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I I t HT 393 .P4 C667 1983 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA COASTAL ZONE MANAGMNT PROGRAM 0"'000010 0 Z- 0o ..000'. ................ PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT E DDY ST04a, .... ............ ------------ . . . ........ A; pg. ------------------- .4 Wn --zm@ ef PREPARED FOR: The borough of Eddystone, Delaware County, Pennsylvania PREPARED BY: zone Direction Associates, Inc. Planning Consultants OF EDDYSTONE B044OU(Nn WF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE As Part of the Implementation of The PENNSYLVANIA COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM VS Dl-nartmnnt of commerce YCIA Cr-iotai S-@rviccs center Library 223-,@ South 110boon Avenue Charleston, SC 29405-2413 JANUARY, 1983 PREPARED FOR: The Borough of Eddystone, Delaware County, Pennsylvania fa 1, 1XIMS1 PREPARED BY: Direction Associates, Inc. Planning Consultants* COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE As Part of the Implementation of The PENNSYLVANIA COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PREPARED FOR: The Borough of Eddystone, Delaware County, Pennsylvania PREPARED BY: Direction Associates, Inc. Planning Consultants JANUARY, 1983 The preparation of this report was financed through the Pennsyl- vania Coastal Zone Management Program under provisions of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972,(as amended), admin- istered by the Coastal Zone Management office, Office of Resources Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE Curtis Wood, Mayor Borough Council Louis DiMatteo, President William Armstrong, Vice President Walter Kowalski Thomas Orio Edward Corcoran Paul Sides Samuel Sabot Florence DuBois, Treasurer John Snyder, Secretary TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1-0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2.0 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT: 3.0 - Brief History 3.1 - The Regional Setting 3.2 - Possible Effects on the Borough of Eddystone by Regional/County Plans: 3.5 - Philadelphia International Airport 3.5 - Blue Route (1-476) 3.10 - Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM) 3.17 - Delaware Expressway (1-95) 3.19 - Year 2000 Plan for the Delaware Valley 3.21 - Eddystone Sewage Treatment Plant 3.22 NATURAL FEATURES: 4.0 - Soils 4.1 - Drainage 4.3 - Flood Plain Areas 4.4 - Water Resources 4.6 - Sanitary Sewer 4.7 i Table of Contents Page - Wt@,.tlands 4.7 - Topography 4.8 POPULATION ANALYSIS 5.0 EXISTING LAND USE 6.0 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS 7.0 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES 8.0 TRANSPORTATION: 9.0 - Local Road Network 9.1 - Availability of Mass Transit 9.3 EMPLOYMENT 10.0 PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 11.0 BASE MAP 12.0 TABLE OF MAPS iii TABLE OF CHARTS iv ZONING ORDINANCE ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ii TABLE OF MAPS Map Number Page 1 Aerial 1.3 2 Locality Map 3.4 3 Airport Noise Impacts - 1980 3.7 4 Airport Noise Impacts - 1990 3.8 5 Airport Noise Impacts - 2000 3.9 6 Blue Route - Simplified Map 3.14 7 Location of the Blue Route and 1-95 3.20 8 U.S.G.S. 4.9 9 Existing Land Use Map 6.4 10 Community Facilities Map 8.5 11 Traffic Circulation Map 9.2 12 Mass Transit Map 9.4 13 Proposed Land Use Map 11.7 TABLE OF CHARTS Chart Number Page 1. Blue Route Construction Schedule: 3.13 2. Local Usage of Proposed Expressway: 3.15 3. Short Distance Commuting on Proposed Expressway: 3.16 4. Population Breakdown by Age and Sex: -1980 5.2 5. Change in Number of Households: 1970-1980 5.3 6. Change in the Number of Persons Per Household: 1970-1980 5.4 7. Percentage Breakdown of Population by Marital Status: 1970-1980 5.4 8. Age and Sex Distribution: 1970-1980 5.5 9. Comparison of Single-Family Attached Housing: 1970-1980 7.2 10. Average Number of Persons Per Unit: 1970-1980 7.2 11. Average Size of Housing Unit: 1970-1980 7.3 12. Percentage Breakdown of Housing by Occupant Type: 7.4 iv 0 1 0 0 9 io INTRODUCTION 1,10 10 go I i I i I I 00 1 I I i I NEED FOR A PLAN Webster's International Dictionary defines the word "plan" as "a proposed method of action." By nature, most indi- viduals plan their activities to one degree or another to insure their continued existence. For most businesses and other organizations, planning for the future is vital to their continued viability. Yet, many modern American com- munities have allowed their futures to be determined not through a rational planning process but, rather, through the vagaries. of market conditions and political processes. Over the course of history, some of the most successful urban communities have been those which resulted through consciousplanning, London, Rome, Paris, Center City Philadelphia, and Savannah, Georgia, were all planned to some extent. These places, because they are vital, ordered, and diversified places to live have all survived hundreds of years of changing conditions and cultures, and remain relatively successful even today. Eddystone, Folcroft, and Norwood are obviously not places of this magnitude, nor should they hope to be. However, planning is still extremely important to these communities and their futures. While there are examples of places which have thrived without planning, the conditions of the 20th Century have made these accidental successes all but impossible to achieve. Modern urban communities are highly complex structures. Numerous support systems exist, and interrelationships among these systems are extensive. A change in land use, for example, has potential impacts on the transportation network, sewer and water facilities, schools, parks, and public services such as police and fire protection. These interactions occur not only within a community but between communities in a region, and even between regions of the country. One ironic aspect of modern urban America is that, although the series of interrelationships between communities exists, the governmental structure is such that, in most cases, each separate community acts independently. An action by one community may have an impact on another, with the 1.1 impacted community having little or no input into this ac- tion. To protect its citizens against decisions over which they have little or no control, it is important that each community, to the extent possible, provide a diverse environment where its residents cannot only live, but enjoy opportunities to work, shop and play. A Comprehensive Plan has the potential to produce a diver- sified community structure by setting up goals, objectives, and guidelines for future decision making in the community based on a series of studies to determine community strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, until this point in time, the Boroughs of Eddystone , Folcroft and Norwood have not had a plan on which to base their futures. By allowing growth to be controlled by market forces and zoning ordinances not based on a Comprehensive Plan for rational decision making, these communities have not de-: veloped a healthy diversity of land uses necessary to their vitality. For example, Eddystone has become highly depend- ent on manufacturing as its dominant land use; while manu- facturing industries in the northeast have experienced many problems over the past twenty years. Folcroft and Norwood, on the other hand, are dominated by residential uses, which historically have experienced difficulties generating re- venues to cover the costs of services needed for residential quality. Eddystone, Folcroft and Norwood are already highly developed. communities; and it may seem that a Comprehensive Plan is not necessary. However, urban areas are continuously evol- ving and changing. Every individual action has some impact on the character of these areas. A Comprehensive Plan which establishes a framework for these changes is necessary to insure that these impacts are not negative but, rather, positive steps into the future. 1.2 INN vto4r@-, ,x s 07"14 "o IIA .40 10@ A IV, Map Number 1 Aerial BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE 1.3 6 0 1 1 1 0 9 9 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 10 10 1 i I I 0 % I I i i i i i I I .0 1 I i I i I 10 GENERAL GOALS It is the aim of every government, borough, township, city or state, to insure the quality of life within its environs. Among the many elements which measure the quality of life for citizens are a secure job, decent housing, convenient and safe recreation, adequate and efficient community fa- cilities and services, and an environment that is relatively pollution free. In light of these basic goals, it is the general goal of the Borough of Eddystone to: - Stabilize, improve and/or expand the tax base. - Plan for improvements which will be required by the community within the next ten years. - Retain the current population. - Preserve the housing stock. - Preserve and enhance recreation areas. - Provide adequate, efficient and economic community facilities and services. SPECIFIC GOALS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - Protection and development of the coastal zone. vation df the waterways, in particular Ridley - Preser Creek, Crum Creek and the Delaware River. Protection of flood plain areas. Maintenance of open space, such as parks and green areas. 2.1 SPECIFIC GOALS - POPULATION Maintenance of the current population. Encouragement of increased job opportunities. SPECIFIC GOALS - LAND USE Development of industrial land known as the "Baldwin- Lime-Hamilton Site." Development of industrial land along the Delaware River. Development of Baldwin Towers for use as office and/or commercial space. SPECIFIC GOALS - HOUSING Maintenance of the Borough's existing housing stock. SPECIFIC GOALS - COMMUNITY FACILITIES Maintenance and protection of recreational areas. Maintenance of the local highway transportation system. 2.2 SPECIFIC GOALS JOBS Maintenance of the current skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled work force through development of industrial land. Encouragement of industry to locate within the com- munity. Use of various federal and state programs, such as the Urban Development Action Grant Program (UDAG), County Initiatives and/or new programs to attract new industry. 