Commission.

Flood Plain Land

As stated in Policy six (6) of the Blair Township Land Use "Goals, Policies, and Objectives", the policy of identifying and restricting development of flood plain land is directed toward concern for the health and welfare of the residents of Blair Township. The areas depicted on Plate XI11 are outlined using available data on floodway, floodway fringe areas, and flood prone soils as stated in Chapter I of the Comprehensive Plan for Blain Township.

Detailed updated floodplain studies will be available within the next two These new studies will enable Blair Township to prohibit development years.

in the identified floodway and restrict development on flood fringe areas. land use plan will be revised upon obtaining this information.

The

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Flood plain development is hazardous not only to the individual developer, but also to existing development which is downstream of that development. displacement of flood waters by additional development increases the flood level above projected levels, thereby covering additional real estate.

The

Agricultural and non-intensive recreational development are ideally suited to the floodplain. 3C and 191,WD of the rules and regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program and new construction in the flood plain is restricted. Once the detailed studies are completed by the Federal Insurance Administration, a stronger control of the flood plain will be available to Blair Township.

Presently Blair Township complies with 2 4 CFR Sections 1910.

Steep Slope

Development on slopes of 25% (a rise of one (1) foot in elevation for every four ( 4 ) feet of horizontal. distance) and greater dhould not be encouraged. Slopes over 25% are considered unsuitable for development because of safety problems this would create for roads and the difficulty encountered in building on and extending services to these slopes. are depicted on the steep slope map, Plate XIII.

Steep slope areas of 25% and greater

ChartMII& describes the ,impact of development on natural features such as soil groups and slope groups.as defined in Chapter I, ffSoilsff.

Some types of development gnd land use are compatible with steep slope characteristics. Examples are hunting, hiking, tree farming, skiing, and restricted snow mobile tracks. this type of topography, such as lumbering, if the amount and location of the harvest and re-planting is *controlled.

Also, some types of industry are compatible with

Uncontrolled development in either the flood plain areas or steep slope areas now, can make irreversible and costly environmental effects for existing development, ground water supplies, recreational possibilities, and watershed areas. Limited steep slope development may not damage the community, but such developments must be carefully regulated.

LAND. USE COMPATABILITY

An effective land use plan-meets the diverse needs of different land uses. Commercial and industrial development requires access to major transportation routes to receive basic materials, to distribute manufactured products, and to handle the influx of employees. with public services such as police, fire, water and sewer, solid waste disposal, schools and churches, and other public utilities and facilities. systems utilized by new residential development are usually extensions of existing local roads. and although they are not inherently a problem for residential areas, do gen- erate a good deal of noise and,traffic congestion. Outdoor recreational uses of the less intensive nature, i.a. play lots,

Residential development is primarily associated

The roadway

Institutional facilities are large traffic generators

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tennis courts, ballfields, etc., are compatible with residential areas. On the other hand, stadiums, ice rinks, race tracks and other intensive recreational development are not compatible with residential development. Industrial and commercial areas of the same intensity are usually compatible with one another; but industrial and most commercial are not compatible with residential (specifically single family units) development. Refer to Chart XXIV.

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A n -E: 1"=3,400'

PREPARED ey BLAIR COUNTY DATE : UARCH,1978

PLANNINQ COYY18810N

PLATE X l l l

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IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT *

ON NATURAL FEATURES

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.Chart XXIV '

8 MEDIUM

LAND USES

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Table XXV Results Generated By Land Use Type

Definitions and Intensitv of Development

Residential High Multifamily high rise i Multifamily apartment Mobile home park Rowhouses with more than 10 units Hotel, motel (16-50 H.U. per acre)

Residential Mediu.m Two family duplex Rowhouses - less than 10 units Two story duplex - 4 family Small apartment buildings low rise (6-15 H.U. per acre) Townhouses Mixed - apartments above store

Residential Low Single family (1-5 H.U. per acre) Single mobile home Farmhouse Single family, large iot

Industry High Major heavy industry - steel, refinery, Industrial district - several adjacent Industries generating a polluting or

Food industry (large) Mining, Quarrying

paper mill

industries

dangerous by-product

Industry Medium

Industry Medium

Food industry (small)

Light industry industrial park

Industry Low :, Single light industry (small) Small food industry Construction industry

Commercial High Large shopping mall Commercial "stripft of large stores Central Business District Warehouses, bulk fuel storage Highway related commercial

Generates d Traffic Need for parking space Need for utilities, protection, schools) Need for recreation & pedestrian facilities

Traffic Need for parking, utilities, protection, schools, recreation, pedestrian facilities

Traffic Minimal utilities, protection, recreation

Pollution - air water noise Traffic Truck delivery Rail delivery Requires special utilities Large land need Buffers needed

Traffic Truck, rail delivery pollution Special utility needs Large land need

Traffic Minor pollution Truck transportation

Traffic Large parking need Truck or rail shipping Need for major road

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Table XXV (continued)

Definit ions and I n t e n s i t y of Development

Commercial Medium Neighborhood shopping center Large r e t a i l o r wholesale s t o r e Gas s t a t i o n Res t au ran t Drive i n r e s t au ran t , dr ive i n bank,

grocery Indoor amusements (bowling, e t c . ) Supermarket

Commercial Low Individual small neighborhood s t o r e -

(pharmacy, e t c . I small s t o r e s on one s t r e e t , primarily

Home business - (dress maker i n home, e t c . ) walk i n business

I n s t i t u t i o n a l High Major hosp i t a l College o r univers i ty Major governmental building Large museum, zoo, l i b r a r y ,

Large care center - Salvation Army

J a i l ,Concert h a l l s , large thea t r e s

planetarium

hos te l , e t c .

I n s t i t u t i o n a l Medium High school, j un io r high Clinic Smal l government o f f i c e building F i r e , pol ice Large church Halfway house Nursing home Small museum

I n s t i t u t i o n a l Low Grade school Small church Neighborhood type i n s t i t u t i o n a l

Recreational High Arenas Stadiums I ce skat ing r ink Race t r ack Drive-ins Amusement parks, marinas, miniature golf

Generates

T ra f f i c Parking need Need f o r a r t e r i a l road Truck shipping

Some t r a f f i c Some truck del ivery

Tra f f i c Need major parking Special needs - qu ie t , i so l a t ion Large land need Emergency t r a f f i c

T ra f f i c Pedestrians May produce emergency t r a f f i c Need parking

Pedestrians Some t r a f f i c C parking

Large land need Parking, t r a f f i c Noise

71 .

Gene ra t e s

Large land use need Parking T r a f f i c Noise

Table xxv . (cont inued)

Def in i t ions and I n t e n s i t y of Development

Recreation Medium Golf course Parks, playgrounds Open fairground Passive r ec rea t ion Open playgrounds, baseba l l diamonds Movie t h e a t r e

Recreation Low Mini park Tot l o t s

Transport , C.U. High Rai l road right-of-way RR shops, r e p a i r , s to rage Motor f r e i g h t terminal C depot Bus terminal C depot Taxi te rmina l Ai rpor t Sewage Treatment P lan t Power p l an t Power l i n e s Highway thruway - l imi t ed access Radio C TV Tower - interchanges

Transport , C.U. Medium S m a l l t reatment p l an t Land need U t i l i t y right-of-way above ground Noise Parking garage o r l o t Televis ion s t a t i o n A i r po l lu t ion Radio s t a t i o n Traff ic Arterial , open access highway

Poss ib le water po l lu t ion

Transport , C.U. Low S m a l l genera tor T r a f f i c Underground u t i l i t y Parking Co l l ec to r s t r e e t s Land Smal l parking l o t A i r po l lu t ion

Agr i cu l tu ra l High Large d a i r y farm Large land need Large cropland Water po l lu t ion Large produce farm Odor Fores t ry

Agr i cu l tu ra l Medium Medium, d a i r y , crop, produce Land .need

Water po l lu t ion Odor

Agr i cu l tu ra l Low Truck farm Land need S tab le s Odor

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Pedes t r ians Parking

Large land need Traffic Noise A i r po l lu t ion Water po l lu t ion Odor

1 LAND USE CONFIGURATIONS

(1985 and 2000)

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Public workshops were conducted by the Blair Township Planning Commission to gather public opinion on the desired future direction of Blair Township. point stressed by workshop participants was the conservation of farmland and the preservation of a rural atmosphere in Blair Township.

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Agricultural land is unique because the land is suitable for farming and is also suitable for development. sloped and cleared, presenting few conservation problems and reasonable construction costs for new development. Agricultural land in close proximity to existing developing centers is being pressured into development, while more rural areas of farmland are still secure. Agricultural areas close to development are also close to utilities and, services which are other incentives for the developer. Blair Township officials recognize that unguided growth is occuring in agricultural areas. Planned development around existing centers leads to an efficient use of land, services and utilities and the conservation of the more rural areas in the township. Centralization of development in environmentally sound areas is the major planning concept carried throughout this plan.

