September 2012

E-Newsletter of the Lancaster County Planning Commission

In This Issue
1 From the Director
2 In the Spotlight:
Community Leaders
10 UPDATE: Design Matters
12 LCPC Accepts 2040 Population
Projections
13 County Kicks Off Hazard
Mitigation Planning Process

From the Director by James Cowhey, AICP

2012

October is National Community

Planning Month (and by the time
you read this, the Lancaster
County Board of Commissioners may have proclaimed the
National
same for the county). To honor
Community
the work of local planners in
Planning
Lancaster County much of
Month
this edition of FYI will focus
CE
CH AN GI NG FA
A
on some of our local citizenOF AM ER IC
planners that are developing and implementing
plans to improve their communities. We also focus on
some of the great civic improvement projects that make the quality
of our lives better. The essence of a community plan is its reflection of
the aspirations of the people. But a plan must also provide a way for
a community to strive toward fulfilling its aspirations through goals
and actions. As the examples in this issue show us, there are volunteer, citizen-planners and other residents willing to step forward to
take the real action thats needed to get these projects completed.

Municipal Updates
5 Elanco Region Source Water
Protection Plans
6 Whistle Stop Plaza, Ephrata
6 Elizabethtown Borough Pedestrian
and Bicycle Pathway Project
8 Manor Township Completes
Purchase of Enola Low Grade Line
10 Marietta Receives EPA Assistance
for Plan Implementation

Staff Pics

The people of Lancaster County have always believed in the future:

aspiring to conserve the best of what this place has to offer today, while
seeking progress toward a brighter and prosperous tomorrow. This characteristic is an important strength of our county and what allows us to
continuously recreate the conditions that result in a great community.
We should all be grateful for the work of our many local, volunteer
planning commissioners that devote their precious time to community
betterment. The work of professional planners is very important as well.
So I congratulate the staff at the Lancaster County Planning Commission and all the other professional planners in our community for their
dedication to their work. I believe this issue will help us all gain a better
understanding of this work and the tangible projects that result. t

LCPC staff picks a local project to

highlight. Featured in this issue

Staff New Holland Area Historical

Pics
Society Museum

Upcoming Meetings
LCPC Meeting Agendas & Minutes
12 Daniel Burnham Forum
13 New Uses for Old Buildings
14 Regional Breakfast Meetings
14 World Town Planning Day

Lancaster County
Planning Commission
Carl Hess

Feature Story

9 New Holland Area Historical

Society Museum

150 North Queen Street Suite 320

Lancaster, PA 17603 717-299-8333
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/planning

page 9

[email protected]

September 2012

Community Leaders

Mary Virginia Abendschein

Columbia Borough Planning Commission
Mary Virginia Abendschein has
been a passionate member of
the Columbia Borough Planning Commission for the past
seventeen yearsbeginning
her tenure shortly after the
Boroughs Comprehensive Plan
had been adopted in 1995.
She then served as a Planning Commission Member on
Columbia Borough Zoning Revision Committee that worked
with a consultant to re-write the Boroughs Zoning
Ordinance in 1999.
Mary Virginia credits involvement with workshops
offered by the Lancaster County Planning Commission with educating her during the 1990s to better
understand the nuances of planning, zoning, and
community development. In addition to evening
workshops, she received certification through participation in the Spring 1998 LCPC Master Planner
Class. The topic of her project is Proposal: Time
Again for Passenger Train Service to Columbia and
she continues to hand out copies. Handing out copies to the 2000 Long Range Transportation Task
Force resulted in her being invited to join them as
a membera role she continued through several
subsequent Task Force reviews.
She writes: In 1835 there were two railroads available for passenger travel in Lancaster County. The
Philadelphia and Columbia entered the County
in Christiana and continued across the County to
Columbia. The Strasburg Rail Road carried passengers between Strasburg an Paradise. Not surprisingly, much of the Countys growth developed along
this route and is now included in the Urban Growth
Boundary. Other Urban Growth Boundaries similarly followed the railroad to the northeast between