2.3 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT BRIEF HISTORY First settled in the early 1600's, Eddystone was incorpor- ated as a Borough from Ridley Township in 1888. The Bor- ough was named for the Eddystone Lighthouse in England. Due to its location on the Delaware River, its proximity to Philadelphia, an abundance of raw materials, and the water power provided by the Ridley and Crum Creeks, Eddy- stone in the early 1900's developed rapidly as an industrial center for the region. Among the industries established during this period were the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Remington Arms, and the Ed- dystone Paint Works. The Baldwin Locomotive Works, in addition to producing locomotives, became the world's largest rifle factory during World War I and produced tanks during World War II. Many buildings from this early period in Eddystone's his- tory remain today, including the Saint Rose of Lima Church (1916). Several of these structures, including a portion of the Baldwin Factory, the Thomas Simpson School, Light- house Hall, the Eddystone Printworks Workers Housing, and the Philadelphia Electric Company Substation, have been identified as appropriate subjects for mention on the Na- tional Historic Register of Historic Places. The Simpson School is being restored to its original exterior condition and will be used as office space. Today, Eddystone Borough is a highly industrialized, mod- erately populated suburb of Philadelphia, with very little of its .96 of a square mile of land area remaining unde- veloped. Its population has declined from 2,700 reported in the 1970 Census to its current population of 2,555. 3.1 THE REGIONAL SETTING The Boroughs of Eddystone, Folcroft, and Norwood are affected by a variety of local, regional, and national conditions. Locally, the three Boroughs lie in the southeastern portion of Delaware County to the southwest of Philadelphia. Eddy- stone is approximately 5'.5 miles west of the Philadelphia city limits. It is bordered on the north byU.S13, and on the south by the Delaware River. Access to the City is provided by 1-95 and the river, and also by the Penn Cen- tral Railroad. The proposed Blue Route from 1-95 into Montgomery County is planned to intersect 1-95 north of Ed- dystone. Folcroft and Norwood are contiguous communities to the west of Philadelphia. Folcroft lies within one mile of the City's southwestern boundary, and Norwood is located adjacent to Folcroft on the west. Both Boroughs are served by the Penn Central Railroad and enjoy easy access to Philadelphia via Chester Pike and 1-95. Darby Creek flows along their southern boundaries into the Tinicum National Environmental Center. Southern Folcroft encompasses approximately 44% of the Center, while Norwood contains about 4%. Philadelphia International Airport is approximately three miles to the southeast of these communities. Delaware County is a part of the eight-county Philadelphia SMSA, and the larger 3,833 square mile Delaware Valley Region. The Delaware Valley lies in the center of what has been commonly known as the Eastern Megalopolis, that densely populated urban region stretching from Boston, Massachusetts, to Washington, D.C. Many economic and demographic changes have occurred in the Megalopolis over the past twenty years. The economy of the region has been tr4nsformed from one heavily dependent on manufacturing and industrial production to one increasingly dependent on service industries. This has been necessitated in part by the migration of both population and industry, not only to suburban and rural areas of the region, but to the more economically attractive southern and western states. 3.2 As Eddystone, Folcroft, and Norwood are part of the older suburban areas of Philadelphia, they have not avoided the effects of these trends. All three Boroughs have exper- ienced a decrease in population since 1970. In addition, Eddystone has suffered some damage to its industrial base, most notably the closing of the Baldwin Locomotive Factory, which remains vacant, and the uneasy future of the Penn Shipbuilding Company, formerly operated by the Sun Ship- building and Drydock Company. 3.3 Greenvdiet 311 7-,[ 31' hOP-4,-- "w @;j Billy Penp,bK e hl-ll. tOtiblinf@ Ne. H4. B.hl,flivill. R;,d FrW Pe'kiSi 663 Hill . @V- o min2 Glen G 11 -@Lll@ Al N T, P111kic t e,, n I/ 2w B11 U 2 29 w;j s 'Naror, P-ingtor, I! to.n \Mf&d/) "I t. 'lnville V ingna-,@ St3ny Cr er@town a -".z- BOY lie eld 152 3 163 So derton -C 3"1,210 N. @1.11 I I "Ie I , I -- i'-@@d f,nn,,!. ni, /. Ha' viH"ri z rs ville 3@- @3)i n 7 BirJsbo -watog vv ir iibrmar --Zz: j '-8 11 - 6@4,a n, tstown Montgome N L d' h ny 1, 1., 73 wppx@'\, m @i 2 1411- Hol,hNm h"5vi@ L11,h1 Z" Kenill Y1 @Pvo,,.,@ F7 d 1@ \1 5 Ma t T or t L -ell it ,5prin@ %_z@w jZt@,if,- \ 2 I er. 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L ndi,.Itl 12 _th Inton Wev ena Ch @oc City rnmil P't ellap -L a P: n Vin Owl 49 PARVIN m 4 S Map Number 2 Locality Map N 3.4 91k qW POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON THE BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE BY REGIONAL/COUNTY PLANS The Borough of Eddystone is a part of a large, interdepend- ent region. Therefore, when planning for the future of a community such as Eddystone, it is important td understand the impacts on the community resulting from regional and county plans. PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Philadelphia International Airport, three miles to the west of Eddystone, services over 60,000 scheduled air car- rier departures each year. Of its three runways, two are oriented east-west; and the third, north-south. These or- ientations are significant to Eddystone as the Borough lies almost directly in the flight lines of all flights approach- ing from or departing in a westerly direction. These west- erly approaches and departures account for 72% of the air- ports carrier traffic. In the 1980 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation sponsored report to Congress, entitled: "Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State," the noise impacts of Philadelphia International were analyzed and proposals aimed at minimizing these im- pacts formulated. Noise levels from the airport were mapped as a series of noise contours, superimposed on a map of the region. The unit of measurement utilized in the mapping was the Ldn. Ldn measures sound in decibles over a twenty-four hour per- iod. Noise is considered to have a cumulative effect; and noise which occurs at night is given a higher weight than that which occurs during daylight hours. A typical farm would register an Ldn level of 40 decibles (db), while an 1 apartment by a freeway registered 90 db. 3.5 Most federal agencies accept 65 db as the level above which sleep and speech interferences and other adverse responses occur. Ldn levels below 65 db are generally considered acceptable for residential uses. The EPA, however, has recommended 55 as the acceptable level and indicates that between 55 and 65 db,measures should be taken to protect the public health and welfare. As illustrated on Map No. 3, at the present time, southern Eddystone experiences noise impacts from the airport ex- ceeding 65 db. Projections for 1990 (Map No. 4) and 2000 (map No. 5) indicate that these noise levels will improve to some extent as a result of increased reliance on quieter aircraft. Noise levels in the Borough will still exceed 55 db, but 65 db levels will be experienced by only the southern quarter of the community. Of the alternatives aimed at reducing the airport's noise emissions-proposed in this project, which include a river approach to the airport, and head-to-head night operations, only a night curfew eliminating service from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and the extension of the north-south runway to accommodate commercial air carriers will-reduce noise levels below 65 db in the entire community.by the year 2000. As the community will be experiencing noise impacts for the foreseeable future, insulation against noise pollution in new buildings may be the only option open to the Borough. However, Philadelphia International Airport brings with it some positive aspects. Due to the airport and the need for easy access to this important facility, Borough residents benefit from ease of access to the airport, central city Philadelphia, and points north through Route 291 and the completion of the Airport High Speed Line, as well as the completion of 1-95 in 1985. 3.6 w- @-MR A:r' W, @@iA 'Zi A _7' 'J@ A. JT Ij -0 kl; gA@l -01 @g -zi 7 "Zia 75.0' ----------- 65 0 V. X- 6-0.0 '-IC I j k 7 Z L k ............ j,7 'A 7. Map Number 3 Airport Noise Impacls 1980 Source: Report to Congress, Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State, October, 1980: Prepare;- by the Office 0f Noi se Abatement and Cc,.trol, Enviro=ental Pr 11 tection Agenc y, AND Office of Environment and E'Icr@3y, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation. 3.7 @T X NIN rwj W, ex@ t4 14@ 'i7 UR rt... ."'ZX '7-t > N @'- Zw- '"7 v W! ................. 5 0 N' I7t, @- 44@4 7 Y. V. Map Number 4 N 2 Airport Noise Impacts 1990 Source: Report to Congress, Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State, October, 1980, Prepared by the Office 0 f Noise Abatement and Control, Environmental Protec tion Aqen cy. kND Office of Environment and Ener5y, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation. 3 .8 Y" "7, Z. V r x- L ;1 At- @j dWL A 4"Z o 4A J__. P3 'j - 5 4 k 7@- 65.0 6 0. 0 nQ( S, 71- f1 't. 101@ 2 . ......... Map NUMber 5 N Airport Noise Impacts 2000 Source: Report to Congress, Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State, October, 1980, Prepared by the Office of Noise Abateme nt and Control, Environnental Protecti:)nAgenc y. AND Office of Environment and Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Tranc_@ortation. 3.9 BLUE ROUTE (1-476) The Blue Route or Mid-County Expressway (L.R. 1010) is a proposed six-lane divided limited-access highway facility with provision in the median for expansion to eight lanes or possibly exclusive mass transit lanes. It is planned as a part of the Interstate Highway System and is desig- nated 1-476. The proposed Expressway will extend 21.5 miles from the Delaware Expressway (1-95) at Crum Lynne, Delaware County, to the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (1-276) at the Turnpike's Northeast Extension (PA-9) in Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County. See Map No. 6 for illustration. In Delaware County, the Expressway will extend 15.2 miles long and is an integral part of the Delaware Valley Re- gional Planning Commission's 1985 Adopted Freeway Network for the Philadelphia metropolitan Area. It will become the western link of a beltway route around Philadelphia, and provide a limited-access highway system for north-south travel. The routing of the Blue Route is between communities rather than through them. It is believed that the Expressway will proivde the link to other transportation channels which will assist in the economic revitalization of southern Dela- ware County. Information gathered from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation indicates that the earliest possible date for completion of the Blue Route is 1988. Chart No. 1, following, illustrates the timetable for construction of various sections of the expressway. Also included is a simplified map, Map No. 7, illustrating the sections of the Blue Route which have been completed and those which are to be built. Whe map is keyed to the timetable for clarity. Although the construction of the Expressway will create an impervious surface, runoff is not expected to significantly increase flooding potential in surrounding flood-prone areas. Crum and Darby Creeks will drain most of the area. 3.10 No significant adverse effects will occur at the Tinicum National Environmental Center. In addition, the final design of the Blue Route will incorporate significant noise abatement measures. The major impact of the Blue Route will be ease of trans- portation. The Blue Route will connect with three Inter- state Highways: the Schuylkill Expressway (1-76), the Delaware Expressway (1-95), and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (1-276). The Blue Route will also connect with existing major radial highways, including the Media Bypass/State Road (US-1), Lancaster Avenue/Lincoln Highway (US-30), West Chester Pike (US-3), and Baltimore Pike and MacDade Boule- vard. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has provided an estimate of Year 2000 uses of the Blue Route, including both long and short-distance commuting. These can be found on Chart Nos. 2 and 3 which follow. Among its many uses, the Expressway will provide easier access to the Philadel- phia International Airport and could encourage mass transit service, such as a bus link between Chester and Norristown. It is expected that new development will occur at the Blue Route's interchanges, although not at a rapid pace since these areas can be classified as moderate to low suburban built-up areas. As a result of this development, some eventual traffic congestion can be expected. For the most part, Eddystone avoids all of the adverse ef- fects of construction of the Blue Route. None of the phy- sical structure is or will be within the Borough limits, but rather in the Woodlyn/Crum Lynne area of Ridley Township. The Blue Route lies to the north and west of the Borough, with the Expressway's major interchange with 1-95 also north of the Borough. The Blue Route/I-95 Interchange has already been constructed, its ramps blocked awaiting construction of the next section of the expressway. The Blue Route will have positive impacts upon the Borough of Eddystone. Thr6ugh its north-south connection with the Turnpike, the Blue Route's interchange will encourage the development of industry within the Borough's limits given the Borough's prime waterfront location and excellent rail service. Access to this highway could also open the doors to better employment opportunities making it a relatively easy task for residents to approach the Plymouth Meeting, King of Prussia, and Valley Forge employment centers. 3.12 CHART NO. I 1-476 - MID-COUNTY EXPRESSWAY BLUE ROUTE CONSTRUCTION SHCEDULE 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Section 100 Dezign ConItAuction Section 200 Dezibn consttuctio!J Section 250 ETS Section 500 De.6@n ConztAu4@on 1, 1 Section 600 Des k_q n J ConstAuction P1 Section 675 ETS Section 300 Dezign Cans--6-uction Section 400 De.6ign Co"tAuction Env. Monitor AU. nat 's Section D2N 9 Dinign ConStAucti Section D3T EIS Finat Pezign ConstAuctAon 9/30/83 9/30/86 Deadline for All interstate projects Transfers must be under contract. NOTE: EIS: Executed contract to FHWA signoff. SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Des i gn: Executed engineering agreement to letting. St. Davids, Pennsylvania Construction: Letting to final inspection. A NORRISTOW9 ?76@ EIS E-1 W.F.Labs) M -TIHG CL PLYMOUTH f fl EE Noise Studies CONWHOCKER N 76 320 3 Design Contract BRYR MRWP- 2 Map Number 6 (Delta) CD Blue Route- Sim, plif ied 0 LO Source: Pennsylvania Department of TransDortation, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. T32-00MALL 33 C) 320 COMPLETED C) Design m A ra- a E Contrac IF IDESIGH I 1k C> C) TOTRL PROJECT LENGTH . . .................. 21 .5 mile PORTIOR CMAY.or)JIIADER C041ST ...... 8.8 mile Baltimore P i k e- SWRTHMORE Design C) 320 Contract C) 1011, 695 -- Jordan/Greii er) 7 McDade lv@ - 95 CHESTEP- FEIL. F CA 95 5 C) Emymm PHff 12DELPHff -11 3.14 Chart Number 2 LOCAL USAGE OF PROPOSED EXPRESSWAY (YEAR 2000: ALTERNATE A I B U I L D I - 4 7 6) LINK 1-76 To U.S. @O @t- 97% U. S. 30 To PA. - 3 PA.-3 To Lansdowne Expy. Lansdowne Expy. To PA.320 gai 93% PA.320To U.SJ 94% U.S. I To Baltimore Pike 88% Baltimore Pike To MacDade Blvd. 90% MccDode Blvd.To 1-95 _51- "4@ 9G% 29; 0 1@0 Percentage Of Trips On Link With Origin And /Or Destination In Delaware County. Includes Trips Which Started Or En1ded In Montgomery County. Source: Mid-County Expressway (1-476). Final Environmental Impact/section 4(f) Statement, August 8, 1980, Pennsylvania Depart:nert of Transportation, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. Chart Number 3 SHORT- DISTANCE COMMUTING ON PROPOSED EXPRESSWAY (YEAR 2000: ALTERNATIVE Al - BUILD 1 476) LINK 45% I - 7 6 To U.S. 30 U.S. 30 To PA.-3' 17% PA.-3 To Lansdoyne Expy. Lansdowne Expy.To PA.320 36% PA.320 To U.S.1 45% 7 Y@ 49 U.S.1 To Baltimore Pike J % ar" A Baltimore Pike To MacDode Blvd. 54 % T4-@: MocDade Blvd.To 1-95 34% 0 25 50 75 16o Percentage Of Trips On Link With Origin And Destination In Delaware County. Includes Trips Which Started Or Ended In Montgomery County. Source: Mid-County Expressway (1-476). Final Environmental Impact/Section 4(f) Statement, August 8, 1980, Pennssytvania Depaztment of Trinspc,rtation, St. Davids, Penasylvania. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CZM) The Coastal Zone Management Improvement Act of 1972, amended 1980, has as its goal the encouragement of states to achieve significant improvements in meeting national coastal manage- ment objectives, including, among others, "the orderly processes for siting major facilities related to national defense, energy, fisheries development, recreation, ports and transportation, and the location, to the maximum extent practicable, of new commercial and industrial developments in or adjacent to areas where such development already exists." In response to this Act, the Delaware County Coastal Zone was defined as extending from the Philadelphia International Airport to the Delaware State boundary along the Delaware River. Following this designation, Delaware County, through its Planning Department, is presently preparing a study of industrial sites along the Delaware River. The selection of sites is based upon the County's agreement with the De- partment of Environmental Resources that selected sites be those that have maximum potential for industrial revitaliza- tion and can accommodate activity in the CZM. Once a site is selected, a strategy is to be developed which is aimed at arresting the decline of the environment and the economic base. one of the five sites selected for individual study is the Baldwin-Lime-Hamilton Site in Eddystone located in the eastern portion of the Borough. The BLH site encompasses approximately 115 acres with a number of warehouses, indus- trial buildings and office buildings, most of which are vacant or used for storage. This site was selected because it meets the overall CZM program objectives and the follow- ing Site Selection Criteria set forth by the County: 1. Inclusion of this site would contribute to the solution of economic problems which are of greater than a local concern. 2. The reuse of this site would be likely to stimulate positive revitalization effects in adjacent and sur- rounding areas. 3.17 3. The site has characteristics which render it a good candidate for rapid implementation. 4. The site has municipal support and community interest. Proposals for use of this property include the transforma- tion of the Baldwin Office Towers into condominiums and/or office space by a development interest which has purchased this portion of the property. The County is assessing the infrastructure, warehouses, physical facilities, total open space, and parking lots of the remaining land and will de- velop a detailed reuse strategy for this site which will attract new industry and generate new commercial activity. This activity will generate new jobs by adaptive reuse of the physical structures on the site. Possible effects on the Borough of Eddystone include the stabilization of the current population and work force, as well as tax base, due to maintenance and/or expansion of current industry and the attraction of new industry to the area. 3.16 DELAWARE EXPRESSWAY (1-95) Interstate 95, the Delaware Expressway, is a six to eight- lane, limited access highway passing through and running the length of Delaware County from the Delaware State border into the City of Philadelphia. The expressway is largely completed with the last segment, at the Philadelphia Inter- national Airport, scheduled for completion in 1985. The Expressway passes just north of Eddystone. It is at this point that the interchange with the proposed Blue Route will occur. The highway has no current or future direct physical impact on the Borough. The only potential impacts are some future development at the interchange and easier access to Philadelphia for resi- dents via Chester Pike and Route 420. Noise impacts appear insignificant in an area already impacted by noise generated by the airport. .0f go .................. .......................... ............... ..................... ..........I...... ......................... .......... ............ ........... .............. .......... L , C" R- * 0, ... F* T ....... .................. . ............. . .. ........... .............. .. ........ ............ . .................. rl 0 RW o o b .......... ....... ............ ......... .... ..... ...... ..... 7z@ e"005. PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT . ..................... D D O'N' ... E*@@:':i'i@@'i.@'.'- ........ ......... .......... LI tFLE 0;0@@ W@ T IN ni 0 ISI.Ah io ----- ----- CHESTIA ISLANO Map Number 7 Location of the Blue Rxoute and 1-95 3.20 YEAR 2000 PLAN FOR THE DELAWARE VALLEY To guide change in the region, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Ca@ission (DVRPC) has prepared a regional plan. This plan is important because it looks at Eddystone and other communities not as independent entities, but rather as interdependent components of the region. Each component, because of its unique characteristics, is best suited to perform some function or functions in the economy of the region. In its Year 2000 Plan for the Delaware Valley, the Delaware Vally Regional Planning Commission identifies Eddystone as a highly developed community with lands suitable for open space along the Ridley and Crum Creeks. It recommends that any vacant structures be reused, and any vacant land be in- filled with appropriate construction. The Borough's infra- strucutre can then be utilized to its capacity which is desirable in that it reduces costs of providing new infra- structure in the region. There are no planned changes to the Philadelphia Interna- tional Airport, in the Year 2000 Plan, which will have significant impacts on the community. 