Agricultural land is usually well drained, shallow

Centers of existing development that also have adjacent developing land areas are located in the Penn Farms Estates area, Loop Area, Reservoir Road area, McKee/Vicksburg/Brooks Mills area and the area adjacent to Newry. between Duncansville and Newry Borough and along both sides of U.S. Route 220 exemplifies an elongated center of commercial and industrial development.

Also the land

Nine ( 9 ) centers, with areas of developable land adjacent to existing development are displayed on Plate XIV.

Centers 1, 4, 6, and 7 are presently residential centers. Center 1 is served by water and sewer. Centers 1, 4, 6, and 7 are constrained by either flood plain or steep slope or both. allocated to existing centers 1, 4 , 6, and 7.

Proposed residential development has been

Center 2 is presently industrial/commercial in nature. Easy access to major transportation routes, presence of large areas of developable land, existing industrial/commercial firms, plus isolation by natural barriers are factors which make Center 2 suitable for further industrial/commercial expansion.

Center 5 is also located near major transportation routes, isolated by natural and man made barriers, and located in an area containing large areas of developable land. between the proposed industrial and the existing residential development.

Buffer zones are outlined on the proposed land use plans

Center 3 , the area surrounding Newry Borough, is presently composed of residential, heavy industry, agricultural land, cemetaries and recreational facilities. Major transportation routes cross this area. A proposed relocated, reconstructed Route 220 limited access highway corridor is located east of Newry Borough. Eliminating all flood prone land, steep slope areas adjacent to the proposed

Flood prone soil covers the area south of Newry Borough.

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Route 220 cor r idor and ex i s t ing development leaves l i t t l e developable land ad- j acen t t o the ex i s t ing center of Newry Borough. and o ther similar land uses because of t h e f l i g h t paths of the Blue Knob A i r - p o r t f a c i l i t y , only commercial land use i s su i t ed t o t h i s area. This would be compatible with the ex i s t ing heavy i n d u s t r i a l and commercial development.

Eliminating proposed r e s i d e n t i a l

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Hollidaysburg Borough and Duncansville Borough Centers are the l a r g e s t These concentrations of de- developing centers adjacent t o Blair Township.

velopment support t he Township of Blair by providing employment, r ec rea t iona l , educat ional , and c u l t u r a l opportuni t ies and i n many cases provides serv ices such as water, sewer, f i r e , and pol ice protect ion t o t h e res idents of Blair Township. Cent ra l iza t ion of addi t iona l development f o r Blair Township i n c lose proximiti t o Hollidaysburg and Duncansville Boroughs would be advantageous t o the fu tu re of Blair Township. I n some cases t h i s w a s no t possible because of c o n f l i c t s with environmental c r i t e r i a ( s t eep slope and f lood p l a i n ) and sound planning p r inc ipa l s (compatible adjacent land uses) . Centers 1 (Penn Farms Area), 2 (ex- i s t i n g U. S. Route 22C. Area), and 7 (Loop Area) a re proposed with the d i r e c t inf luence of t he l a rge centers of Hollidaysburg and Duncansville i n mind.

Proposed Route 220 Area -- The envircnmental impact of the proposed Route 220 from Duncansville

t o Leamersville makes t h i s a rea unsui table f o r r e s i d e n t i a l development i n i t s immediate v i c i n i t y . The cor r idor crosses farmland, vacant and wooded land. The amount of inter-county t r a f f i c present ly using ex i s t ing route 220 should decrease when proposed Route 220 i s constructed. e x i s t i n g Route 220. Between ex i s t ing Route 220 and the proposed cor r idor o f 220 the re i s a s t r i p of land present ly occupied by s ing le family r e s i d e n t i a l s t ruc tu res . a t ion of t he e x i s t i n g r e s i d e n t i a l p roper t ies , and the impact renders t h i s a rea l e s s s u i t a b l e f o r new r e s i d e n t i a l construct ion. Therefore, tlopen space", t o a c t as a buf fer zone between the highway and ex i s t ing development, i s proposed f o r t h i s area.

Local t r a f f i c w i l l continue t o use

t The impact o f t he two major a r t e r i a l s eventual ly cause de te r ior -

Land use proposed f o r B l a i r Township i s geared t o promote a m a x i m u m con- serva t ion and a t the same time development policy. Conservation of a l l f lood prone and s t eep s lope lands i n Blair Township i s viewed as a fu tu re source of r ec rea t iona l and a g r i c u l t u r a l development, as wel l as a protect ion aga ins t fu tu re l o s s of r e a l estate. t o promote and conserve e x i s t i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l development.

Conservation of the f lood prone areas i s viewed as one way

Other areas of po ten t i a l c o n f l i c t between adjacent land uses a re , i n t he plan, proposed as open space a reas , s p e c i f i c a l l y i n Centers 2 and 3, 5, 6 , and an a rea along t h e Cat f i sh Road.

Refer t o P la t e X I I I , Flood Pla in and Steep Slope, f o r areas i n Blair Town- sh ip s u i t e d f o r conservation and preservat ion.

Acreage proposed t o be developed f o r recrea t ion purposes i s s p e c i f i c a l l y projected from ex i s t ing recrea t ion acreage i n Blair Township and i s proposed i n Centers 1, 3 , 4, 6 and 7. This acreage i s i n addi t ion t o the non-specific open space proFosals. &

m To promote harmony among ex i s t ing development, fu tu re development and

the na tu ra l environment, the mixing of incompatible land uses i s discouraged. Incompatible land uses are i d e n t i f i e d by the impact each use has on e thers . Im-

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pacts a re judged by def ining the r e s u l t s o r by-products of each land use ( see .Table X X V ) and evaluating the e f f e c t of those by-prcducts on the other land uses. The r e s u l t s of t h i s evaluation a re summarized i n ChartXXIV .

Land use plans f o r the years 1985 and 2000 are depicted on Pla tes XV and The land use plans incorporate public input , and are based XVI respect ively.

upon the goals and po l i c i e s summarized above.

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BLAIR TOWNSHIP ACREAGE PROJECTIONS BY LAND USE

I The following land use projections are based upon existing and projected population estimates * and the 1977 Land Use Survey Update conducted by the Blair County Planning Commission.

Table x x v ~

Land Use 1977 Additional 1985 Total 1985 Additional 2000 Total 2000 Existing Acreage Plotted Acre age Acreage Plotted Acreage Acreage

Residential

Single Family 724.75 151.99** 876.74"" 111.55** 988.29**

**Multi Family 15.85 , 2.95 18.80 2.65 21.45

Mobile Homes 109.97 4.83 114.80 4.27 119.07

Commerci a1 67.08 11.41 78.48 12.18 90.66

Industrial 40.20 4.09 44.29 4.09 48.38

Recreational 14.2 5 2.42 16.67 2.59 19.26

Source: 1977 Land Use Survey Update, Blair County Planning Commission/l978 Blair County Planning Commission population projections.

*Detailed information relating to population projections and methodology is on file at the Blair County Planning Commission office.

**Includes institutional projections, and highway right-of-way projections.

***Transient Lodgings and group quarters [Existing acreage 8.41 and 4.21 acres respectively are not projected and are not included within the totals.

The above projected land use is depicted on Plates XV and XVI. I

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BLAIR TOWNSHIP

PLATE X I V

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Y \

\ Industrial

-4 m o p e n Space 0 Recreation

&Proposed Route 220

PLATE XV 78 I

BLAIR TOWNSHIP 1

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT\ RESIDENTIAL

=single Fami ly =Mobile Home

Mu I t i family

Commercial Industrial

m o p e n Space Recreation

-Proposed Route 220

PLATE XVI 79

CHAPTER X I

COMMUN I T Y F A C I L I T I E S AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

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COFIBIUNITY FACILITIES and ENVIRONP~lENTAL QUALITY PLAN

Recreation

The township o f B l a i r has few highly clcveloped r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s w i th in its municipal boundaries , bu t t h i s is c o n s i s t c n t w i t h t h e c i t i z e n s ' w i s d t o r e t a i n t h e r u r a l atmosphere of E l a i r Tomship. i t i e s a r e a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e major i ty of r e s i d e n t s of B l a i r Tomship. amples of developed f a c i l i t i e s i n ad jo in ing mun ic ipa l i t i e s . include, b u t are n o t l i m i t e d t o : Dysart Park, and t h e YMCA i n Hollidaysburg Borough; Canoe Creek S t a t e Parlc and t h e Scotch Val ley Golf Course i n Frankstorm Township; t h e Meadows Driving Range and Pine Ridge Golf Course i n Allegheny Township.

Large developed f a c i l - Ex-

t h e Del l Del ight Legion Parlc, Blairrnont Country Club,

B l a i r Township's wooded land, i n some cases , o f f e r s small and l a r g e game hunt ing i n season.