2 | FYI

Lancaster and New Holland; from Lancaster north

through East Petersburg, Manheim, Lititz, Akron,
Ephrata, and Denver; and northwest through Mount
Joy and Elizabethtown on todays Keystone Corridor.
Another track went southeast to Quarryville. At
that timeas nownew passenger stations were
planned for Paradise and the Harrisburg International Airport. Mary Virginia proposed that we once
again bring large numbers of people by trainone or
two-car self-propelled RDC units or the likefrom
the eastern, agricultural side of the County to the
western, more industrial side of the County on the
former Philadelphia and Columbia corridorwhere
Norfolk Southern remains active.
She further proposed that such County-wide tourist
rail travel would permit visitors to Lancaster to leave
their cars behind and use an inter-modal 3- or 4-day
pass to make day trips radiating from the renovated
Amtrak Station in Lancaster: One day might be
spent visiting the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
in Strasburg and riding the Strasburg Rail Road; another day might be spent in Columbia at the Watch
and Clock Museumwhere they could learn about
the connection between rail travel and timeand
visiting other museums, antique shops, and attractions in Columbia; another day might be spent visiting other communities in the County accessible by
Amtrak train service or bus; with a fourth day spent
in and around Lancaster City itselfand all that
could be done without the use of an automobile.
Mary Virginia lives in a house in the center of Columbia which has been owned by the Abendschein
family for four generations. She notes that even
in a snow storm she can walk to the Borough Hall,
Market, pharmacies, the Library, Mussers Market,
Bullys Restaurant, Prudhommes Lost Cajun Kitchen,
churches, and the homes of friends. She enjoys
Columbias resurgence and looks forward to walking
the new Northwest Trail.

September 2012

Stephen A. Gault
MOUNT JOY TOWNSHIP MANAGER
Late last year, Mitchell Silver,
President of APA, spoke as part
of the Lancaster County Planning Commissions Envision
Lancaster County Designing for
the Market series. Silvers most
striking points may have been
those related to the differences
between younger generations
(Generations X, Y & Z), and the
older generations (the Greatest
Generation, the Silent Generation, and the Boomers) and the
implications of those differences for planning and
decision making.
Silver pointed out that Lancaster County must attract and engage young adults if our economy is to
flourish in the future. Fortunately, Lancaster has
some members of the younger generations who are
becoming involved in the community.
One of these leaders is Stephen A. Gault. In addition
to serving as Mount Joy Township Manager, Steve
serves on a number of boards and committees in the
community. A native of Marietta and graduate of
Donegal High School, Steve earned a Civil Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
Troy, New York. After working for a few years in the
Philadelphia area with Traffic Planning and Design,
Inc. (TPD), Steve transferred to TPDs Harrisburg
office in 2006 which allowed him to relocate to
Lancaster County.
Within a year after returning home, Steve was
appointed to the Mount Joy Borough Zoning Hearing Board. He served in that capacity until 2009,
when he was appointed to the Mount Joy Borough
Planning Commission. He continues to serve on the
Borough Planning Commission, as Vice Chairman in
2011, and as the current Chairman.
Steve represented the Borough Planning Commission
on the Donegal Region Comprehensive Plan Update
Steering Committee. That plan was adopted in July
2011, and Steve has been a leader in the Boroughs
implementation of the policies of that document.

In 2009, Steve was elected to the Donegal School

District Board, calling upon his training as a professional engineer and his perspective as a community
planner in guiding their policy and decision making.
Since he joined Mount Joy Township as its Manager
and Engineer in late 2010, Steve has spearheaded
their implementation of the 2010 Regional Strategic
Plan. In addition to the creation of and participation
in the Regional Communication Meetings, the township has adopted an Official Map, is participating in a
regional Zoning Lexicon initiative and has completed
comprehensive reviews and updates to both its Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances. He also represented the township on the countys
Model Stormwater Ordinance Steering Committee.
Steve is a regular participant in workshops and
training opportunities, ensuring that he remains
aware of current regulations, policies and good planning practices, and that he can better serve the community where he works and makes his home with his
wife, Lisa, and daughter Charlotte. With dedicated
leaders like Steve, Lancaster will remain a thriving
community for generations to come.
Scott H. Haverstick
Manor Township Planning Commission
People travel from around the world to visit
Lancaster Countyto view our beautiful rural landscape and architecture, to learn of our rich cultural
heritage, or to enjoy the bounty of
our farms. It can be difficult, if not
impossible, to fully appreciate these
resources when travelling on our
highways at 45 mph or more.
Scott Haverstick has marveled at
the abundance of our resources
almost daily for thirty years as
he bicycles from his home in Washington
Boro to his job with Puffer Morris Real Estate or the
business he owns, Garden Spot Leasing Corp., both
located in Lancaster City. On these commutes he
has seen firsthand how the landscape, both urban
and rural, has changed and he has been inspired to
become an outspoken advocate of the principles of
Smart Growth.
FYI | 3