3.21 EDDYSTONE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT As part of a regionalization plan to centralize sewage treatment operations in Delaware County, proposals have been made in recent years to phase out operations at the Eddystone Plant and pump wastes to the new Philadelphia Southwest Treatment Plant for processing. According to the Department of Environmental Resources, this phase-out has not occurred as the Eddystone Plant continues to meet all standards for discharges from its plant. Therefore, there is no pressure from either the DER or DELCORA, the organiza- tion responsible for sewage treatment in this portion of the County, to phase out the Eddystone Plant. In order for the Eddystone Plant to continue meeting stand- ards for discharges, it must be upgraded from its current primary treatment status to a-secondary treatment facility. At the present time, the Borough is undertaking a cost study to determine whether it will be more cost effective to upgrade the current facility or to join DELCORA'for.-- waste treatment at DELCORA's Chester Plant. If the decision is made to phase out treatment at the Eddy- stone Plant, the plant would most likely be utilized by DELCORA as a pumping station to transfer the wastes to Chester. To date, no decision has been made on this issue. If the Eddystone plant continues to meet DER and other ap- plicable standards, it would be in the Borough's best interests to continue its operations. 3.22 I b 6 9 NATURAL FEATURES it I I do i I i i i i - % I 10 1 i i i - I i I I 10 i I I I .4 INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT SOIL CONDITIONS The generally flat topography of the Borough of Eddystone rises only to about 20 feet above sea level. The types of soil found within the confines of the Borough's boundaries include: Ma - Made Land, Gravelly Materials Me - Made Land, Schist and Gneiss Materials Mf - Made Land, Sanitary Land Fill The term "Made Land" is defined as areas in which the soil has been covered by other materials from which the soil has been moved about or removed to provide materials for urban or industrial development. With the exception of two small sections of the Borough, the soil in Eddystone consists of Ma - Made Land, Gravelly- Materials. This soil classification consists of sand, gravel and clay in various mixtures, with gravelly soils predominating. In the far northwestern corner of the Bcrough, the soil is made up of*Me - Made Land, Schist and Gneiss Materials. This is a mixture of grayish-brown material from the surface layer, silt loam from the subsoil, and partially weathered schist and gneiss rocks. At the western boundary, north of the Penn Central Railroad tracks, is a triangular section of land made up of soil known as Mf - Made Land, Sanitary Land Fill. This soil type consists oE alternate layers of material and trash which has been compacted by heavy equipment. With the exception of the land fill area, the overwhelming proportion of the soil in Eddystone Borough is generally suitable for building sites, has good permeability and is not affected by a seasonable high water table, although heavy rains cause basement flooding due to storm drainage problems. 4.1 The Made Land, Sanitary Land Fill area is favorable for various types of large buildings such as stores, factor- ies, schools, etc. The soil is well-drained and per- meable. With respect to the consideration given to th e Baldwin-Lime- Hamilton site for possible industrial expansion, the soils in the area are suited to industrial-type buildings. 4.2 dft DRAINAGE PATTERNS AND LOCALIZED PROBLEMS The topography of the Borough ranges from a high of 20 feet above sea level in the northern and residential sections. The terrain slopes to 10 feet above sea level in the di- rection of the waterways. Therefore, drainage follows the natural slope toward Ridley Creek, Crum Creek and the Delaware River. Along these three waterways, the Borough suffers from flood- ing since these natural drainagways are affected by tidal action of the Delaware River. A problem of long duration is basement flooding experienced by most Borough residents. This is the result of the Bor- ough's relatively flat topography, combined with sewer and drain lines located below sea level. During times of tidal action accompanied by heavy rain, base- ments flood in general and in particular in the 700 and 800 blocks of Eddystone Avenue. As a solution, many residents have had sump pumps installed. 4.3 FLOOD PLAIN AREAS Within Eddystone Borough, the flood plain of Crum Creek is generally wide and flat. A major portion ofthe overbank areas are paved and occupied by buildings. Ridley Creek's flood plain is also generally flat and wide within the Bor- ough. The stream slopes at an average rate of 3 feet per mile within the Eddystone's boundaries. Both of these water- ways are affected by backwater from high tides on the Dela- ware River. The flood plain of the Delaware River within Eddystone is very flat and wide and is heavily industrialized. The Delaware River at this site is subject to tidal action. The Federal Insurance Administration has designated major portions of the Borough as being in the flood plain, gen- erally described as follows: 100 Year Flood Plain: - Description: Beginning at the northern Borough boundary and proceeding clockwise around the Borough's perimeter. Area: A triangular shaped parcel of land run- ning along Crum Creek from approximately the Baldwin Building Dam No. 1 to the Penn Central Railroad tracks. Area: An oblong shaped parcel of land from the Boeing Company Bridge to Pennsyl- vania Route 291. Area: An irregular shaped parcel of land run- ning from the Reading Railroad tracks to the Borough's southern boundary, running the width of the Borough to its eastern boundary ranging in width from a few feet for a short distance along Crum Creek to all the land up to Second Street from the southern boundary. Area: From Second Street on the eastern Bor- ough boundary to the Penn Central 4.4 Railroad tracks with a width running to Eddystone Avenue. Area: From the Penn Central Railroad to an area beyond 8th Street with a general width to just west of Eddystone Avenue. Area: A slender strip of land running along Ridley Creek north of 9th Avenue to the Borough's northern boundary. 500 Year Flood Plain: - Area: The area of the 500 Year Flood Plain consumes almost all of the remaining land from the Reading Railroad tracks south to the Borough limits. It also encompasses strips of land in the northern portion of the Borough above the Reading Railroad tracks behind the 100 Year Flood Plain. In sum, a majority of the Borough of Eddystone is in the flood plain with the exception being most of the residen- tial areas in the northern portion of the Borough and the wedge-shaped parcel of land bounded by the Penn Central and Reading Railroad tracks. 4.5 WATER RESOURCES The Borough's location along the Delaware River has played an important role in its development. The waterways of the river and the Crum and Ridley Creeks have provided transportation and power for industry. In Delaware County, an overwhelming majority of communities are serviced by private water companies. The water sup- plier for the Borough of Eddystone is the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (PSWC). Other sources of water in- clude ground water and surface supplies. However, geology, physiography, and land use, as well as climate, bear on the quality and amount of these water sources. Ground water supply and purity are dependent upon rock and soil founda- tions. Surface supplies depend upon precipitation, run off and ground water discharge. , Accounting for most of the public water in the County, sur- face water supplies are drawn from streams, lakes and re- servoirs. In the case of the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company, the source of supply is Crum Creek which flows a distance of.15.5 miles through Delaware County and forms the eastern and northeastern corporate boundaries of the Borough. PSWC's treatment plant is located in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. This facility, known as the Crum Creek Treatment Plant, processes an average of 16 million gallons daily. Along Crum Creek, northwest of the Borough is a main pump- ing station. In addition, Crum Creek forms a reservoir known as Springton Lake. Timed releases of water from the reservoir are used to supplement the yield of the creek during periods of low flow. Increased demand for water from Delaware County will be met by PSWC at itsPickering Creek station near Phoenixville and the Upper Merion station in Bridgeport. 01 4.6 SANITARY SEWER At the present time, the Eddystone Treatment Plant continues to treat wastes. Plans have been discussed to phase out treatment activities at this plant and transform it into a pumping station. However, no decision has been made on this issue. Please see this topic covered under the Section: Historical Development -'Possible Effects on Community by Regional/County Plans. WETLANDS Although the Borough of Eddystone is part of the Delaware Estuary, it has no land which is designated as tidal or non-tidal wetlands. 4.7 TOPOGRAPHY The Borough of Eddystone is bounded by Chester Pike on the northwest, Crum Creek on the northeast and east, the Dela- ware River on the South, and Ridley Creek on the west. As a suburb of the Cities of Chester and Philadelphia, it is within the Philadelphia SMSA. Ranging from 20 feet above sea level at the Borough's northern- most boundary and then falling to 10 feet above sea- level as the terra*in approaches Crum Creek, Ridley Creek and the Delaware River, the topography of the Borough of Eddystone can be described as relatively flat. The majority of residential construction has taken place at the higher elevation of 20 feet above sea level, mostly north of the railroad tracks and west of Simpson Avenue with some residential in the area bounded by 2nd Street, Eddystone Avenue, 4th Street and Saville Avenue. Scattered throughout the area described above are commercial, public, mixed use, and semi-public uses, although residen- tial predominates. The remainder of the Borough to the Delaware River is in industrial use where the grades tend to be lower and flatter than the residential areas. Along Crum Creek and Ridley Creek, the flood plain is wide and flat. The Borough is bisected by Route 291 (Essington Avenue) and the Penn Central Philadelphia and Chester railroad tracks which run parallel to Essington Avenue. The Penn Central Baltimore-Washington Main Line railroad tracks enter the Borough parallel to Route 291 and then veer northeast crossing the Borough limits at Crum Creek and south of Baldwin Towers. There is little vegetation with the exception of residential trees and lawns. 4.8 x -.11-Furn-Lynne ST < IY43 @7, se-Na; Dispo :L J- B M Ing n 96 W "ej 0 Lei j5ey#i I te, 10 'Drive-in The@_tepo .4k 0 v, St,Jfi' mes Baldwin V YL, A , V WT '-MIL WLLEdEl 2U a J@ Powe r p I a n t e b Qo L i g h t v It 0 15 -- ---- ark 9E]o - : 11114,". 111 0 SH Pa A:ight 14 Ar 24 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36 v/, ighr 40f/,;' "IN t A@? 40 33 0 k1i f @\ C1, 26 .......... .. ... .... 