The r e c r e a t i o n a l proposa ls f o r B l a i r Township a r e of two types . The first

This could inc lude tcnnis/basltetball /volleyball c o u r t s , baseba l l f i e l d s , t ype proposed i s developed r e c r e a t i o n a l a r eas i n t h e growing r e s i d e n t i a l ten- t e r s . 02 t o t - l o t s and similar pre-school and elementary age play areas . T h i s might a l s o inc lude r e c r e a t i o n a l s p o r t s such as swimming, r o l l e r and i c e ska t ing . However, because of t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of l a r g e developed r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s i n ad jo in ing m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , t h e proposals f o r B l a i r Township emphasize outdoor c o u r t s , p l ay f i e l d s o r t o t - l o t s t o se rve each growth ccn tc r .

The second type of r e c r e a t i o n a l proposal is t h e u t i l i z a t i o n of t h e s t c e p s lope areas o f B l a i r Township f o r l e s s 5n-l;ensive outdoor r e c r e a t i o n a l purposes. T h i s t y p e of r e c r e a t i o n inc ludcs camping, h ik ing , hunt ing, c r o s s country ski- i n g and poss ib ly snow mobile and 'dirt b ike t r a c k s i n - spec i f ied areas. r e a t i o n a l u ses o f t h i s n a t u r e w i l l be encouraged by t h e tormship i n an cnvir- onmentally sound manner.

Rec-

A municipal b u i l d i n g s i t e i s p r e s e n t l y being sought f o r t h e cons t ruc t ion of 1.- a c c n t r a l l y l o c a t e d f a c i l i t y which w i l l house o f f i c e s and meetliig--.co_oms f o r

B l a i r Township o f f i c i a l s . meeting room and act as a base f o r p o l i c e opera t ions .

This f a c i l i t y would a l s o provide space for -a cornuni ty 7.-

H i s t o r i c S i t e s

There are few known i i i s t o r i c a l sites i n B l a i r Township. it i s recommended t h a t e x i s t i n g h i s t o r i c s i t e s be pro tec ted , e s p e c i a l l y the . I Io l l i day Grave S i t e . This s i t e , because of proximity t o developing housing s i t e s , it vulnerable t o damage. The township should cons ider h i s t o r i c ' d i s t r i c t zoning.

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Sewer and Water

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With the ever-growing population of Blair Township,.new housing sites are developing, creating certain utility needs unique to more densely populated areas.

Sewer and water services are of the utmost importance in densely populated areas. timing and proposed areas of sewer and water service are depicted on Plates XVII and XVIII.

The developing centers of Blair Township were described above. The

* Most fire protection in the township is provided through the use of pumper and tanker fire trucks. pumper fire hydrants along all new water mains serving areas where few or no hydrants exist. water supply system for the Penn Farma area.

It is a logical protective measure to incorporate

This practice is now being incorporated into the new Blair Gap

/

Future water service by the Blair Gap Water Supply Company is feasible in all areas of Blair Township except the "Hamil's Hill'' area, a mountain located behind Penn Farms development and east of existing U.S. Route 220. due to the difference in the elevation of this area as compared to Blair Gap's water supply.

This is

The borough of Hollidaysburg is now under edict by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to serve certain portions of Blair Township if required. These areas are very small, and have little potential for future development because of land use planning criteria such as steep slope, and flood plain. is unlikely that Hollidaysburg Borough would extend the service area in the near future due to water pressure problems. Blair Township investigate the possibilities of developing additional sources of water supplies and/or purchasing and improving the existing Hollidaysburg Borough owned reservoir (above the Reservoir Road Area) and water line system in Blair Township to serve developing areas of Blair Township. The Reservoir Road Area and the Loop Area, two areas steadily developing and facing environmental health problems, should be considered for water service within the near future.

It

Therefore, it is recommended that

Future sewer service for Blair Township is dependent upon the future treatment capacities of existing sewage treatment plants in neighboring municipalities and the possibility of a regional treatment plant in the Kladder Station area. Presently, Hollidaysburg Borough is accepting customers from Blair Township. However, the township of Blai? or private developers must connect from the desired service area to Hollidaysburg Borough's existing system. Duncansville Borough is presently not permitted to accept additional customers for their municipal sewage treatment plant outside of municipal boundaries.

Approximately 25% of the county's existing population of 135,35$ persons The Pennsylvania Department of Health is dependent upon well water supplies.

has found approximately two-thirds of these to be unsatisfactory, primarily

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1. 1970 U.S. Census of Population

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due t o inadequate on l o t sewage treatment. In 1965, the Department of Health a lso conducted a reconnaissance s o i l survey t o determine the s p i l s u i t a b i l i t y f o r individual sewage disposal systems and the potent ia l of ground water .

contamination i n these s o i l s . center t h a t needs immediate atkention t o preserve the heal th and welfare of t he residents.

The Loop Area of Bla i r Township is one developing

The following t ab le describes the timing and location of service areas proposed f o r B la i r Township.

BLAIR TOWNSHIP Table XXvII

Proposed Timing and Location of Sewer and Water Service Areas

Sewer Service Areas

Penn Farms Area

Loop Area

' Reservoir Road Area

N e w r y Borough/Kladder Stat ion Area

Land Adjacent-to Newry

North Existing U.S. Route

Brooks M i l l Area

Borough 6, Kladder Stat ion

220 Area

Water Penn Farms Area

Loop Area

Reservoir Road Area

Newry Borough/Kladder

Land Adjacent t o

Stat ion Area

Newry Borough and Kladder Stat ion Area

North Existing U.S. Route

Brooks M i l l Area

220 Area

0- 5

X

X

'e rv ic e X

X

Years 6-10

X

X

X

X

X

11-20

X

X

X

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I BLAIR TOWNSHIP

n SCALE: 1"=3,400' DATE : YARCH,1978 PREPARED BY BLAIR COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

PLATE XVl l 83'

11 TO 20 YEARS

I BLAIR TOWNSHIP

PLATE X V l l l 84

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CHAPTER XI1

TRANSPORTATION PLAN

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TRANSPORTATION PLAN

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One of the major sections of Blair Township's Comprehensive Plan is the section -which provides for the .efficient and safe movement of people and goods within and through the township.

Traffic problems occur when improvements to highways do not parallel the Highways in many cases provide not only access rise in automobile ownership.

to adjoining land but also provide on street parking. such as blind curves, narrow cartways, inadequate road shoulders and poor signalization and lighting, contribute to the problems of congestion, delay and traffic hazards. Since traffic congestion is detrimental to the economic growth and development of an area, not to mention the hazards to the residents of Blair Township, it is the concern of Blair Township to take measures to alleviate these problems.

This, plus other factors,

Basic highway design standards should be met to lessen these problems in the developing centers of Blair Township. cases of new development should be provided and required in preliminary plans before construction takes place. be avoided. collector streets should be clear. local road systems should be consistent to provide easy maintainance, delivery of goods, and safety.

Sufficient off street parking in all

Parking along arterials or collectors should

Minimum grade and sufficient width of new Lines of sight from a property's exit and entrance to local and

With the construction of the relocated and reconstructed limited access U.S. Route 220 proposed for Blair Township, an opportunity will be present to improve highway safety conditions along existing U.S. Route 220. The proposal of a buffer zone of open space along the eastern side of existing U.S. Route 220 will- alleviate somewhat the entrance and exit problems of the remainder of the commercial establishments along the route. mented, provide a safer thoroughfare for inter-township traffic. not necessitate a higher speed posting, but the flow of traffic will be more consistant and smooth.

This proposal will, if imple- This will

Along with this problem of a consistant flow of traffic along the length of existing U.S. Route 220, is the problem of existing traffic tie ups in the more southern commercial area; specifically, the area to the south of Newry Borough. principal arterial north, and south to the local road system and Leidy's Market Area. ture because of the poor line of sight and stopping distances from the Newry Borough Area.

A signalization system is needed to provide safe access from the

The area closest to the br2dge is not recommended for this safety fea-

Another large area of traffic congestion is located around the Sam Rea Recommended solutions to this problem include the widening of the Shops.

curve that begins in the Loop area of Blair Township, installation of signalization, or the use of one way entrances to alleviate congestion. obvious that in this specific case, no parking along the minor collector through the Loop Area should be permitted.

It is

Since this congestion of traffic originates

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i n Holl idaysburg Borough, it would be t o t h e township 's advantage t o i n i t i a t e d i scuss ion concerning t h i s safety and t ra f f ic f low problem wi th t h e borough of Holl idaysburg and a l l concerned p a r t i e s .

The inadequacy of p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i s a problem n o t on ly f o r t h e r u r a l communitfes of Blair Township, b u t a l s o f o r t h e ad jo in ing boroughs of Duncans- v i l l e and Hollidaysburg. t h e gene ra l n a t u r e , a survey of t h e need and f e a s i b i l i t y of a d d i t i o n a l s e r v i c e should be undertaken.

