Implementation
A. Introduction The Implementation Plan, in table form on the following pages, provides a summary of all the Action Items recommended in Chapters 2 through 12. The table also indicates which entity is responsible for carrying out each action, as well as a time frame for the completion of each action. The table indicates five time frames for implementation of the Comprehensive Plan actions: Immediate (), which is intended to be up to one year from plan adoption; Short-term (), which is one to three years; Mid-term (MT), which is four to ten years; Long-term (LT), which is from 11 to 20 years from plan adoption, and Ongoing (), which includes all of the above time periods. Note that many of the short-term tasks would be handled concurrently as part of a comprehensive update of both the Zoning Ordinance and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO). Abbreviations for the responsible entities, as indicated in the table, are as follows: PC ZHB LPC Township staff Board of Supervisors Planning Commission Zoning Hearing Board Land Preservation Committee Future Land Use Amend Zoning Ordinance to remove conservation design option from Agricultural District. Amend Zoning Ordinance and Official Zoning Map. Adopt an Official Map that reflects existing and future land areas of municipal or public agency interest. Amend Zoning ordinance in Rocklyn Station area to implement Strategic Development Plan and establish a TND overlay district. Adjust SALDO to provide consistency with the TND overlay. Page 69
Future Land Use (continued) Coordinate with Sewer Authority to create sewer service boundaries that are consistent with growth boundaries of Future Land Use Map. Request that the County amend their "Liveable Landscapes" map. PC; Fair Share/Housing Implement Rocklyn Station Plan, through zoning, to allow for a dense mix of housing types. Provide incentives for second and third story apartments above commercial/retail. Make TDR more attractive by lowering the "by-right" residential density allowance within the MR zoning district. Delete R-Residential District from Zoning Ordinance. Zone lands north and northwest of the Borough for multifamily residential use. Ensure that some land is always available for multifamily residential and mobile homes. Involve Chester County Housing Authority in a /PC work session. Create a working group to study the implementation of new and existing affordable housing as development occurs Rocklyn Station Strategic Development Plan Incorporate ideas and guidelines expressed in Strategic Development Plan and Manual of Design Guidelines into amendments to Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. PC; Use the Plan and Manual as instruments of friendly pursuasion whenever developers submit plans. Natural Resources Reforest headwater areas. Revise ordinances to reduce impervious coverage. Set stricter impervious limits for headwater areas. Make headwater areas a priority for open space designation within developments. Establish 100-foot riparian buffers. Increase voluntary participation in stream protection measures through education and coordination. L Page 70
Natural Resources (continued) Require innovative stormwater and BMP's outlined in Stormwater Management Ordinance. Require sketch plan consideration of natural-based, nonstructural means of stormwater management. Protect and restore hydric soils to forested wetlands. LT Implement woodland classification approach and map. Protect forest interiors. Set limits to woodland disturbance and replace trees. Regulate commercial timber harvesting. Restrict development to areas outside greenway corridors. Require protection and enhancement of greenway corridors during development. Work with landowners to promote sensitive management of corridors. LPC; Promote natural resource protection and cost-share programs such as CREP, CRP, and WHIP. LPC; Promote protection using conservation easements. LPC; Require new developments to implement open space management plans. Conduct wildlife and botanical surveys. Agricultural Preservation Evaluate the efficacy of the TDR program annually. Create an education and information outreach effort on the benefits of permanent farmland preservation. LPC; Evaluate the effectiveness of home businesses/rural occupations as an economic development tool for farm income; modify existing regulations as necessary. Develop a comprehensive land preservation plan to in integrate dedicated tax revenue, zoning regulations, and educational outreach. Evaluate efficacy of 10-acre minimum lot size in the Agricultural District. Support a farmers' group that would identify innovative business and marketing strategies. Scenic and Historic Resources Establish appropriate weighting factors for scenic and historic resources when evaluating land preservation applications. LPC; LPC; ; L Page 71