September 2012

A native Lancastrian, Scott first became involved

in public service in the 1970s, when he was on the
Washington Boro Council until the borough was dissolved in 1973.
As an avid bicyclist, Scott was a member of the
original task force that created the first Bicycle and
Pedestrian Plan in 2000.
Scott was the Vice-Chair of the Task Force that
oversaw the consolidation of four fire companies in
the Manor-Millersville area. He was appointed as the
citizen representative for the Washington Boro Fire
Company and found the opportunity educational
and rewarding, offering insight into the challenges
of the local fire companies as well as the complexities
of working regionally.
Scott has served on the Manor Township Planning
Commission for over 11 years, first as Vice Chairman and as Chairman for the past four years. He
currently represents Manor Township on the Land
Use Advisory Board of the Lancaster Inter-Municipal
Committee, and is the Planning Official Representative to the Central District of the Pennsylvania
Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA).
Scott also is the chair of the Manor Township Rails
to Trails Committee. Manor Township recently
acquired 122.7 acres of abandoned railroad rightof-way along the Susquehanna River and will begin
construction of a trail and related facilities over the
next few months.
Scott states that he is pleased that, as a community
planner, he has been able to have an impact on the future of his community, despite recent fiscal challenges.
With committed volunteers like Scott, we will ensure
that Lancaster remains a place we can treasure by
foot, car, buggy or bikedespite challengesfiscal
or otherwise.
Gary Van Dyke
Caernarvon Township Supervisor
Gary Van Dyke has served on the Board of Supervisors in Caernarvon Township since 2004 and has
become one of the most integral elected community
leaders not only in his township, but in the Elanco
4 | FYI

Region. Gary took a leadership role

in the update of the Caernarvon
Township Zoning Ordinance
(2006), as well as the development of the Elanco Region
Comprehensive Plan (2008).
He has been actively involved
in the implementation of the
Elanco Region Comprehensive
Plan since its adoption within
Caernarvon Township and the
Elanco region.
Gary has taken a leadership role in partnering with
East Earl Township and the Lancaster County Planning Commission staff in developing a Corridor
Management Plan in anticipation of having the Conestoga Ridge Road (Route 23) designated a Lancaster
County Heritage Byway by LCPC during October,
2012. Additionally, Gary has taken a leadership role
along with the Townships Agricultural Advisory
Committee, again partnering with East Earl Township, to develop Lancaster Countys first regional
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Program.
Garys hope is to ultimately have the whole Elanco
region participate in this regional endeavor; however,
he is very excited to get this effort started with his
neighboring municipality. Caernarvon Township
hopes to adopt the Sending Area zoning provisions
within its zoning ordinance in the month of October.
Gary and his family became residents of Caernarvon
Township in 1987 and he currently operates a largeanimal veterinary practice. Garys interest in agriculture and its preservation led him into public service
in the township. Gary enjoys cultivating working
relationships with neighbors, county and state organizations, and their representatives in promoting
dialogue and solutions for the issues that face the
local and greater agricultural community.
Gary is an active member of the Townships Agricultural Advisory Committee, Bangor Church, and
Historic Poole Forges Garden Club. He is also a
member of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, Lancaster
County Conservancy, Caernarvon Historical Society, and Caernarvon Memorial Society. His hobbies
include music, history, agronomy, nutrition, sports,
and animals. t

September 2012

Elanco Region Source Water Protection Plans Receive Approval from DEP
The Eastern Lancaster County (Elanco) Source Water
Protection project has been an ongoing task since
its inception in the early 1990s with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) fracture trace
analysis that was done in the region. There have
been many positive steps taken in the past 20 years
to protect ground water resources in the region. The
culmination of all that time and effort over the past
two decades occurred on September 18, 2012 when
Cathy Port of PA DEP (Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection) presented a Certificate
of Approval to each of the participating municipalities for their Wellhead Protection Program and their
Source Water Protection Plans.
The Certificate of Approval stated that The DEP
recognizes the outstanding efforts of the municipality in developing an approved Wellhead Protection
Program. Implementation of this program exemplifies a strong commitment to source water protection
and providing safe drinking water to consumers.
The four municipalities in the Elanco Region receiving certificates at the Garden Spot High School were
Earl Township (Western Heights Water Authority)
represented by Jim Leonard and Joy Oberholtzer,
East Earl Township (Blue Ball Water Authority) represented by Denise Bensing, New Holland Borough
represented by James Hartranft and Terre Hill Borough represented by Bob Rissler and Valerie Gregory.
A Source Water Protection Plan will allow the municipalities to outline their potential sources of contaminants inside their wellhead protection zones
and choose how to manage them. The management options can be anywhere from being education based to a more legislative approach. The
wellhead protection zones have been created by
the SSM Group, Inc. through computer modeling
which generated three delineation zones. These
delineations will be in map form and will illus-