2 X 2 0 2 /0 Ktra 17 P ant A5 .0 lsl'an@ -C.he.s er- 9 -00 22 13 21 N Map Number 8 U.S.G. S. .4.9 N s !5 !4 IN POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS -o@ . I I to I A % i i I i 10 i i I I I io POPULATION To adequately prepare a plan for future growth and develop- ment in Eddystone, an understanding must be gained of the Borough's population. Not only must its current character- istics be investigated, but also changes in its composition that have occurred in the recent past. These changes often indicate trends which may be used to predict future popu- lation tempered by outside elements not controlled by the Borough, such as the out-migration of business. These projections, along with information on the needs of the current population, can be utilized in determining fu- ture needs of the community for residential, industrial, and commercial space, and public services and facilities. POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS Of Eddystone's population of 2,555 persons, 53% are female and 47% are male. Racially, the Borough is predominantly white with only 7 of its 2,555 persons having minority backgrounds. Twenty-five (25%) percent of the population over the age of 15 are single, and 52% are married. The median age of the population in 1980 is 34.8 years. This latter statistic deserves note in that the general population of the Borough is growing older in step with the national trend. 10 5.1 CHART NO. 4 POPULATION BREAKDOWN BY AGE AND SEX 1980 200 1980 POPULATION 100 N MALE FEMALE AGE o-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Chart No. 4, above, indicates a distribution of the popu- lation by age and sex showing that females significantly outnumber men in the 15 to 24 and in the over 55 age cohorts. Males outnumber females significantly in the under age 14 cohorts. A considerable number of persons are over age 55. 5.2 CHANGES - 1970 TO 1980 Over the period 1970 to 1980, the population of Eddystone declined by 6% from 2,706 persons to 2,555 persons. Ra- cially, the community remained over 79% white. However, there was an increase in the minority population from 7 persons in 1970 to 30 in 1980. The population of females has increased from 52% of the population to 53%. CHART NO. 5 CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS 1970 1980 3000- 2000 LU C3 9861 L, 1000 C3 co X: z 0 1970 1980 As illustrated in Chart No. 5, while the population decreased, the number of households actually increased by 10% from 899 to 986. Another interesting phenomena is illustrated in Chart No. 6, following. Keeping in mind that the number of households has actually increased in the period 1970 to 1980, the number of persons per houslehold has decreased from 3.01 in 1970 to 2.59 in 1980. 5.3 CHART NO. 6 CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD 1970 1980 4 3 C> 2.59 Uj CL - 2 z Uj cc 0 1970 1980 The statistics would seem to indicate that some part of the upward push on the number of households, while population is falling, is due to an increase in the number of people who were married at the timeof the 1970 Census but are now living apart and maintaining separate residences. CHART NO. 7 PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN OF POPULATION BY MARITAL STATUS SINGLE SINGLE 25% 25% MARRIED MARRIED SEPARATED 59% 2% 52% SEPARATED 4% WIDOWED WIDOWED 11% 12% DIVORCED W (j@D WI IVO J@ 3% DIVORCED 1970 1980 7% 10 5.4 Of particular note in the preceding chart, Chart No. 7, is the increase in the percentage of population in the sepa- rated and divorced categories, while the percentage of singles remains unchanged. CHART NO. 8 AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION 1970 1980 AGE MALE FEMALE 2, 65+ 13q 47 1 1 1 11 16 V-5 55-64 181 45-54 J! A 35-44 2 25-34 tj W1,161,01,110fift Ifift ft 15-24--- 1118,1 5-14 _ZU Iii Ai, hiiii'l 1Y.1 o-4 300 200 10'0 0 100 200 1430 NUMBER OF PERSONS 0 1980 1970 Significant decreases in population were experienced by both the male and female populations in the 0 to 4 and the 45 to 54 age cohorts. Notable population losses were in the females from 5 to 14 years old and males from 15 to 24 years of age. Population increased significantly from 1970 to 1980 in those 25 to 34 years of age and in the over-65 group. There also appears to have been some significant migration of those who were 15 to 24 years of age in 1970 since the 5.5 1980 25 to 34 age cohort is considerably lower than would be normally expected. The age distribution of Eddystone's population appears slightly abnormal with its large percentage of persons over age 55. While the Borough lost population over the period and the age of the population shifted 10 years forward, the over-age 55 group distribution remained relatively un- changed. In addition, there was an increase in the over-age 65 popu- lation. This increase will mean greater demands in the community for housing and services for the elderly such as transportation and health care. The number of potential wage earners declined over the per- iod indicating a weakening of the local economy has occurred. lo 5.6 POPULATION PROJECTIONS From the preceding, it can be seen that Eddystone Borough's population has declined approximately 6% during the decade of the 1970's. During the course of developing the Compre- hensive Plan for the Borough, investigations have been made concerning population projections for the municipality that have have been made by County or Regional Planning Commis- sions and agencies. No current projections were made available for this numerically small population area. Projecting future population is extremely difficult, and preparing linear projections based on past trends is not deemed to be an appropriate methodology for a community of limited la-nd area with extremely limited amounts of devel- opable land for residential purposes. Similarly, comparing future population as a percent of regional, State, or Na- tional growth is not deemed to be an appropriate method of future population for Eddystone Borough. Having considered all factors relevant to population change including the amount of vacant residential land, present residential dwelling unit density, and projected change, potential for the construction of new dwelling units, po- tential for the conversion of single family structures to multi-family, the amount of industrial expansion within Eddystone Borough or surrounding area, and considering the development of Baldwin Towers, a projection has been made based on all of these factors. A 1990 population of 2,550 persons is projected. This is a conservative projection, but is based on the fact that the Comprehensive Plan recom- mends the phased removal of residential units in industrial zones, and considers the maximum holding capacity of the limited amounts of residential land located in Eddystone Borough. Another important factor related to projected population deals with age of population, and specifically, school-age children between 6 and 18 years old. It should be noted in previous sections dealing with population trends that school- age children have been declining in number, and it is pro- jected that this trend will continue. 5.7 It is anticipated that numbers of school-age children in 1990 will have declined by approximately 10% from their current levels. Increases in population for age groups of 55 to 65, and over 65, can be anticipated. 5.8 5 !0 9 WO EXISTING LAND USE go i I .0 1 I I I i I I .0 1 I i i I i I I I i I I I SURVEY OF THE LAND A windshield survey of all land within Borough limits was performed. From this survey, it was determined that the predominant land use in Eddystone is industrial. In addition, the survey determined land use patterns, traf fic circulation patterns, community facilities, extent of construction within the flood plain, and land areas which are vacant. This survey was also used to develop the descriptions fol- lowing and formed.the basis for the Existing Land Use Map, Map No. 9. CHARACTER Eddystone was settled in the early 1600's. Because of its abundance of raw materials, water power from Ridley and Crum Creeks, and location on the Delaware River, it grew into a predominantly industrial community. The transportation system was another factor for the indus- trial growth of Eddystone. The proximity of waterways, railways, and roadways provided easy access of all types and sizes of goods and cargo. The general topography is at sea level along the southern boundary to approximately 30 feet above sea level in the north. 6.1 TYPE Of Eddystone's total land area, over 50% is in industrial use. The Chester Pike area consists of predominantly com- mercial establishments, while the eastern portion of Chester Pike is industrial. Eddystone's relatively small residential area is located between Ridley Creek on the west to Simpson Street on the east, and 13th Street north to 7th Street on the southern end. An additional residential section exists between 2nd Street and 4th Street, and Eddystone Avenue and Saville Avenue. This latter section issurrounded by an industrial area. Interspersed throughout the residential area are small com- mercial establishments. The predominant locations are on Chester Pike and on Saville Avenue. The balance of Eddystone lands consists of industrial. Of the total 614 acres of Eddystone, this industrial area ac- counts -for 488.5 acres or 79% of the total land area. DISTRIBUTION Total Area: .96 of a square mile Total Area: 614 acres 6.2 Distribution Continued: Percent of Total Land Uses Acreage Land Area Residential 77.15 12.57% Commercial 24.7 4.02% Public 12.4 2.02% Semi-Public 6.4 1.04% Vacant 3.65 .59% Industrial 488.5 79.56% Mixed Use 1.2 .20% TOTALS 614 100.00% 6.3 9@ I 6 1 i I w 0 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS 0 1 I I 04 1 1 i I i 14 i i I i i i I 0 INVENTORY OF HOUSING Its residential neighborhoods are generally the most im- portant determinant of a community's image and, therefore, its attractiveness to potential residents and future develop- ment. In preparing a plan for the future of the Borough of Eddy- stone, an analysis of the existing housing stock must be made not only to determine the condition and attractiveness of the housing, but its characteristics such as size, price, and type sin'ce these determine the Borough's suitability to various segments and income levels of the population. Only after this analysis can recommendations be made which will enable the community to best meet the housing needs of its current and future residents, whether that be new con- struction or Borough encouragement of homeowners and land- lords to rehabilitate their units. CHARACTERISTICS Sixty-eight (68%) percent of Eddystone's housing stock is in the form of single-family attached dwellings. The bal- ance of units are comprised of a mixture of apartment buildings and various other attached units. Construction types,vary with masonry predominating and many frame struc- tures interspersed throughout. The majority of the, housing stock is pre-World War II, with 76% having been constructed prior to 1950. Eight (8%) per- cent of presently existing units were built in the 1950's, 5% in the 1960's, and 11% in the 1970's. Comparisons between the housing which existed in the Bor- ough in 1970 and that which exists in 1980 yield useful information about recent housing trends experienced by the Borough. 