To determine t h e need f o r p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of

It i s no ted i n t h e "Transportat ion Plan f o r Handicapped and E l d e r l y Persons1!, publ i shed i n 1978 by t h e Blair County Planning Commission, t h a t t h e r e a r e 215 e l d e r l y people i n Blair Township (persons 65 years of age and o l d e r ) according t o t h e 1970 U.S. Census of Populat ion. There are a l s o 136 d i sab led persons , as i d e n t i f i e d by t h e 1970 Census, i n Blair Township. There is a need f o r s p e c i a l s e r v i c e s f o r e l d e r l y and handicapped persons , and t h i s need i s addressed i n t h e p rev ious ly mentioned "Transpor ta t ion Plan f o r Handicapped and E l d e r l y Persons". The coord ina ted Transpor t a t ion /Escor t Serv ice d e t a i l e d i n t h e above p lan i s on ly one non-prof i t o rgan iza t ion o f f e r i n g s p e c i a l i z e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e r v i c e s t o Blair Township. (CART) program, opera ted by t h e Blair County Economic Opportuni ty Council , p rov ides services f o r t h e r u r a l areas of Blair County. l i m i t e d t o persons wi th income a t pover ty l e v e l o r below. a l s o l i m i t e d as i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e "Transportat ion Plan f o r Handicapped and E l d e r l y Persons". no means of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t o and from t h e E a s t e r Seal S o c i e t y ' s l o c a t i o n . Pennsylvania Assoc ia t ion f o r Retarded C i t i z e n s (PARC) provides some t ranspor- t a t i o n f o r menta l ly d i sab led c i t i z e n s . An i n c r e a s i n g l y e l d e r l y popula t ion i n Blair County i s p r o j e c t e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e o v e r a l l need f o r s p e c i a l i z e d t r a n s - p o r t a t i o n services f o r t hose who a r e unable t o use s t anda rd means of t ranspor- t a t i o n . In f u t u r e years, t h i s s i t u a t i o n may a l s o hold t r u e f o r Blair Township.

The Community Action Rural T r a n s i t

The CART program i s T r i p purposes are

The E a s t e r Seal Soc ie ty t r a n s p o r t s handicapped c h i l d r e n wi th The

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P r e s e n t l y , B l a i r Township r e s i d e n t s who are i n need of s p e c i a l i z e d t ranspor- t a t i o n are e l i g i b l e f o r s e r v i c e through r e f e r r a l t o t h e Transpor ta t ion /Escor t Service. A c c e s s i b i l i t y t o s tandard pub l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f o r t hose who can use it, however, i s cons ide rab ly more l imi t ed . A d e t a i l e d survey i s requ i r ed t o determine t h e need f o r s tandard p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n Blair Township.

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CHAPTER XI11

ECONOMIC PLAN

ECONOMIC PLAN & I I I I I I I

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One goal for Blair Township is to strengthen and stabilize the economic base, thereby providing a strong basis for the continued growth and development of Blair Township. assisting-in the retention of existing industries and to attract new industry by reserving appropriate sites for economic development. retain a rural atmosphere was emphasized by the Blair Township citizens, and a goal is therefore to retain the highest quality agricultural lands and to relieve development pressures on these rural farm lands. visualizes using environmentally sensitive areas (such as steep slope areas) for environmentally sound recreational industries. It is now evident that the population and work force is increasing in Blair Township. to the economic benefit of the community as a whole to provide more employment opportunities in Blair Township for Blair Township's residents.

The means for accomplishing this goal include

The desire to

The township

It would be

Blair Township's employment projections are based on the County's projected growth in employment from the year 1975 to 1985 and 2000 by Standard Industrial Code (SIC) categories.

SIC Code Categories

Mining Contract construction Food Manuf. C Process. Machinery manuf. Trans. C M.F. Service Whole C Ret. Trd. Finance, ins., real est. Services Public Administration

Table XXVIII

Employment Projections

Blair County Blair Township

1975-85 Percent 1985-2000 Percent 1975 1985 2000 Change by SIC Change by SIC No. No. No. Categories Categories Employees Employees Employees

5.85 39.71 10.64 10.47 10.18 8.70 12.32 5.85 2.50

2.84 5.76 9.62 9.48 4.84 4.17 15.60 2.84 3.22

2 173 49 8

303 218 15 31 629

2 242 54 9

334 237 17 33 645

2 2 56 59 10 3 50 247 19 34 665

Total Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,428 1,573 1,642

Source: 1975 Bureau of Employment Security/l977 Blair County Planning Commission Employment Projections.

Total change in employees for 1975 to 1985 = +145 Total change in employees for 1985 to 2000 = + 69 Total change in,employees for 1975 to 2000 = +214

The largest projected increase seen for the future (1975-2000) is in the category of Contract Construction; an increase of 83 employees or 48 percent of the contract construction categories.

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CHAPTER X I V

HOUSING PLAN

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HOUSING PLAN

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This section of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township summarizes the projected housing needs for the township.

Information regarding population change, and population characteristics is required in order to realistically project housing needs. cohort survival methodology, which considers population characteristics and past-trends, the Blair County Planning Commission prepared population projections for Blair Township, for the period 1980 through 2000. population was then used to calculate projected housing units. jection was prepared by dividing the population projected for each time period by the projected number of persons per housing unit.

Using the

The projected The pro-

The following table summarizes the projected number of housing units which will be needed in Blair Township. The number of housing units in 1977 was obtained through the land use survey conducted by the Blair County Plan- ning Commission, 1975-1977.

Table XXIX

Housing Unit Projections Blair Township

.Projected Person/Housing .Housing Unit

Year Population Unit Growth

(Existing) 1977 4333 3.08 1980 4807 2.98 1985 5070 2.80 1990 5332 2.77 2000 5857 2.70

Source: Blair County Planning Commission

1409 1613 1811 1925 2169

Housing Projections

Housing Projections take into consideration a number of factors which operate' on the housing market with varying degrees of intensity. growth, availability of developable land, family income, accessibility to jobq store% and schools are some of the influencing factors.

Population

Blair Township has experienced a high percentage of growth by increasing its housing stock by 35 percent from 1960 to 1970 and 46 percent from 1970 to 1977. The township, which is also well located, is expected to experience continued population increase. increase by an additional 34 percent by the year 2000.

Housing in Blair Township is expected, to

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Table XXX

Housing Projections By Type of Unit Blair Township (1985-2000)

Type 1977 1985 2000

Single Family Residential 1013 1315

Multi Family

1584

Two Family 3-4 Family 5+ Family

18 23 79 103 5 6

28 124 7

Mobile Homes 233 3 03 365

Transient Lodging 61 Not projected Not projected

Group Quarters 2 Not projected Not projected

TOTAL 1409 1750 2108

Source: Blair County Planning Commission

Change 1977-2000

+571

+10 +45 +2

+132

- -

~

Housing Needs

In addition to the number of housing units projected as a result of market conditions, there is a need to construct an additional number of units to replace units which should be demolished due to their delapidated ditions. Also relocated, U . S . Route 220 highway construction scheduled for Blair Township represents another potential source of housing displacement. Construction has been temporarily suspended pending stabilization of the motor vehicle license funds; however, seventeen (17) units have been iden- tifledfor displacement by the highway. There is no other major project which will require replacement housing.

con-

In.-additjonto the preceding short and long-term growth demands, there is a need to replace six (6) units that are beyond rehabilitation due to their delapidated condition.

It must be emphasized that any demolition program should be coordinated with new construction in order that sufficient replacement housing is available when needed.

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CHAPTER XV

HUMAN SERVICES PLAN

HUMAN SERVICES

Human services are an i n t e r r e l a t e d s e t of a c t i v i t i e s performed t o alle-

I I

viate p a r t i c u l a r human problems o r prevent p a r t i c u l a r human problems from occu r r ing . A human s e r v i c e i s most o f t en e s t a b l i s h e d as an o rgan iza t iona l u n i t wi th in p r i v a t e o r pub l i c agencies. nurses who provide s e r v i c e s t o ind iv idua l s i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s home, s p e c i a l i z e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f o r handicapped persons , counsel ing s e r v i c e s , and programs such as Meals on Wheels, which b r ing meals t o many who cannot prepare them.

Examples of human s e r v i c e s inc lude v i s i t i n g

I I I I I

There are p r e s e n t l y e i g h t y . ( 8 0 ) u n i t s providing human s e r v i c e s i n Blair

None of t h e service providers a r e based i n County. p r i v a t e nonpro f i t o rganiza t ions . Blair Township, b u t Blair Township r e s i d e n t s are e l i g i b l e f o r many of t h e human services provided i n Blair County.

Some of t h e s e r v i c e p rov ide r s a r e s o c i a l s e r v i c e agencies; o t h e r s are

A t p r e s e n t , Blair County l acks a human s e r v i c e s p lan f o r t h e county. A t t h e , r e q u e s t of t h e Board of Commissioners of Blair County, t h e Blair County Plan- n ing Commission has i n i t i a t e d a human services planning e f f o r t . vices planning e f f o r t began wi th t h e prepara t ion of a work program t o guide e f f o r t s , and has now en te red i n t o t h e inventory s tage . s t a g e , human service providers and t h e services they provide w i l l be i d e n t i f i e d , and a common language w i l l be used t o descr ibe se rv ices . then be used t o a i d i n a s ses s ing where gaps occur i n human s e r v i c e s , and i n iden- t i f y i n g p o t e n t i a l overlapping o r dup l i ca t ion of s e rv i ces . completed f o r t h e e n t i r e county, t h e human s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y e f f o r t w i l l remain as it i s a t present . s p e c i f i c a l l y i d e n t i f i e d f o r Blair Township r e s i d e n t s w i l l be incorpora ted i n t o t h e p rov i s ions of t h i s s e c t i o n of t h e Comprehensive Plan f o r Blair Township.