Scenic and Historic Resources (continued) Include forestland as a resource eligible for protection using the Township's TDR tool. L Where conservation design option is utilized, consider inclusion of scenic resources in restricted open spaces. Update 1982 baseline inventory of historic structures and provide to Chester County. Perform a more detailed documentation of historic sites. Adopt an historic preservation ordinance. Where conservation design option is utilized, consider inclusion of historic resources in restricted open spaces. Parks and Recreation Expand recreational opportunities at Struble Lake. ; F&G* ; MT Negotiate permanent use of former Honey Brook School. ; TVSD* Ensure continued use of facilities at Honey Brook Elementary. ; TVSD* ; Promote opportunities for public recreation on private and quasi-public sites. Develop new community/neighborhood park sites in Rocklyn Station. Adopt an Official Map to designate sites for acquisition. Meet parks & recreation objectives through the use of dedicated open space in developments. Obtain recreational funding by collecting fees-in-lieu from developers. Promote a future swimming facility. ; TVSD* MT Delegate on-going tasks to a Township Parks and Trails Committee. Monitor recreational programming offered to residents. Implement the Community Trails Plan. Community Trails Establish two regional trails: Brandywine-Hibernia and Brandywine-Struble. ; CHESCO* Establish two local trails: Struble Lake Trail and Rocklyn Station Greenway Trail. ; CHESCO* Establish carriage lane along Route 10; maintain/improve shoulders along U.S. Route 322. ; PENNDOT* Establish system of sidewalks and trail linkages per Rocklyn Station Strategic Development Plan. Page 72
Community Trails (continued) Establish a Township Parks and Trails Committee to oversee implementation of Trails Plan. Pursue trail planning and implementation grants. ; MT Require dedication of trail easements when property ownership changes hands or when land is subdivided. Implement trails shown on the Plan within new land development projects. Require construction of trails within new subdivisions prior to issuance of first building permit. Incorporate conceptual trails onto Township Official Map. PC; Transportation/Circulation Develop updated road design guidelines. Develop new right-of-way road width requirements. Develop design guidelines for non-motorized vehicles. Develop new sight distance criteria. Develop new pavement section standards. Consider upgrading functional classifications of certain roads. Adopt a new Traffic Impact Study Ordinance for land development and conditional use applications. ; PENNDOT* Adopt specific traffic mitigation criteria (with above). Adopt an Official Map, to include needs for future transportation improvements. Adopt a Traffic Impact Fee Ordinance. ; Develop a relationship with PENNDOT District 6-0 staff. ; PENNDOT* Work with Chester County to implement trip reduction strategies and future transit services. ; CHESCO* Prepare traffic improvement plan for Route 322 corridor. Construct auxilary turning lanes at key intersections. ; PENNDOT* Install traffic signals at key intersections (when warranted). ; PENNDOT* Improve road alignments, profiles, and sight distances at deficient locations. ; PENNDOT* Coordinate with Honey Brook Borough on traffic and transportation issues. ; HBB* Pursue available funding opportunities for improvements. Develop an Access Management Plan Ordinance. Limit full-movement access along arterial corridors. Ensure that properties fronting on two roads have primary access from lesser roadway. Page 73
Transportation/Circulation (continued) Enforce shared driveway access. Require auxilary turning lanes along major roads. Create interconnected road system for Rocklyn Station. Develop unified Traffic Plan for Rocklyn Station. Create incentive for developers to build proportionate shares of traffic improvements at Rocklyn Station. Develop a Traffic Calming Implementation Policy. ;MT Ensure that all traffic calming devices are consistent with PENNDOT policies. ; PENNDOT* Develop criteria to evaluate need for traffic calming. Ensure that traffic calming devices are implemented in phases. Take into account maintenance, drainage, and other issues when planning for traffic calming. Community Facilities Construct a new Township administration facility or rework the existing site. Ensure that Township administrative staff has necessary personnel, training, and equipment. Construct a new Township public works facility or rework the existing site. Add public works personnel and equipment as needed. Contract a portion of snow removal services. MT Establish a site for pre-wetting road salt. Evaluate the need for a new regional police department. Find a new site for Honey Brook Fire Company. ; HBFC* Require the use of innovative stormwater and BMP's outlined in Township Stormwater Management Ordinance. Require sketch plan consideration of natural-based, nonstructural means of stormwater management. Support a new postal service letter carrier facility. Include an elementary school/park site as a central feature of Rocklyn Station. ; TVSD* Water and Sewer Allow public water service only in designated areas. Limit Borough Water Authority waterline extensions to areas designated to accept future growth. ; HBBWA* Establish a wellhead protection overlay zoning district. ; HBB* MT Page 74
Water and Sewer (continued) Reduce existing Authority sewer service area adjacent to the Borough. ; NCCSA* Adjust eastern boundaries of sewer service area so that all of Rocklyn Station planning area is served by public sewer. ; NCCSA* Provide for additional sewage treatment capacity. ; NCCSA* ; Identify and pursue land application for sewage effluent. ; NCCSA* Avoid future stream discharges of treated effluent. ; NCCSA* * Specific tasks will require the involvement of one or more of the following agencies/entities: TVSD F&G PENNDOT CHESCO HBB HBFC HBBWA NCCSA Twin Valley School District Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Chester County Honey Brook Borough Honey Brook Fire Company Honey Brook Borough Water Authority Northern Chester County Sewer Authority Page 75