7.1 CHART NO. 9 COMPARISON OF SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED HOUSING 1970 - 1980 73% 1970 1980 68% cc 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 go 100 PERCENT SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED During the period 1970 to 1980, the percentage of total housing units in single-family attached units decreased by 5%. This change reflects an increase in construction of other types of units, not a decrease in single-family units. CHART NO. 10 AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS PER UNIT 1970 - 1980 1970 2.6 1980 2.2 cc < 0 1 2 3 4 PERSONS PER UNIT Chart No. 10 illustrates the fact that the average number of persons per unit has dropped by 15% from 2.6 persons per unit in 1970 to 2.2 persons per unit in 1980. This drop further emphasizes the drop in population experienced by the Borough. 7.2 CHART NO. 11 AVERAGE SIZE OF HOUSING UNIT 1970 - 1980 ,1970 5.8 1980 111111111 @Ill Jill Iiiiiiii 1111@111 111, 5.6 Uj V 2 4 6 ROOMS PER UNIT As shown on Chart No. 11, the 1970 housing units consisted of an average of 5.8 rooms each. By 1980, the average size of a housing unit had fallen to 5.6 rooms. These local trends indicate that Eddystone has been af- fected by national trends toward smaller families and smaller houses. New.housing produced during the 1970's reflects these trends in its smaller size and dependence on housing forms other than the single-family attached unit. However, almost 90% of Eddystone's existing housing stock was built prior to this period. These older units, which are not designed to meet current needs, may eventually present a problem with respect to utility costs and salabil- ity. GROWTH IN THE LAST DECADE The total number of housing units has increased by 117 units since 1970 from 927 to 1,044 in 1980. This growth represents a net increase of 11%. , (56 7.3 SUPPLY AND DEMAND CHART NO. 12 PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN OF HOUSING BY OCCUPANT TYPE 1970 1980 RENTED RENTED 35% 34% OWNER OCCUPIED OWNER OCCUPIED 62% 60% VACANT VACANT 3% 6% 1970 100 When examining Chart No. 12 above, the 1970 and 1980 fig- ures for year-round, owner-occupied and renter-occupied units is relatively stable. Concern develops, however, when noting that the vacancy rate has doubled from 3% in 1970 to 6% in 1980, translating into 31 units in 1970 to 58 units in 1980. This is a reflection both of the Borough's loss of population and, possibly, the loss of desirability in some of the older units. In 1970, 62% of Eddystone's year-round housing units were owner-occupied, 35% rented, and 3% were vacant. The 1980 figures of 60% owner-occupied and 34% rented are fairly constant. Overall, however, the demand for housing in Eddystone has remained fairly strong. The fact that the population has declined, while new housing was constructed and occupied, indicates that many of the units, particularly older, larger units, may be underutilized. (;@VAC (kVA 3" C) 6,' 7.4 COSTS The cost of housing has increased dramatically over the decade reflecting the national trend. In 1970, the median selling price of a unit was $11,800. By the time of the 1980 Census, the median selling price of a housing unit had escalated to $29,300. Monthly rentals, in 1970, were at a median $75 per month. At the time of the 1980 Census, rentals had escalated to $180 per month, more than doubling the cost of renter occupancy. AREAS OF DETERIORATED HOUSING No concentration of deteriorated housing is evident. Some units on Lexington and Concord Avenues are in need of re- pair. However, for the most part, Borough residents show great concern and pride in their properties since most homes are well maintained. Vacant housing is not concentrated in any one area in the Borough and is. dispersed throughout the residential areas of Eddystone. 7.5 !D 9 5 14 14 - COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES 0 1 .1 i I I I d I I I I I I I I I i I i INVENTORY Community facilities are those amenities which improve life by making the community comfortable, safe, and at- tractive as a place to live. Following is a brief descrip- tion of the Borough's Community Facilities and an Inventory including ownership and operation responsibilities. A map indicating the location of each of the facilities follows and is entitled: Community Facilities Map, Map No. 10. DESCRIPTION Schools The Borough of Eddystone is a member of the Ridley School District which also includes Ridley Park and Ridley Town- ship. The following is a list of schools within the dis- trict. High School - North Junior High (converted to non-classroom use) - South Junior High - Amosland Elementary - EDDYSTONE ELEMENTARY - Edgewood Elementary Grace Park Elementary (closed) - Lakeview Elementary - Leedom Elementary - Woodlyn Elementary, The Eddystone Elementary School is centrally located in the Borough between 9th and 10th Streets and Saville and Simpson Avenues. The school was built in 1956 with reno- vations or additions in 1967. The building is in very 8.1 good condition, and of all the elementary schools in the district, Eddystone Elementary is the only school used at 100% of its capacity. The district census from 1970 to 1980 has declined approxi- mately 13%. The pupil enrollments for the district for 1971 were 9,557 children and 5,551 children in 1981, or a decrease of approximately 42%. Eddystone pupil enrollments have declined approximately 26% or from 401 to 296 during this same period. As a compari- son to the above, Eddystone's population has declined 6% from 1970 to 1980. The school district projects a continued decline in population. Recreation Areas To the south of the elementary school building is a Bor- ough-owned recreation field. This facility was built by the Borough of Eddystone and consists of a ball field, tennis courts, and other playground apparatus. There is a Little League field located between 7th and 8th Streets, west of Eddystone Avenue, adjacent to the Eddystone Treatment Plant. A basketball court is located on Lexington Avenue between 2nd and 4th Streets. This facility is Borough-owned and operated, and consists of swings, slides, and other play apparatus. Sewage Treatment Plant Located between 7th and 8th Streets, west of Eddystone Ave- nue, the Eddystone Treatment Plant is a Borough-owned and operated facility. A 1974 study by the Delaware County Planning Commission recommended the phase-out of the treat- ment plant and the construction of the Eddystone By-Pass Pumping Station. For additional information on the Treat- ment Plant, please see Section: Historical Development - Possible Effects on the Borough of Eddystone by Regional/ County Plans. Borough Garage At the rear of the sewage treatment plant is located the Borough Garage. This facility is owned and operated by the Borough and houses its road maintenance equipment and trucks. 8.2 Another Borough-owned garage facility is located at the edge of the 9th Street Recreation Field and houses trucks, tractors, grass cutting equipment and the like. Borough Hall and Fire Station Located on the corner of Saville Avenue and 12th Street is the Borough Hall and fire station. The building is owned and operated by the Borough housing facilities for the police and fire departments, as well as Borough offices. The fire station is operated by a volunteer organization which owns the ambulance housed at the station. The Borough owns and operates two pumpers for use by the fire station. Other Facilities Boys Club Located on Simpson Avenue, the Boys Club is a nonprofit organization, owned and operated independently of the Bor- ough. The Borough will rent the gym of the Boys Club for. various games when the school facilities are otherwise in use. On occasion, the Borough donates equipment to the Club. Playground A playground is located on Concord Avenue, between 2nd and 4th Streets. It consists of swings, slides, and other play apparatus. The facility is owned and maintained by the Everfast Mill Store. FACILITY CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY Facility and Address Ownership/Responsibility Borough Hall Borough of Eddystone 12th Street and Saville Avenue 8.3 W4 Facility Control and Responsibility Continued: Facility and Address Ownership/Responsibility Unnamed Recreation Area Borough of Eddystone 9th Street and Saville Avenue Little League Field Borough of Eddystone Between 7th and 8th Streets Basketball C'ourt Borough of Eddystone Lexington Avenue Playground Everfast Mill Store Between 2nd and 4th Streets on Concord Avenue Eddystone Treatment Plant Borough of Eddystone Between 7th and 9th Streets on Eddystone Avenue Borough Garage Borough of Eddystone Rear of Treatment Plant Borough Garage Borough of Eddystone Edge of 9th Street Recrea- tion Field Eddystone Boys Club Eddystone Boys Club 9th Street and Simpson Avenue Eddystone Elementary School Ridley School District Between 9th and 10th Streets and Saville and Simpson Avenues Fire Department/Ambulance Volunteer and Borough Borough Hall of Eddystone 12th Street and Saville Avenue 8.4 I 0 N TRANSPORTATION I I I I I I I I CHARACTERISTICS AND CIRCULATION PATTERN 'OF THE LOCAL ROAD NETWORK The Circulation System in the Borough of Eddystone displays a distinct hierarchy of roadways and roadway utilization. Chester Pike and Essington Avenue can be classified as primary roads, that is, roads which carry the majority of traffic entering, leaving or passing through the Borough. Chester Pike is a four-lane, north-south, easily accessed federal highway (US-13), while Essington Avenue is a four- lane, north-south, state highway, also known as the Indus- trial Highway (State Route 291). Secondary or collector roads are those which move traffic mainly within the community to either residential or com- mercial or industrial areas, or to the primary roads. Eddystone's major secondary roads are Eddystone Avenue, Saville Avenue and*Simpson Avenue, traversing east-west through the Borough; and 9th Street traversing north- south. Tertiary roads are those which primarily serve those who live or work in the vicinity. These roads generally do not serve as a thoroughfare to those moving through the com- munity. The remainder of the roads in Eddystone are of this class. The majority permit only one-way traffic. Alternating one-way, north then south, are 10th through 13th Streets. One-way streets permitting travel only in an easterly direction are Leiper Street, Toll Street, Ashland Avenue, and Concord Avenue. The only one-way street permitting travel in a westerly direction is Lexington Avenue. The Traffic Circulation Map, Map No. 11, following illus- trates the existing local circulation pattern. 