trate which path the municipalities ground water is

taking to their wells.
The municipalities are and will be taking proactive
steps to protect their sources of drinking water by
actively working together not only between jurisdictions, but also partnering with the Elanco School
District to educate the student body and the community about the need to protect this valuable resource.
The four municipalities have received a $5,000
WREN (Water Resources Educational Network)
Grant to create educational materials and tools by
June 2013 to help educate the Elanco Region and its
citizenry. They will enlist high school students to assist in developing these materials for distribution.
This effort is a great example of municipalities
working together in partnership with state, county,
and local officials, as well as the school district and
private consulting firms to develop a Source Water
Protection Plan that implements the Elanco Region
Comprehensive Plan (2008), New Holland Comprehensive Plan Update (2008), and the pending
Blueprints: An Integrated Water Resources Plan for
Lancaster County (Act 247 and 167). This regional
effort personifies what community planning month
represents and the municipalities and its partners
should be commended for a job well done. The energy generated by this process and recognition by
DEP will foster continued cooperation by all parties
involved and serve as a catalyst to move implementation forward. t

Front Row L to R: James Hartranft, Denise Bensing, Randall

Heilman, Valerie Gregory, Bob Rissler, Nathan Merkel, and
James Leonard.
Back Row L to R: Robert Hollister, Al Guiseppe, Bill Shirk,
John Van Zant, Joy Oberholtzer, and Cathy Port.

5 | FYI

FYI | 5

September 2012

Whistle Stop Plaza, Ephrata

After nearly a
decade of planning, a new
public space has
opened on Main
Street in Ephrata
Borough. Whistle
Stop Plaza, located in front of
the old train station, has gotten
a much needed
makeover. Previously this area was just parking with no space
for gathering, having events, or sitting down for
a rest. Downtown Ephrata, Inc. spearheaded the
project working with businesses and other stakeholders to determine what the community wanted
for the space. The results of the collaborative effort were well worth the wait.

The front area of the project now has a sunken

courtyard with a pergola covered stage, seating
areas, a bike rack, light poles, a four-sided informational kiosk, trees, and other plantings. This
portion of the project was funded from PennDOTs
Home Town Streets Program. The rear of the property was also improved with lighting, plantings,
and a wide walkway that provides a connection for
the boroughs rail trail which is planned for extension to the north. A grant from the Countys Urban
Enhancement Fund paid for these improvements.
With all of these improvements, the view from the
old train station is much more enjoyable. Downtown Ephrata, Inc. and the Ephrata Area Chamber of Commerce both have offices in the historic
building, which also has a public restroom. The
116-year-old building was rehabilitated 7 years ago.
The station was a passenger and freight stop for the
Reading & Columbia Railroad. t

Elizabethtown Borough Pedestrian and Bicycle Pathway Project

Elizabethtown
Borough has
been awarded
$329,743 in
Smart Growth
Transportation funding
through the
Lancaster
County
Metropolitan Planning
Organization for Phase III of its pedestrian and
bicycle pathway network. The project spans the
eastern corridor of the Borough from Market Street
through Community Park and connects with the
Elizabethtown Area School District campus. Work is
expected to begin in the spring of 2013.

ability and alternative means of transportation,

supporting economic development opportunities,
and enhancing the quality of life for residents and
visitors to Elizabethtown.

The Borough has been working diligently to build its

pathway network with the goal of increasing walk-

Phase III completes a 1.5 mile east/west connection

through the heart of the Borough and provides a link

6 | FYI

Phase I of the project was completed in 2011 with

$350,000 in funding from the Department of
Community and Economic Development and the
Lancaster County Urban Enhancement Fund. The
pathway utilizes Rose Alley in the western corridor of the Borough running from Market Street in
downtown Elizabethtown to the Community Center
at Poplar Street Park. The next two phases of the
project are slated for completion in 2013. Phase II,
also in the western corridor, will complete the connection to the Amtrak Train Station and is funded
with $630,872 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Projects funds.