The human ser -

During t h e inventory

This information w i l l

U n t i l t h i s e f f o r t i s

When t h e human s e r v i c e s plan i s completed, any s e r v i c e s

I I I I I I

The need f o r human services can be p ro jec t ed from populat ion c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . B l a i r Township's populat ion shows a l a r g e number of males and females i n t h e age cohor t s of 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54. There i s a l s o a s i z e a b l e populat ion which . ranges i n age from 5-14. and above i s cons iderably smaller. t o be mainly f a m i l i e s wi th ch i ld ren , r a t h e r than o l d e r persons. human services which may be needed by e l d e r l y persons ( s p e c i a l i z e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , home nurs ing and chore s e r v i c e s , Meals on Wheels programs, and similar s e r v i c e s ) are probably n o t g r e a t l y needed by B l a i r Township r e s iden t s . On t h e o t h e r hand, services f o r f a m i l i e s wi th ch i ld ren (day care s e r v i c e s , r e c r e a t i o n a l ac t iv i t i e s , j o b t r a i n i n g ac t iv i t ies , and similar s e r v i c e s ) may be needed by Blair Township r e s i d e n t s . e l i g i b i l i t y of B l a i r Township r e s i d e n t s f o r such s e r v i c e s ( i f t h e s e r v i c e s are provided) should be assured.

On t h e o t h e r hand, t h e populat ion of persons aged 55 Blair Township's p r e s e n t populat ion appears

Therefore , those

The s i t e of such s e r v i c e s may n o t need t o be Blair Township; however,

Another means of determining t h e need f o r human services i s t h e economic s t r e n g t h of a popula t ion , measured i n terms of income. B l a i r Township i n 1970 was $8,397, as repor ted i n t h e U. S. Census of Population. This is above t h e census d e f i n i t i o n of poverty f o r a nonfarm family. some r e s i d e n t s of Blair Township earn less than t h e median income. e l i g i b i l i t y f o r human s e r v i c e s based on income varies from agency t o agency.

The median income of

However, In add i t ion ,

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Therefore , a need f o r human services r e l a t e d t o income d e f i c i e n c i e s ( school lunch programs, t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , low i n t e r e s t loans and g r a n t s f o r housing r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , Economic Opportunity Council programs, and similar s e r v i c e s ) may be p r e s e n t i n Blair Township.

A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , t h e need f o r p a r t i c u l a r human services i n B l a i r Town- s h i p has n o t been c l e a r l y e s t ab l i shed . Plan has been prepared, any p a r t i c u l a r s e r v i c e needs of t h e township's popula- t i o n may be i d e n t i f i e d , and incorpora ted i n t o t h i s s e c t i o n of the Comprehensive Plan f o r Blair Township. In t h e in t e r im , it i s recommended t h a t t h e Board of Supervisors of B l a i r Township look favorably upon p r i v a t e o r pub l i c proposals f o r day c a r e c e n t e r s and/or r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s f o r ch i ld ren i n t h e townsh%p, because of t h e age make up of t h e township populat ion.

When t h e Blair County Human Services

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CHAPTER XVI

IMPLEMENTATION

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b IMPLEMENTATION

The success of any planning effort is dependent upon the effective implementation of the recommendations presented in each section of the comprehensive plan. municipality seeking to direct future development, but a comprehensive plan is not a law. zoning ordinances do have the force of law. measures which are based upon the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan serves to implement the recommendations of the plan.

The comprehensive plan provides guidance for a

However, implementation measures such as building codes and Adoption of implementation

The direct responsibility of enforcing the majority of implementation measures available to a municipality rests with the elected officials. tool of implementation - subdivision regulations - is implemented through the planning commission.

One

Implementation measures available to a municipality include: building and housing codes, the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, capital improvements program, Act 537 plan review, and measures such as public education.

Building and Housing Codes

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A building code is a legal document which sets forth requirements to protect the public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. by setting minimum acceptable standards for those portions or aspects of structures regarded to be in need of regulation. include exits, fire protection, wastewater facilities, design of the structure, ventilation, and light.

This is achieved

Areas of regulation may

Building codes become necessary when the density of development in a municipality increases, or when persons other than the owners of a structure occupy the structure or use the structure. municipality such as Blair.Township can protect residents and those employed in the township from the dangers of fire, flooding, structural collapse, and unsanitary conditions.

With a building code, a

Building codes are classified as either "specification" codes or "performancett codes. those materials which shall be used in construction, the required size and distance between units, and the permitted methods of assembling units. performance code prescribes the required objective which must be accomplished by those constructing a structure, and allows those constructing the building to choose'materials and construction methods which will meet the objective.

The specification code describes in detail exactly

A

IGeorge N. Thompson, Preparation and Revision of Building Codes, U. S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Building Materials and Structures Report BMS 116 (Washington: cited in Richard L. Sanderson, Codes and Code Administration, Building Officials Conference of America, Inc. (Chicago: Building Officials Conference of America, 1969) p . 13

U. S. Government Printing Office, 1949) p. 2, as

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Blair Township presently has a building permit ordinance which regulates construction in flood hazard areas. structures to a level which is one (1) foot*above the flood elevation, flood proofing of structures to minimize damage to the structure and its neighbors, and limitations to basement and first floor usage. ordinance will be further modified following the completion of the Floodplain Information Study of Blair Township presently being conducted by a consultant for the Federal Insurance Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development. At that point, the Blair Township building permit ordinance will be amended to exclude construction from the floodway, (that portion of the one hundred year (100) floodplain through which the flood waters pass) and to carefully regulate development in the floodway fringe (the remainder of the 100 year floodplain.)

The ordinance requires elevation of

This building permit

Adoption of a building code which regulates other aspects of construction - such as ventilation, exits, and fire protection - will also assist in implementing the health and safety objectives of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township. It is recommended that a general building code, based on the model code of the Building Officials Conference of America, Inc'orporated (BOCA) be enacted by Blair Township in the future.

Housing codes serve as maintenance codes which assure minimum levels of safety in structures. Separate housing codes are more frequently enacted at the present time.

Often, housing codes are a part of building codes.

Adoption of a housing code is also recommended for Blair Township, to assist in the implementation of the housing goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township.

Enforcement of these codes is the responsibility of a code enforcement officer designated by Blair Township. be the Township secretary; however, as development increases, a housing and building inspector is required to assure compliance with the codes. Townships or townships and boroughs may elect to jointly employ such inspectors in order to reduce the cost of enforcement to each municipality.

The code enforcement officer may also

Zoning Ordinance

A zoning ordinance is a legal document which divides a municipality into districts, and regulates how the land may be used in each district. Unlike a building code, which regulates only how a structure may be constructed, a zoning ordinance regulates where a land use may take place, and how that land use must be spaced, its permitted height, and coverage of land, &ong other factors.

The objectives of the zoning ordinance should be the goals, policies, and objectives of the land use section of the comprehensive plan. the zoning ordinance should approximate the proposed land use classifications of the future land use map in the comprehensive plan. In this way, the zoning ordinance can be clearly related t o the goals of the plan, which were prepared with the opinions of the residents of the township. zoning ordinance serves to implement the land use section of the comprehensive

The districts of

Also, in this manner the

plan.

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Blair Township does not presently have an adopted zoning ordinance. However, the Blair Township Planning Commission is presently preparing a zoning ordinance, at the direction of the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township. ordinance is based upon the goals, policies, and objectives of the comprehensive plan, and will therefore serve as an effective means of implementing the land use policies of the comprehensive plan.

The zoning

Enforcement of the provisions of the zoning is the responsibility of the Zoning Officer, who is appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township. The Zoning Officer may be a governmental employee already in the township's employ, but the Zoning Officer cannot hold elective office. Officer may only issue permits or check for violations of the ordinance. The Zoning Officer has no discretion in the matter of issuing permits; appeals of the Zoning Officer's actions, requests for variances or special exceptions, or other actions must be resolved by the Zoning Hearing Board.

Further, the Zoning

The Zoning Hearing Board is composed of three ( 3 ) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township. Board may also be a member of the Blair Township Planning Commission.

One (I) member of the Zoning Hearing

It is recommended that Blair Township adopt the zoning ordinance being prepared by the Blair Township Planning Commission, in order to effectively implementthe land use policies of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township.

Subdivision Regulations

Subdivision regulations govern the transformation of land to residential areas. These regulations are formulated to insure an orderly development pattern which protects and promotes the health and safety of municipal residents.

Subdivision regulations may contain regulations governing permissable slopes for development, especially road development; requirements governing right-of-way, cartway, and surface of roads; requirements for such utilities as interceptor sewers and public 'water lands; and requirements for the reservation and maintenance of open space, among other requirements.