9.1 AVAILABILITY OF MASS TRANSIT The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) services the Borough of Eddystone with two bus routes and the Wilmington-to-Philadelphia Rail Line. Bus Route 74, which runs from Darby to Boothwyn, serves the northern residential portion of the Borough with buses running approximately every 30 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 P.M. Hourly service is provided on weekends and holidays. Buses stop every two to three blocks. Running from Broad and Snyder in Philadelphia to the City of Chester, Route 37 services the southern industrial sections o*f the Borough with half-hour service during rush hours and hourly service at other times from 5:45 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Weekend service is also available and buses stop every two to three blocks. Trains on the SEPTA rail line run seven days a week from approximately 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight. Weekday rush hour trains run almost every half hour, with trains at most other times running every one to two hours. The Mass Transit Map, Map No. 12, following illustrates the routes of the two types of mass transit services pro- vided to the Borough. 9.3 0 V, 0 0 EMPLOYMENT 0 0 t 0 a ;o i EMPLOYMENT Eddystone has historically been a center of employment op- portunity for the region. The majority of employment oppor- tunities have been provided by heavy manufacturing industries. However, Eddystone's industries have not avoided the problems that have in recent years impacted heavy manufacturing indus- tries in the United States, particularly in the older North- eastern portions of the Country. The problems experienced by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and Penn Shipbuilding are evi- dence of these impacts. Dependence on a single industry or form of industry can be damaging to the economy of an area if these industries experience a decline in profitability. The loss of jobs and tax revenues have not only a primary impact on employees and the Borough, but secondary impacts on other Borough businesses and residents in the form of decreased sales or the reduction of community services due to the decrease in Borough tax revenues. While it is in Eddystone's best interest to aid their remain- ing heavy manufacturing industries wherever possible, the Borough should also attempt to diversify its mix of industries by attracting the more profitable service and high technology industries to the Borough. Sites once occupied by heavy in- dustry can be adapted to accommodate the needs of these indus- tries. This diversification is necessary to end the depen- dence of the Borough on a single type of industry whose prospects for the future are uncertain, while providing employment opportunities for residents of the Borough and region in industries which are emerging as the growth indus- tries of the future. 10.1 9@ 0 04, 14 PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN .4 AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 110 I Ao 4 RECOMMENDATIONS The factors influencing the form of a community's de- velopment, including the structure of its residential, commercial and industrial concentrations are complex and often involve the entire cultural, economic and social fabric of society. In a community, such as Eddystone Borough, where almost all of the land has been intensively developed, certain trends have been established which cannot be easily changed. Eddystone Borough has a clearly dominant in- dustrial land use orientation with more than three-fourths of the Borough being in heavy or medium industrial land uses. Unfortunately, these development trends occurred without consideration of ecological or environmental factors and are so firmly established that they defy any significant change. However, it is important for the Proposed Land Use Plan to establish reasonable relationships between conflicting land uses and to establish realistic suggestions for the design of future land use relationships in order that change may be achieved within a reasonable framework of rational planning and land use relationships. One of the most difficult relationships in Eddystone Borough is the juxtaposition of a well-established and possibly historic residential development and heavy industrial development served by major rail and highway systems in the zone between Essignton Avenue and the Delaware River. From the perspective of long-range planning, it is inappropriate for this residential area to continue in an area totally bounded by heavy industrial uses. Therefore, the Proposed Land Use Plan recommends industrial use for the entire area between Essington Avenue and the Delaware River. It is recommended that the residential activities in buildings in the area bounded by 4th Street, Eddystone Ave., 2nd Street and Saville Street be phased out as residential use and be converted wherever feasible to small manufacturing, office, storage or other non-res- idential uses. In that way, those buildings that may have historic importance can be retained and improved, while the inappropriate relationship of residential use in a predominantly heavy industrial zone can be eliminated through a phased program extending over a number of years. With regard to natural features in Eddystone Borough, it is strongly recommended that appropriate consideration be given to the preservation and improvement of the Creek banks of both the Ridley and Crum Creeks which define the eastern and western limits of the Borough. To the north of Essington Avenue, the Proposed Land Use Plan calls for the continued utilization of lands generally east of Simpson Avenue to Crum Creek for a major industrial use. One exception occurs within this area, and that involves the existing highrise cruciform building known as Baldwin Towers. This property, although adjacent to Crum Creek, is surrounded on its east, south and west by existing and proposed industrial land uses. However, recent developer interest has occurred proposing to convert the building complex from its former office use to residential; and given this circumstance it is appropriate for the Proposed Land Use Plan to reflect high density office/residential development at the site of the Baldwin Towers. It is strongly suggested that extensions of green space along Crum Creek occur within and surrounding this enclave. As a result of the industrial land uses, the nearby existing industrial wind tunnel creating periodic noise, and also as a result of the fact that the normal approach pattern to Philadelphia International Airport passes over this site, special precautions should be made in the retrofitting of the building to reduce noise impacts as much as possible. Other areas in the industrial zone, especially those properties now vacant, but encompassing abundant amounts of existing industrial manufacturing space, are proposed for continuing industrial use. It is anticipated that the predominant market for the reutilization of existing industrial space involves its use for small to moderate- sized industries and extensive warehousing and distrib- ution space activities. 11.2 It is appropriate that the plan establish the fact that the industrial land use in this area should be served by a thoroughfare system connecting directly to Essington Avenue or Chester Pike. Wherever possible, utilization of heavy truck traffic on Simpson Avenue or-other thorough- fares serving residential land uses in Eddystone Borough should be discouraged. With regard to residential, commercial, public and semi- public land uses in Eddystone Borough, they are well defined in an area generally bounded by 7th Street, Simpson Avenue, Chester Pike and Ridley Creek. It is within this area that the vast majority of the Borough's 2,500 persons reside and the existing pattern of resi- dential land use of medium density is proposed for continu- ation as shown on the Proposed Land Use Map. It is recommended that commercial land use activities be permitted on the frontage of Chester Pike and in an neighborhood commercial zone proposed for location gen- erally in the block between 10th and llth Streets on Saville Avenue. This is an area of some existing commercial development. Located east of this area is a concentration of public and semi-public facilities which generally serve the Borough's population. These uses are proposed to continue and are reflected on the Proposed Land Use Plan and Community Facilities Plan. They are located on both sides of 9th Street generally east of Saville Avenue. Also located in this general area are the semi-public facilities of the VFW, the Eddystone Elementary School, an existing church, a community Boys Club, and a football field. Another area of public and semi-public use is identified in the area west of Eddystone Avenue generally between 7th and 8th Streets. The Borough's existing sewage treatment plant exists in this area along with properties utilized by PECO for storage and maintenance. As mentioned previously, the Proposed Land Use Plan reflects the recommendations for the continued utilization of land which is predominantly in commercial use adjacent to major thoroughfares generally at the Borough limits of Eddystone. Land along Chester Pike and 9th Street generally at the Borough boundaries is proposed for continued commercial utilization. 11.3 With regard to population and community facilities, it is anticipated that during the foreseeable future 7 Eddystone's population of some 2,500 persons will remain approximately constant. The Proposed Land Use Plan does not call for any significant increase in residential development since almost all of the land in the Borough is presently developed. It is important to recognize the need to preserve and rehabilitate existing residential structures within the proposed residential zones of the community. Residential rehabilitation along with careful industrial development minimizing adverse impacts of future industrial development on residential areas, such as pollution, noise and truck traffic, will require diligent review by the Borough Planning Commission and Borough Council of future development proposals. The Proposed Land Use Plan and recommended adjustments to the existing Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map make realistic suggestions for the design of a more appropriate Borough land use framework and more compatible relation- ship between conflicting types of land use. As described in the previous sections of the Comprehensive Plan, regional factors will play a major role in the future development of land and buildinguses-in Eddystone Borough. The Borough is located in an area where com- pletion of the major regional limited access highway system, including completion of 1-95 and the Blue Route (1-476) will enhance the attractiveness of the Borough for both light industrial andwarehousing and distribution activities. Many existing buildings and land areas, especially those in the former Baldwin-Lime-Hamilton development are ideally suited for this conversion. The Comprehensive Plan recommends the complete develop- ment and reutilization of presently vacant industrial buildings provided that the systems serving future in- dustries do not impact adversely on the Borough's resi- dential, public and semi-public areas. The major thoroug@fare plan which is shown designates exist- ing major