September 2012

between the Amtrak train station, Community Center at Poplar Street Park, downtown Elizabethtown,
Community Park, residential neighborhoods, and
the Elizabethtown Area School District campus.
The pathway surface will be a combination of inlaid
brick in the immediate vicinity of the downtown and
asphalt pavement on the remainder. Much of the
pathway utilizes public alleys and land in the Boroughs park system, and easement agreements have
been acquired to cross private property in some
sections. Pedestrian lighting and creative signage
for directional and safety purposes are also included
in the project.
The Boroughs pathway project is part of the Master
Plan for Downtown Elizabethtown, unveiled to the
community in 2005, and is depicted on the Regional
Trails Official Mapan exhibit of the Regional
Comprehensive Plan of Elizabethtown Borough,
Conoy Township, Mount Joy Township, and West
Donegal Township adopted in 2010. t

FYI | 7

September 2012

Manor Township Completes Purchase of the Enola Low Grade Line

When discussions about converting the abandoned
28-mile Enola Low Grade railroad line in southern Lancaster County into a recreation trail began
in the early 1990s, the 5-mile section along the
Susquehanna River in Manor Township was largely
detached from the conversation. Parting with the
abandoned rail line along the Susquehanna River
(known as the Turkey Hill Section) posed no small
task for the owner (Conrail). The challenges of selling
the 5-mile section included safety concerns related to
the active rail line that paralleled the abandoned line;
the massive Safe Harbor Trestle over the Conestoga
River; a complex subdivision of railroad property;
and infrastructure facilities that had to be separated
from the trail in order to keep the railroad operating efficiently. Conrail, instead, opted to focus on
the 23-mile east-west section of rail line that ran
from the Susquehanna River, through the Borough
Quarryville, and into Chester County.
Over two decades later, a switch
in railroad ownership and a lot of
hard work by township staff and
officials, Manor Townships wait
has finally ended! On June 29,
2012, Manor Township cleared
the last hurdle and
is now the proud
owner of a highly
scenic, 5-mile abandoned rail line along
the Susquehanna
River.
The 5-mile rail corridor, which starts
at the base of Turkey
Hill at Creswell Station, runs south along the shoreline
of the Susquehanna River and crosses
the confluence of the Conestoga River
at Safe Harbor. After crossing the
Conestoga River on the massive Safe
Harbor Railroad Trestle, the rail line
enters Conestoga Township and connects with the remaining 23-mile
Enola Low Grade Line.
8 | FYI

Much of the rail corridor is

carved into the side of the valley wall and views of the wide
Susquehanna River are evident
throughout its entire length. Bald Eagles
and migratory waterfowl can be spotted on
a regular basis. Sheer cliffs, massive boulders, and
rhododendron-filled stream valleys cut through the
landscape perpendicular to the trail. Few trails in the
in our region can match the scenic character of the
Turkey Hill Section of the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail.
Conversion of the rail corridor into a functional
recreation trail is well underway. In August, Manor
Township awarded a contract to a company to install fencing between the active and abandoned
sections of the rail line. The preferred trail surface
material will be a special crushed stone aggregate.
And a 58 car parking area is planned for the northern trailhead near Creswell Station. All this work is
expected to be completed for the targeted opening of
the trail in 2013.
The largest challenge for the Township will be the
conversion of the Safe Harbor Railroad Trestle for
use by hikers and bikers. Built by Chief Engineer William H. Brown of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1905,
the wrought iron trestle stands approximately 100
feet above the Susquehanna and is about 1,500 feet
in length. The project will be complex and costly. That
said, Manor Township has established a good track
record of overcoming difficult challenges! t

Staff Pics
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Carl Hess

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to make a positive change

Museum Hours:
Thu., Fri., and Sat. from 10 am to 2 pm, or by appt.

Carl Hess

New Holland Area Historical Society Museum

201 East Main Street (at Railroad Avenue)
New Holland, PA
(Museum entrance at rear)
www.nhhistorical.com
[email protected]

September 2012

Marietta Receives EPA Assistance for Plan Implementation

In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) developed the Building Blocks for Sustainable
Communities Program to provide quick, targeted
technical assistance to communities. In 2012, the
EPA selected 56 communities in 26 states, including
Lancaster Countys Marietta Borough, to receive technical assistance by EPA staff and private sector experts.
Marietta Borough had recently adopted the 2011
Donegal Region Comprehensive Plan and sought
assistance with implementation of the plan through
the Smart Growth Zoning Codes for Small Cities and
Rural Areas Program. Staff from the EPA Office of
Sustainable Communities and Clarion Associates,
the consulting firm selected for the local project,
first consulted with borough officials to identify
priorities, potential participants, and to develop an
agenda for a two-day onsite workshop.
The onsite workshop held June 67, 2012, included a
public meeting attended by private citizens, borough
staff and officials, and representatives of a number
of local and state agencies, such as U.S. Representative Joe Pitts office, the EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional
Office, the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Susquehanna Gateway
Heritage Area, Lancaster County Planning Commission, Lancaster County Housing and Development Authorities, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management
Authority, Donegal School District, adjoining municipalities in Lancaster and York Counties, and more.
The onsite workshop was followed by a more focused
work session with key borough officials and LCPC