Blair Township does not presently have an enacted set of subdivision regulation When the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township wish advice while reviewing proposed subdivisions prior to granting building permits, the Supervisors presently request subdivision reviews of an advisory nature from the Blair County Planning Commission. However, the County Planning Commission reviews are advisory only, and subdivision permits are not issued. It is suggested that the Board of Supervisors of Blair Township instruct the Blair Township Planning Commission to prepare subdivision regulations based upon the goals, policies, and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan for Blair Township, and the model Subdivision and Land Development Regulations prepared by the Blair County Planning Commission. When adopted by Blair Township, subdivision regulations may be enforced by the Blair Township Planning Commission, or the township may elect to assign the review powers to the Blair County Planning Commission.

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Capi t a l Improvements Program

The c a p i t a l improvements program i s a l i s t i n g of a l l proposed and recommended improvements t h a t are presented i n t h e comprehensive p lan , with t h e p r o j e c t s l i s t e d by type , and t h e agency respons ib le f o r implementing t h e p r o j e c t and manner of proposed f inanc ing documented. P ro jec t s i n a c a p i t a l improvements program a r e p r i o r i t i z e d and scheduled t o d i s t r i b u t e c o s t s over a number of years . improvements program may be divided i n t o major c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s , according t o t h e category of t h e improvement - f o r example, t r a n s p o r t a t i o n improvements may be l i s t e d i n one s e c t i o n , and community f a c i l i t y improvements may be l i s t e d i n a second sec t ion .

The c a p i t a l

Within t h e framework of a c a p i t a l improvements program, a f i v e ( 5 ) year c a p i t a l budget may be prepared. which are recommended f o r accomplishment i n t h e next f i v e (5) years, can be used by a munic ipa l i ty t o program c a p i t a l improvements.

The c a p i t a l budget, containing those p r o j e c t s

f t i s recommended t h a t Blair Township prepare and adopt a c a p i t a l improvements program and c a p i t a l budget, t o assist i n t h e i'mplementation of c a p i t a l improvements recommended i n t h e Comprehensive Plan f o r B l a i r Township.

Act 537 Plan Review

Each munic ipa l i ty i n Pennsylvania i s requi red t o prepare and adopt an "Official Plan" f o r t h e management of wastewater, i n compliance with t h e Pennsylvania Sewage Fac i l i t i es Act (Act 537). Blair Township has adopted t h e Areawide Water ani Sewer Plan prepared by t h e Blair County Planning Commission and t h e In te r im Water Qual i ty Management Plan f o r Southcentral Blair County amending t h e Areawide Water and Sewer Plan. I n addi t ion . t h e ComDrehensive

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Plan f o r B l a i r Township a l s o inc ludes a s e c t i o n d e t a i l i n g p lans f o r se rv ing po r t ions of B l a i r Township, and t h e phasing of each extension of sewer se rv ice .

Pennsylvania l a w r equ i r e s a munic ipa l i ty t o review p r i v a t e proposals f o r development which may r equ i r e amendments o r supplements t o t h e adopted o f f i c i a l Plan of t h e municipal i ty .

The Board of Supervisors of Blair Township may e lec t t o reques t t h e Blair Township Planning Commission t o review such proposals f o r development, and r epor t t o t h e Board of Supervisors , o r t h e Board may undertake such a review. review i t s e l f i s a means o f implementing t h e wastewater management proposals of t h e Comprehensive Plan f o r B l a i r Township.

The

Publ ic Education

The most c a r e f u l l y prepared p lan , with t h e most accura te maps, may no t be implemented i f t h e publ ic f o r which t h e plan has been prepared w a s no t consul ted during plan prepara t ion , o r fa i l s t o understand and support plan provis ions.

During t h e prepara t ion of t h e Comprehensive Plan f o r B l a i r Township, two ( 2 ) publ ic workshops were conducted t o inform t h e publ ic of t h e bas ic information gathered about B l a i r Township, (growth p a t t e r n s , s o i l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , housing types and numbers.) and t o ga ther publ ic opinion on des i red f u t u r e s f o r Blair Township. The workshops followed a format of t a b l e top d iscuss ions involving c i t i z e n s , and responding t o ques t ionnai res .

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Planning is a continuous process, requiring review of plans in light of development trends, additional information or population and housing trend changes. the planning process. Implementation t o o l s such as zoning ordinances, building codes, and subdivision regulations cannot be made to work, or cannot be adopted, if a lack of public involvement in planning leads to public misunderstanding or rejection of implementation measures.

As a plan is reviewed so must the public continue to be involved in

Blair Township has an excellent record of public education and involvement in planning, and it is recommended that this effort continue, in order to assure the implementation of township'goals.

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Summary of Proposed Plan

The proposed land use p lan inc ludes p o l i c i e s with regard t o where growth

should and should no t t ake p lace .

s c a l e of 1" = 3,400' a reas which should n o t be encouraged t o develop because of

The plan f u r t h e r i n d i c a t e s g raph ica l ly a t a

t h e presence of one or more of t h e fol lowing environmentally s e n s i t i v e f a c t o r s :

f l ood p l a i n (or f lood p l a i n s o i l i n t h e absence of a d e t a i l e d s tudy de f in ing

t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e 100 year f lood p l a i n ) , s t e e p s lope ( s lope of 25% o r g r e a t e r ) ,

major watershed which provides dr inking water o r o the r major water use t o a

developed a r e a , gamelands, h i s t o r i c a l l y o r a r chaeo log ica l ly s i g n i f i c a n t a r e a s ,

e c o l o g i c a l l y s e n s i t i v e a reas such a s marsh a reas , and prime a g r i c u l t u r a l land.

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e plan inc ludes maps, a t a s c a l e of 1" = 3,400', which d e p i c t

proposed f u t u r e development p a t t e r n s f o r t h e years 1985 and 2000.

i n d i c a t e t h e type and i n t e n s i t y of proposed development, and t h e two toge the r de-

p i c t t h e proposed t iming.

t h e goa l s and p o l i c i e s of t h e land use p lan , and a r e c o n s i s t e n t with t h e maps

d e p i c t i n g a reas which should n o t be encouraged t o develop.

These maps

The development p a t t e r n s w e r e prepared t o i l l u s t r a t e

E x i s t i n g Environment - The e x i s t i n g environment is regu la t ed by t h e i ssuance of bu i ld ing permits

by t h e governing body and t h e r e c e n t l y adopted f lood p l a i n bu i ld ing code ord i -

nance.

be a v a i l a b l e , a l lowing B l a i r Township t o c o n t r o l t h e development of t h e f lood

p l a i n wi th more c e r t a i n t y .

Insurance Program, needs t h i s a d d i t i o n a l information t o e f f e c t i v e l y guide develop-

ment away from environmental ly s e n s i t i v e a reas such a s t h e f lood p l a i n .

1

I n t h e nex t year more d e t a i l e d information on floodway boundaries w i l l ' ,

B l a i r Township, p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e Nat ional Flood

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The growth p a t t e r n of t h e township is, f o r t h e major par t , s t r i p develop-

This comprehensive p l an and a proposed zoning ment a long e x i s t i n g highways.

ordinance w i l l slow t h i s p r e v a i l i n g p a t t e r n of growth and i n i t i a t e a "centers"

development t r end .

The use of on - s i t e sewage d i s p o s a l systems throughout t h e township is regu-

l a t e d by t h e County S a n i t a t i o n Office. Therefore, t h e seve re problems of ground

water and s u r f a c e water p o l l u t i o n from i n d i v i d u a l malfunct ioning systems, o r t h e

placement of an on - s i t e system on f l o o d p l a i n is p a r t i a l l y c o n t r o l l e d .

dense ly populated a r e a s , ground water i s p r e s e n t l y p o l l u t e d and sewer systems

t o t h e s e areas w i l l be needed as development continues.

In some

The p r e s e n t s t r i p de-

velopment p a t t e r n i s c o s t l y w i t h regard t o p u b l i c sewer and water and roads;

t h e p a t t e r n p l aces development p re s su res on good a g r i c u l t u r a l l and , and i n f r i n g e s

on environmentally s e n s i t i v e areas.

The p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e s of B l a i r Township include topography c o n s i s t i n g of

r i d g e s and valleys, s t e e p s l o p e s which t end t o channel development, t h e presence

of many f r a g i l e and w e t s o i l s which l i m i t development, and l a r g e t racts of ag-

r i c u l t u r a l and wooded land. The c e n t r a l po r t ion of t h e township is cha rac t e r i zed

by a fa i r ly l e v e l p l a i n , c ros sed n o r t h t o sou th by t h e Frankstown Branch of t h e

J u n i a t a River and several major t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o r r i d o r s .

i n t h e p a s t , and many areas have been i d e n t i f i e d as areas w i t h s p e c i a l f l ood

hazards by t h e Army Corps of Engineers.

and some areas i n t h e T,ooplf development f r e q u e n t l y i n c u r f l o o d damage.

Flooding,has occurred

The a r e a s of Brooks M i l l and Vicksburg

S o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of B l a i r Township vary from suburban t o r u r a l areas.

The less developed a r e a s a r e dominated by c rop and d a i r y farming, g raz ing l ands ,

and s t e e p s l o p e and wooded land. The northern s e c t i o n of Bla i r Township, s p e c i f i -

ca l ly t h e Penn Farms Area and t h e tfLoopl' area, are predominantly r e s i d e n t i a l areas -. .

as are t h e o l d e r developed areas of Reservbir Road area and t h e Newry, Vicksburg,

Brooks M i l l area. The ma jo r i ty of commercial and i n d u s t r i a l development i s

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s i t u a t e d i n a s t r i p p a t t e r n along U. S . Route 2 2 0 from Duncansville Borough t o

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Vicksburg.

The a e s t h e t i c na tu re of B l a i r Township i s very p leas ing . Scenic v i s t a s

of Hollidaysburg and wooded and farm land a r e a v a i l a b l e from many r idges .

d i s tu rbed sky l ines of t h e s t e e p s lope a reas can be viewed from many of t h e v a l l e y s .

Overa l l , a r u r a l environment i s ev ident i n B l a i r Township.

planning and land use c o n t r o l ordinances, t h i s r u r a l na tu re of t h e township w i l l

be f u r t h e r i n f r inged upon i n t h e f u t u r e i f no change i n t h e unguided development

p a t t e r n occurs.

Un-

Without comprehensive

ImDact of t h e Environment on ProDosed Plan

The above c i t e d environmental and a e s t h e t i c f a c t o r s have a f f e c t e d t h e pro-

posed plan by g r e a t l y shaping it.

a r e a s of h i s t o r i c s i g n i f i c a n c e , and a reas of g r e a t beauty were c a r e f u l l y avoided

f o r proposed uses which might nega t ive ly impact upon them.

p l a i n , s t e e p s lope , and o the r such f a c t o r s shaped t h e proposed plan as much a s

such f a c t o r s as t h e d e s i r e t o conserve prime a g r i c u l t u r a l l and , t h e d e s i r e t o

maintain high water q u a l i t y i n streams and t h e d e s i r e t o reduce t h e c o s t cf pub l i c

Areas of eco log ica l s i g n i f i c a n c e or s e n s i t i v i t y ,

The presence of f lood

u t i l i t i e s .

s i g n i f i c a n t , because it determined t h e p o l i c i e s of t h e p lan and shaped t h e

The impact of t h e environment on t h e proposed p lan has t h e r e f o r e been

graphic r ep resen ta t ion of t h e p lan .

Impact of Proposed Plan on t h e Environment

The impact of t h e proposed plan on t h e environment i s predominantly bene-

f i c i a l . The fo l lowing t a b l e summarizes t h e a n t i c i p a t e d environmental e f f e c t s

of t h e proposed p lan :

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Environmental Assessment Proposed Land Use Plans

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Areas of Environmental Impact

Flood Plain

X Fragile Soils

Water Quality X - X

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Air Quality ~ ~~

Noise Level

Population

Housing

Historic Preservation X

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Road Safety

Economy

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Steep Slopes - X * Erosion 6, .Sedimentation X

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X X 7

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Aesthetics

Social Environment

Prime Rural Agricultural Land

Agricultural Land

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These a n t i c i p a t e d impacts r e s u l t e d from t h e p o l i c i e s of t h e l and use p l an ,

which stress n o t encouraging development i n the fo l lowing areas: f l o o d p l a i n

a r e a s ( o r f l o o d p l a i n s o i l s ) , major watersheds, s t e e p s l o p e s , prime r u r a l ag-

r i c u l t u r a l l a n d , e c o l o g i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t a r e a s , f r a g i l e s o i l s , a r e a s of h i s t o r i c

and a rchaeo log ica l s i g n i f i c a n c e .

couraging development f i rs t i n vacant land ad jacen t t o developed areas, then i n

The p o l i c i e s of t h e l and use plan s t r e s s en-

f o r e s t e d o r lower q u a l i t y a g r i c u l t u r a l land ad jacen t t o developed areas, t o con-

t r o l t h e h igh c o s t o f roads, sewers, and pub l i c water as w e l l as p rese rv ing t h e

q u a l i t y of water. Buffer a r e a s a r e planned ad jacen t t o highways and indus t ry ,

and proposed r e s i d e n t i a l development i s s e t back from n o i s e sources and buf-

f e r e d , t o a s su re compliance wi th HUD no i se gu ide l ines ( C i r c u l a r 1390.2).

A l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h e ProDosed Plan ~

The p o l i c i e s of t h e proposed plan permit several c o n f i g u r a t i o n s of land use.

The maps d e p i c t t h e b e s t a l t e r n a t i v e s , given s o i l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and o the r

l i m i t a t i o n s , as w e l l as p u b l i c i n p u t received on t h e plans. Within t h e po l i -

c ies , s e v e r a l a l t e r n a t i v e s were t h e r e f o r e poss ib l e .

The real d i f f e r e n c e s may be a l t e r n a t i v e p o l i c i e s . Seve ra l a l t e r n z t i v e s

were examined, ranging from no r e s t r i c t i o n s on growth t o g r e a t e r r e s t r i c t i o n s

on use of f r a g i l e s o i l s .

s t r i p growth p a t t e r n which i s p r e s e n t l y t a k i n g p l a c e i n most a r e a s of t h e town-

sh ip . Th i s al ternative w a s judged t o be harmful, because t h e c u r r e n t p a t t e r n

inc ludes some use of f l o o d p l a i n s o i l s , l eap f rog and sprawl development which

increases t h e c o s t s of p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s , use of f r a g i l e s o i l s , and development

of prime a g r i c u l t u r a l land.

A p o l i c y of no r e s t r i c t i o n s would encourage t h e p re sen t

The more s t r i c t p o l i c i e s were accepted mainly because of t h e l a r g e areas

of developable l a n d a v a i l a b l e ve r sus t h e moderate i n c r e a s e s i n development pro-

j e c t e d f o r t h e years 1985 and 2000 l and use plans.

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The p o l i c i e s included i n t h e plan were judged t o be t h e b e s t a l t e r n a t i v e

environmentally, without r e s u l t i n g i n undue economic o r s o c i a l hardship.

Adverse Environmental E f f e c t s of ProDosed Plan

More adverse e f f e c t s a r e a n t i c i p a t e d i f t h e p o l i c i e s of t h e plan a r e n o t

adopted and implemented.

However, some s h o r t term adverse e f f e c t s a r e a n t i c i p a t e d before t h e long

range elements of t h e plan a r e i n place.

development c l o s e t o e x i s t i n g c e n t e r s of development i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o r e s u l t

i n an i n c r e a s e of l o c a l t r a f f i c on t h e e x i s t i n g road system.

i o d , t h i s w i l l be an adverse effect . However, t h e long range e f f e c t of t h e l and

use p l an p o l i c i e s on t h e road network w i l l be b e n e f i c i a l .

through t r a f f i c ( r e l o c a t e d and r econs t ruc t ed ' l imi t ed access U . S. Route 220)

are proposed t h a t w i l l reduce t r a f f i c volume on t h e l o c a l roads. Centering

S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e concentrat ion of

For a s h o r t per-

New roads t o c a r r y

growth w i l l t h e r e f o r e a l low t r a f f i c needs l o c a l l y t o be met by t h e e x i s t i n g

l a r g e r l o c a l roads.

t i n u e , smaller loca l roads i n t h e ou t ly ing area would be s e v e r e l y overloaded.

New l o c a l roads i n t h e r u r a l areas would then be r equ i r ed t o e l imina te a long

range adverse e f f e c t of overloaded small l o c a l roads.

I f t h e sprawl p a t t e r n of development were encouraged t o con-

I n a d d i t i o n , some i n c r e a s e i n e ros ion and sedimentat ion i s a n t i c i p a t e d

du r ing the s h o r t range, while growth occurs ad jacen t t o t h e developed areas.

However, t h e long range e f f e c t w i l l n o t be adverse, because mult i family housing

i n t h e developed a r e a s d i s p l a c e s l e s s land than l a r g e tracts of s i n g l e family

homes i n r u r a l areas.

Over the time pe r iods covered i n t h e p l ans , a g r i c u l t u r a l land acreage w i l l

decrease. Farmland i n c l o s e proximity t o developing centers i s being s u r r o w d e d

by development.. This l and under t h e proposed p l ans is suggested f o r development.

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Rura l farmland-, n o t c e n t e r e d c l o s e t o developing areas, i s proposed as conser-

v a t i o n / a g r i c u l t u r e areas.

by l e s s e n i n g development p r e s s u r e s on t h e land.

p r o j e c t e d t o occur i n t h e l o n g term development of B l a i r Township.

Th i s i s an a t t empt t o p r e s e r v e e x i s t i n g r u r a l farmland

S t a b i l i z i n g of farm acreage i s

The o v e r a l l e f f e c t of t h e proposed land use plan i s b e n e f i c i a l t o t h e

environment.