staff to review the public input and identify key

areas of concern.
In these workshops, Marietta used EPAs Essential
Smart Growth Fixes for Rural Planning, Zoning, and
Development Codes. Marietta was the first community to use this new workbook. This is a companion
piece to the EPA document, Essential Smart Growth
Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning Codes, a key component of the tool with the same name in the LCPC
online Smart Growth Tool Box.
EPA then prepared a draft report and then met with
borough officials and LCPC staff on September 13,
2012, to share details of the findings and recommendations in the report. EPA identified six priority
areas as well as specific actions and resources available to address those areas. Each of the identified
priorities supports the goals and objectives of the
regional comprehensive plan and includes specific actions that the borough can undertake.
While the Building Blocks program does not award
grant money, borough officials saw this as a rare
opportunity to receive assistance from a team of nationally-recognized experts that will save time and
money when updating their existing ordinances. As
part of the Building Blocks program, staff from the
EPA and other state and federal offices will continue
to work with the borough to ensure they have the
capacity to realize the goals of Envision, the Lancaster
County Comprehensive Plan and the Donegal Region
Comprehensive Plan. t

Design Matters / Designing for the Market Update

In December 2009 the Lancaster County Planning
Commission kicked off a year-long community
design-focused initiative entitled Design Matters
to promote communication and collaboration in
support of better community design throughout
Lancaster County. Philadelphia City Planning Director Alan Greenberger opened the series with a
presentation focused on how good design improves
our entire built environment. The next morning
10 | FYI

about fifty local planners and designers gathered

for a workshop with three leaders in the field of
urban designStuart Sirota founding principal of
TND Planning Group of Baltimore, David Rouse, a
principal with Wallace Roberts & Todd of Philadelphia, and Anne-Marie Lubenau, President and CEO
of the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh.
Envisioning Good Design in Lancaster County and Phila

September 2012

delphia followed in the Fall of 2010. David Rouse of

Wallace Roberts & Todd provided an overview of
Envision Lancaster County as it relates to design
issues, explored connections between public policy
and design, and presented initiatives currently
underway to heighten awareness of and direct attention to good design at the project level.
Danny Whittle of the Lancaster County Planning
Commission spoke about establishing new institutional mechanisms for design advocacy and assistance outside of government. Elizabeth Miller,
Executive Director, of the Community Design Collaborative in Philadelphia explored the work of the
Design Advocacy Group and the Community Design
Collaborative and how those organizations could
serve as a model for the establishment of a similar
organization in Lancaster County.
Design Matters II Civic Engagement Required followed in December 2010. The focus of the program
was design excellence through public participation. The featured speaker was Harris Steinberg of
the University of Pennsylvanias Project for Civic
Engagement and Executive Director of PennPraxis
the applied research arm of Penns School of Design. Dr. Steinberg shared the success story of the
public planning process, A Civic Vision for the Central
Delaware, for six miles of the Delaware Riverfront
in Philadelphia. PennPraxis designed and implemented a citizen-driven planning process that
engaged over 6,000 people in shaping the future of
the waterfront.
A follow up workshop was held the next day. This
workshop featured three speakers: Dr. Steinberg,
Dr. Harris Sokoloff, Director, Penn Project for Civic
Engagement, and Dr. Kerrie Farkas, Director of the
Center for Public Scholarship at Millersville University. The topic of the workshop was Community
Design and Civic Engagement. The main themes to
this workshop were: (1) dealing with citizen alienation and moving people to share their perspectives in a public dialogue, (2) educating the public
about how citizens can influence public decisions,
and (3) showing government agencies that civic engagement holds the potential for generating broad
public support.