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT OF "A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR BLAIR TOWNSHIP"

Summar-\- of Proposed Plan

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A Comprehensive Plan f o r Blair Township includes: p o l i c i e s i n d i c a t i n g

where growth should t a k e p l ace ; c i t a t i o n s t o s t u d i e s , c r i t e r i a , s tandards, and

implementing procedures f o r guiding major growth d e c i s i o n s ; information on t h e

type , i n t e n s i t y , and t iming of growth p ro jec t ed .

The p o l i c i e s stress usage of each p a r c e l of l and f o r t h e purpose t o which

it i s b e s t s u i t e d , concen t r a t ion of growth t o enable t h e most e f f i c i e n t and

economical p rov i s ion of community s e r v i c e s and p r o t e c t i o n o f environmentally,

h i s t o r i c a l l y , and a r c h e o l o g i c a l l y important s i t e s .

Cri ter ia and s t anda rds used t o guide dec i s ions as t o where growth s h a l l

t a k e p l ace inc lude areas i d e n t i f i e d as f lood p l a i n through hydrological s t u d i e s

o r f l o o d p l a i n s o i l concen t r a t ions i d e n t i f i e d by t h e U.S.D.A. S o i l Conservation

Se rv ice , and areas i d e n t i f i e d as h i s t o r i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t by l o c a l , s t a t e , and

f e d e r a l sources. H i s t o r i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t and environmentally s e n s i t i v e areas

were i d e n t i f i e d by t h e B l a i r County Planning Commission, a c t i n g as t e c h n i c a l

adv i so r t o t h e B l a i r Township Planning Commission, on a s e r i e s of maps e n t i t l e d

t h e Environmental Overview Statement (EOS).

t i o n of p o l i c y recommendations, and i n t h e p repa ra t ion o f maps d e p i c t i n g t h e

l o c a t i o n of p r o j e c t e d f u t u r e growth, i n o rde r t o a s s u r e tha t h i s t o r i c a l l y s i g n i f i -

c a n t and environmentally s e n s i t i v e a r e a s were p r o t e c t e d from growth pressures .

Implementation procedures t o guide growth w i l l i nc lude t h e Blair Township

These maps were used i n t h e prepara-

b u i l d i n g ordinance and a zoning ordinance p r e s e n t l y under p repa ra t ion .

zoning ordinance w i l l be based upon t h e comprehensive plan.

The

The type of growth p ro jec t ed , t h e i n t e n s i t y and t iming of t h e growth, and

t h e proposed l o c a t i o n of t h e growth, i s depikted on two (2 ) maps which accompany

t h e plan.

I I - 104-

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Impact of the Proposed Plan

The impact of the proposed plan will be beneficial to historically signifi-

cant areas. Information on the location of historic areas is to be used t o review

future development proposals in order to ascertain that development will not

pressure historic sites. If the proposed plans are implemented, historic sites

will benefit, and will not be adversely affected,

Adverse Impacts Which Cannot Be Avoided

There are no National Register o r state historical properties in Blair

Township. Using the criteria of adverse effect which are listed in the Procedures

f o r the Protection of Historical and Cultural Properties 36 CFR 800.9, A Compre-

hensive Plan for Blair Township was reviewed to determine the possibility of

an adverse impact which cannot be avoided, if the proposed comprehensive plan

is adopted and implemented.

ship will have no additional adverse impact on the existing historically signi-

ficant areas.

Implementing the comprehensive plan f o r Blair Town-

The Tatfish House'l near Kladder Station was constructed approximately in

the year 1843 and is privately owned and presently operated as a convalescent

home. What remains of the existing structure is not known. The possibility

of acquiring the site f o r preservation in the near. future is remote.

prehensive plan f o r Blair Township does recognize this site as a historically

significant area and the plan reflects this understanding.

The com-

The Holliday Graves is recognized as a historical site by the Blair Township

Planning Commission, the residents of Blair County, the Daughters of the American

Revolution (DAR) , and the Blair County Historical Society. DAR have placed

a marker and a stone monument next to the grave.

plan, the site had already been surrounded by residential development.

Before the drafting of this

Blair

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. . . . . . ._I__.__._.._ _ _ _. . _- .. - - -. . - ..- - -. - . . . . . -. . - . -. -

Township i s main ta in ing t h e s i t e and has recognized t h e importance of p re se rv ing

t h e s i t e i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l s e c t i o n of A Commehensive Plan f o r B l a i r Townshin.

The s i t e of F o r t F e t t e r i s marked by t h e Blair County H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y

and i s a l s o on p r i v a t e ground. No s t r u c t u r e e x i s t s today. The Blair Township

Planning Commission recommends t h a t h i s t o r i c d i s t r i c t zoning should be i n v e s t i g a t e d

t o p r o t e c t e x i s t i n g and f u t u r e h i s t o r i c a l s i tes . The Bla i r Township Planning

Commission recommends p rese rva t ion and p r o t e c t i o n of e x i s t i n g o r f u t u r e h i s t o r i -

ca l ly s i g n i f i c a n t s i tes i n t h e township by s t e e r i n g development away from t h e s e

s i t e s , amending t h e comprehensive p l an , i f necessary when s i t e s are i d e n t i f i e d , and

amending any l and use c o n t r o l ordinance based on A Comprehensive Plan f o r

B l a i r Township.

A l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h e Proposed Plan and P o l i c i e s

- A Comprehensive Plan f o r B l a i r Township stresses a p o l i c y of encouraging

growth c e n t e r s - guid ing growth t o areas where f ac i l i t i e s such as sewers and

water are available o r more eas i ly provided, and d iscouraging growth i n remote

areas. The "centers t1 p o l i c y i s a l s o complemented by a p o l i c y which encourages

compatible a d j a c e n t development, and p o l i c i e s which seek t c preserve environmen-

t a l l y s e n s i t i v e areas, and h i s t o r i c a l l y and a r c h e o l o g i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t a r eas .

Two a l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h e p o l i c i e s of t h e comprehensive p lan were eva lua ted .

One, t h e c o r r i d o r concept would fo l low one of t h e p r e s e n t development t r e n d s and

encourage development t o fo l low growth - s t i m u l a t i n g f a c i l i t i e s such as roads

o r i n t e r c e p t o r sewers.

t h e p rov i s ion of f ac i l i t i e s such as p u b l i c sewer or roads , would waste l and

resources , and would do noth ing t o preserve o r p r o t e c t environmental ly s e n s i t i v e

This a l t e r n a t i v e would do l i t t l e t o con ta in t h e c o s t of

and h i s t o r i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t areas.

I I -106-

I I

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A second a l t e r n a t i v e - a do nothing concept - allows t h e p r e s e n t p a t t e r n

of s t r i p development t o cont inue, accompanied by a p a t t e r n of s c a t t e r e d o r

t l l eap- f rogt t development. This second p a t t e r n i s even more wasteful of land

and r e sources and provides no means of p r o t e c t i n g h i s t o r i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t o r

environmentally sensit ive a reas .

Nei ther of t h e two a l t e r n a t i v e s evaluated were b e n e f i c i a l t o t h e township

o r i t s h i s t o r i c si tes. Therefore , t h e recommended a l t e r n a t i v e was t h e most

beneficial : .

Fede ra l . S t a t e . and Local Controls o r Promams Y v - I ~ - - .=

f o r Conserving and Enhancing H i s t o r i c a l P r o p e r t i e s

A Comprehensive Plan f o r B l a i r Township i s c o n s i s t e n t with t h e p o l i c i e s

of t h e updated l and use element of An Areawide Comprehensive Plan f o r Blair

County (Altoona SMSA). The Blair County Planning Commission, s e rv ing as t h e

Metropolitan Clearinghouse f o r Blair County (Altoona SMSA) as e s t a b l i s h e d under

t h e Office of Management and Budget (OMB) C i r c u l a r No. A-95 ( r e v i s e d ) w i l l

address appropr i a t e comments t o t h e Pennsylvania H i s t o r i c a l and Museum Com-

mission i n an e f f o r t t o coordinate development i n such a manner as t o a s su re

b e n e f i c i a l impacts upon f u t u r e Nat ional Reg i s t e r p r o p e r t i e s .

Planning Commission w i l l a l s o n o t i f y t h e Blair County H i s t o r i c a l Soc ie ty when

proposed developments may af fec t a s t a t e o r Nat ional R e g i s t e r property.

The B l a i r County

A t t h e ea r l i e s t s t a g e of planning o r cons ide ra t ion of a proposed under-

t ak ing , i nc lud ing l and use c o n t r o l ordinances i n which t h e proposed p l ans may

a f f e c t f u t u r e Nat ional R e g i s t e r p r o p o r t i e s o r p r o p e r t i e s e l i g i b l e f o r i nc lus ion

on t h e Nat ional R e g i s t e r , . t h e Blair Township Planning Commission w i l l comply

wi th requirements of Sect ion 106 of t h e Nat ional H i s t o r i c P rese rva t ion Act and

Sec t ions l(3) and 2(b) of Executive Order 11593.