In January 2011, after a year of research, discussion,

and planning, a group of local design professionals
architects, landscape architects, and plannersestablished Design-Lancaster, a design advocacy group
for Lancaster County.
In October 2011, LCPC began a dialog about planning for the changing real estate market. Designing
for the Market: The Next Generation of Housing and
Communities kicked off with John Norquist, CEO,
Congress for the New Urbanism. In a keynote presentation in November, Mitchell Silver, President,
American Planning Association, emphasized the dramatic demographic changes occurring in demographics in the United States and Lancaster County. He
was pointed in his call for elected officials, planners,
and code administrators to work toward plans and
ordinances that are responsive to consumer demand
and that provide for housing that meets the needs of
different age and demographic groups.
The next day Mitchell Silver moderated a panel of
national experts from the National Association of
Homebuilders, the National Association of Realtors,
and the Urban Land Institute. The panel also underscored the changing needs of housing consumers
and the fact that the market is constrained by outdated codes that do not allow a range of unit types.
In May 2012, Designing for the Market: Moving To
wards an Agenda for Action featured a panel of local
experts representing real estate, appraisal, financing,
building, and housing issues. This panel identified
actions which could be done at the local level to improve community design and housing affordability.
In September LCPC staff met with the Building
Industry Association of Lancaster County and the
Lancaster County Association of Realtors to move forward on the actions identified at the May workshop.
The next event that LCPC is planning will be focused
on design in the public realm. A number of questions
will be addressed. Why is good design of civic space
important? How do we ensure good design in the
public realm? What is the public sectors role in civic
space design? Information on this event will be sent
out when a date is set. t

FYI | 11

Join LCPC Staff for a brown bag lunch to watch the inaugural lecture of the

September 2012

Daniel Burnham Forum on Big Ideas

The Next 50: Planning, Architecture, and

Landscape Architecture
Join LCPC Staff for a brown bag lunch to watch the inaugural lecture of the Daniel Burnham
Forum on Big Ideas. The Next 50: Planning, Architecture, and Landscape Architecture
explores how the emerging trends in America over the next 50 years will impact the design
professions. Featured speakers include the presidents of the American Planning Association,
the American Institute of Architects, and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
How will the emerging trends in America over the next 50 years impact the planning,
architecture, and landscape architecture professions? How will the design professions guide
Americas communities? Hear from the presidents of the American Planning Association,
the American Institute of Architects, and the American Society of Landscape Architects as

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m.
Lancaster County Government Center
Room 102, 150 N. Queen Street, Lancaster
Binns Park Entrance

they share their perspectives on the next generation of changes within their professions.

R.S.V.P. to Donna Hahn (717) 299-8333 or [email protected]

For more information, go to www.planning.org/burnham/2012/jul.htm

LCPC Accepts 2040 Population Projections

Population projections are a vital piece of information in carrying out county and municipal/multimunicipal planning of almost every type.
Every 10 years after the decennial census, county
and regional planning commissions, like LCPC, typically develop population projections often 30 years
into the future. LCPC staff undertook this task in
early 2012 and the County Planning Commission accepted the 2040 Projections in August.
At the county level the projections were made using
a cohort-component methodology. This methodology first separates the population into five-year age
groups by gender, called cohorts. It then applies the
various components of population change (births,
deaths, and migration) to each cohort in five-year
increments over the projection period.
The average of four simple allocation methods
12 | FYI

was then used to develop municipal projections.

These methodologies are described on LCPCs
website. The method to develop the county and
municipal projections is purely mathematical, using tested mathematical methods, and does not
utilize knowledge of known or anticipated development plans or growth policies. A demographer
at Temple University reviewed and approved of
LCPCs methodology.
Population forecasts, on the other hand, can be
developed using the projections and involve making
adjustments to the projections using local knowledge
and data and using either technical/analytical or
more intuitive methods. Use of the projections may
be perfectly fine for some planning projects or studies but may need refinement into forecasts for others.
LCPC staff is willing to work with local officials in
developing population forecasts for their municipalities and planning regions. t

September 2012

Lancaster County Kicks Off Hazard Mitigation Planning Process

The Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with
The County Planning Commission
and County Information Technology
Department has begun a planning
initiative that will result in the creation of a County Hazard Mitigation
Plan. The Hazard Mitigation Plan provides the blueprint for how the County will reduce
its vulnerability to hazards and disasters such as
flooding and severe weather.
Hazard mitigation is process by which communities
reduce the effects of disasters by completing projects
which aim at moving residents out of harms way.
Hazard mitigation projects may include elevating or
relocating homes in flood prone areas, zoning vulnerable areas for open space use only, reinforcing existing structures to withstand high winds, providing
community hazard information, as well as number
of other important types of projects. The idea is to
make communities more resistant to disasters before
they happen, rather than recovering from the effects
of disasters.
In Lancaster County, flooding is the most prevalent
and severe hazard. Recent incidents such as Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 illustrate
how the County is vulnerable to this hazard, and
why it is important to reduce that vulnerability
through hazard mitigation projects. Flooding is

not the only hazard the County faces however, the

County also is impacted by severe summer and winter weather such as tornados and blizzards, droughts,
and man-made hazards such as nuclear incidents
from power plants in adjacent counties.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan lays the groundwork and
maps out a strategy for completing hazard mitigation projects in the County. Municipalities who
participate in the Hazard Mitigation Plan planning
process are eligible to apply for, and receive Federal
grant funding to conduct identified hazard mitigation projects through a variety of funding sources.
The County encourages all 60 Municipalities to
actively participate in the Hazard Mitigation Plan
planning process.
The County will hold a Stakeholder Kickoff Meeting
on Wednesday October 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the
Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center, located at 101 Champ Boulevard Manheim, PA 17545.
The purpose of this meeting will be to introduce the
importance of hazard mitigation planning, and discuss the process the County will use. Specific questions regarding the process or the meeting should be
directed to Phil Colvin, Lancaster County Emergency
Management Agency at 717-664-1200. Information
is also available online at http://hmp.lancema.us.
If you plan to attend the meeting, please RSVP online at www.lancema.us/hmprsvp t

New Uses for Old Buildings Making it Work for You

Free Public Forum
October 25, 2012 6:30 p.m.
The Country Barn
211 S. Donnerville Road, Lancaster
The towns and villages of Lancaster County have
a wealth of beautiful and historic buildings ready
for new life, but how does the small investor or
entrepreneur navigate the web of building codes,
municipal approvals, and financing regulations to

make adaptive reuse affordable and

practical?
The Coalition for Smart Growth
will present New Uses for Old
Buildings Making It Work for You
on Thursday, October 25th when
expert panelists will discuss their
experiences reusing existing buildings:
Jeff Helm, Columbia Borough Code Enforcement Officer will address the challenges preFYI | 13

September 2012

sented by the Uniform Building Code and offer

suggestions on how communities can encourage new use of underutilized downtown buildings and historic structures.
Ken Hammel, Principal at Hammel Associates
Architects, will describe his experience in rehabilitating downtown buildings into dynamic
commercial spaces with beautiful living spaces
above. Ken will also discuss options available
through the Federal and Pennsylvania Historic
Tax Credit programs.
Leslie Reese, owner of The Quilt Ledger in
Christiana will share her experiences in converting a one room school house into a vibrant
retail shop featuring quilts, fabrics and notions...

Holly Hartman, Vice President of National

Penn Bank, will provide information on financing options for small businesses and investors interested in purchasing and renovating an
existing building and address with attention to
such topics as cost versus appraisal and typical
loan terms.
The panelists will also be available to answer questions relating to local incentives, funding sources and
design guidelines for repurposing existing buildings in
urban, suburban, and rural areas. Doors open at 5:30
p.m., so please join us early to network, share light
refreshments, and explore the Country Barna traditional Lancaster County structure that has new life as
a popular meetings and reception venue. The forum is
offered free of charge, but please register for the event
at http://www.coalitionforsmartgrowth.org. t

Regional Breakfast Meetings for Municipal Officials

LCPCs Regional Representatives invite municipal officials to share breakfast and their thoughts on local and county planning issues at an upcoming
regional planning breakfast meeting. LCPC encourages municipal officials to attend the meeting serving their region; however, if more convenient,
please feel welcome to join another region for breakfast. Invitations, with a change of location for Region 3, were mailed in late August.

For additional information, contact LCPC at 717-299-8333.

World Town Planning Day

World Town Planning Day is celebrated in 30 countries on four
continents each November 8. It is a
special day to recognize and promote the role of planning in creating
livable communities. World Town
Planning Day presents an excellent
opportunity to look at planning
from a global perspective, and the
American Planning Association encourages its members to consider planning challenges and solutions
around the globe on that day.
The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
endorses World Town Planning Day as a strategy to
promote a broad-based awareness, support, and advocacy of community and regional planning among
the general public and all levels of government
through activities in recognition of American accomplishments on World Town Planning Day, November
14 | FYI

8 of each year.
For more information go to http://www.planning.
org/ncpm/worldtown/
World Town Planning Day Online Conference
November 67, 2012
Professional planning associations from around the
world will celebrate World Town Planning Day 2012
with an international online conference. This online
conference will bring together ideas from around the
world about how advances in technology shape our environment. The conference will offer insights to help
improve the built environmentour cities, towns,
rural communitiesand the natural environment.
For more information go to http://www.planningtheworld.net/World_Town_Planning_Day_Online_
Conference/Home.html t