thoroughfares, with Essington Avenue, (Route 291) being the major through-Borough thoroughfare serving the industrial area in the community. Chester Pike, a major through-regional thoroughfare, with significant commercial concentrations will remain a 11.4 primary thoroughfare. The Borough's residential and semi-public areas will be well served by Eddystone Avenue, Saville Avenue and 9th Street. Extending through the Borough is the Philadelphia and Chester Branch of the Penn Central Railroad, one of the primary rail systems servicing the east coast of the United States. This system with extensive intercon- nection to industrial area to the north and the south will be maintained, improved, and upgraded as a result of national rail policy and can be expected to serve the industrial zones within Eddystone Borough. Finally, Eddystone Borough possesses a major deep water port system which includes Penn Ship (the former Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company yards). Every effort should be made, and the Comprehensive Plan identifies the need, to continue major shipbuilding activity and heavy industrial and manufacturing activities within the Borough. The existing industrial concentrations on the Delaware River, and adjacent to parts of Ridley Creek and Crum Creek are zones well-established and well located. The area is removed from existing residential areas and therefore the ComDrehensive Plan does not make any recommendations for the utilization of riverfront areas for recreational uses. Rather, recreation activities should occur wherever possible on the two creeks bound- ing Eddystone Borough north of Essington Avenue. With regard to the Borough's existing sewage treatment plant, it is.recommended that the Borough continue to utilize this facility for as long as the treatment plant meets the requirements of the Penna. Department of En- vironmental Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency. This recommendation is made based on an eval- uation of the existing condition of the plant and input from state and federal agencies. Eddystone's location on the Delaware River provides the Borough with numerous opportunities. Not only is the river- front valuable as a location for heavy manufacturing indus- tries, but it also has the potential for development as a recreational area serving Borough residents. It is generally recognized that a riverfront recreational area can be a most 11.5 attractive and desirable component of an urban area. Al- though the riverfront in Eddystone is already an intensely developed industrial area, the possibility of acquiring a portion of the riverfront for development as a recreational area by either the Borough or one of the industries should be explored. Finally, the Comprehensive Plan has been prepared with the knowledge that Eddystone Borough is a predominantly indus- trial community. The land use proposals have been estab- lished from the perspective that Eddystone Borough possesses all of the required systems for large scale industrial de- velopment. The community is an ideal area for Federal and County of- ficials to promote for reindustrialization since the com- munity is served by major rail systems serving the east coast of the United States, a deep water port and easy connections to the region's limited access highway systems. An improved industrial base along with a program of continued residential rehabilitation will appropriately serve the resi- dents of Eddystone Borough and workers in the Borough's indus- tries. 11.6 p 0 9 It 04 - BASE MAP 00 00 I I i I I I 1 1 1 BASE MAP A reproducible base map of the Borough has been prepared at a scale of 1" = 4001, indicating: - Road locations and names. - Highway locations and names. - Street locations and names. - Stream locations and names. - Location of bodies of water and names. - Borough corporate boundaries. - Rail line locations. - Alleyway locations. The Base Map is utilized throughout the Comprehensive Plan as a base on which information is set forth respecting physical development conditions within the Borough. Existing and proposed land use are graphically depicted on the base map. Principal thoroughfares are shown, as are existing zoning classifications. The base map will be useful to Borough officials both in the context of providing information in the Comprehensive Plan and also as a readily available instrument for plot- ting important information concerning the Borough's physical condition, demographic characteristics and other material. 12.1 !I 1% 9 1% if BIBLIOGRAPHY 10 10 .0 00 go PUBLICATIONS 1980 Census of Population; Characteristics of Households and Families; Characteristics of Persons; and Characteristics of Housing Units, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Regional Information Services Center. 1970 Census, General Characteristics of Populat Occupancy Utiliza- tion and Financial Characteristics of Housing Units; Structural Equipment and Financial Characteristics of Housing Unit U.S. Bureau of Census. Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Programs Techinical Record, Draft, December, 1978, by Office of Resources and Management, Bureau of Resources Programming, Harrisburg, Pa. Delaware County Water Supply, 1974, by Delaware County Planning Can- mission, Media, Pa. 19063. Delaware County Sewerage Facilities, 1974, Delaware County Planning Canmission, Media, Pa. 19063. Report to Congress, Effects of Airport Noise on a NeiE@@ring State, October, 1980, Jointly: Office of Noise Abatement and Control, Enviromiental Protection Agency; Office of Environment and Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, Departnent of Transportation. Federal Register, Vol. 47, No. 95, Monday, May 17, 1982, Rules and Regulations, p. 21019, Part 923 - Coastal Zone Management Program Development and Approval Regulations. Soil Survey, Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania, Series 1959, No. -19, Issued May, 1963, Revised January, 1972, By U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Pennsylvania State University College of Agriculture and Agricultur- al Experiment Station and the Pensylvania Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Ccmnission. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Bus 1bute Schedules, Routes Numbers: 37 - 72 - 74 - 76 - 107. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Wilmington to Phila- delphia Train Schedule. Draft Master Plan, The Tinicum National Environmental Center, September, 1978, U.S. Deparbuent of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region Five, One Gateway Center, Newton Corner, Mass. Two Studies of Tinicum Marsh, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties, Pen- nsylvania, Copyright 1970, The Conservation Foundation, Library of Congress Catalog, Numberz 73-146822, by Jack McCormick, Department of Ecology and Land Management, Robert R. Grant, Jr. and Ruth Pat- rick, Department of Lirmology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil- adelphia. Coastal Zone Management Industrial Sites Study, Phase I, by Delaware County Planning Departnent, Lim, Pa. 19037, November, 1981, Delaware County Planning Department, Media, Pa. Long-Range Planning for School Inprovemnt, Section II - School District Management, Second Draft, Ridley School District, 1982. Interboro School District Long Range Plan, by Tnterboro School District, 9th and Washington Avenues, Prospect Park, Pa. 19076, July 25, 1979. Local Planning Assistance, Study No. 15, by Delaware County Planning Ccmnission, Court House, Media, Pa., April, -1961. Long-Range Development Plan, Southeast Delaware County School District, The Board of School Directors, Resolution approved Long Range Plan on March 28, 1974, by Delaware County School District. Draft, Environmental Assessment,Acquisition - Master Plan, Tinicum, National Environmental Center, Philadelphia, Pa,,By Jack McCormick and Associates, Inc., a subsidiary of WAPORA, INC., Berwyn, Pa. 19312, 1978. for Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice, Northeast Region Five, Newton Corner, Ma. 02158. Year 2000, Land Use and Open Space Plan, by Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, 1819 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pa., Draft January, 1979. Flood Insurance Study, Boro of Eddystone, Delaware County, Pa, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Insurance Administration, August, 1976. Mid-County Expressway (1-476) Final Environmental Dnpact/Section 4 (F) Statement, August 8, 1980, Vol. 1 of 2. Resource Protection Plan, A Framework for Decision-making in Protecting the Cultural Resources of the Pennsylvania/Delaware River Coastal Zone, by Cee Jay Frederick Association in association with John Milner Association, for Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Cbmmission, Dr. Larry E. Tise, Executive Director, Bureau for Historic Preserva- tion, October, 1981. Diamond Jubilee, 1893-1968, secured from Norwood Library. Flood Insurance Study, Boro of Folcroft, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develor-ment, Federal Insurance Administration, February, 1977. Flood Insurance Study, Boro of Norwood, Pennsylvania Delaware County, Federal Ernergency Management Agency, November 3, 1981. Folcroft 50th Anniversary, 1923-1973, secured from Borough Secretary. Ccoprehensive Planning Study Memorandum I Advantages of Long-Range Community Planning, Some Planning Principles, July 24, 1967, by Willard S. Detweiler, Jr., Inc., Planning and Development con- sultants, Philadelp@ia, Pa. Hydrogeologic Investigation for 1-95 Structure over Sludge lagoons, by SMC-Martin, Engineering and Geotechnical Consultants, P.O. Box 859 900 W. Valley Forge Rd., Valley Forge, Pa. 19482, (215) 265-2700, for Griener Engineering Sciences, Inc., One Village Square, Balti- more, Md. 21210, July, 1981. 00RRESPONDENCE U.S. EnviroTnental Protection Agency - Region III, 6th and Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., October 20, 1981, Subject: LR 795, Section B-6, Philadelphia County, Pa. Mr. Robert L. Rowland, P.E., District Engineer, Engineering District 6-0, St. Davids, Pa., October 27, 1981, Subject: DSM/RRN Philadel- phia County, L.R. 795 Section B-6, 1-95, City of Philadelphia Sludge Lagoons Environmental Clearance. Conmnwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Engineering District 6-0, November, 1979, Reevaluation of Final Environmental Statement for L.R. 795, Sction B, Delaware Expressway, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg, Pa., B.D. Rocuskie, P.E. - Director, Bureau of Design, Decenber 14, 1979, Subject: Delaware and Philadelphia Counties, L.R. 795, Sec- tion B, Environmental Reevaluation. Fronefield and DeFuria, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, 107 W. 3rd St., Media, Pa., June 25, 1982, Muckinipates Sewer Authority, Disposition of Property with recommended use of one or two business Industrial Park. McCormick Taylor and Associates, Inc., material prepared for Public Meeting, May 5, 1982 go DISCUSSION/=INGS Hinkley Greenlaw, Folcroft Borough Councilman, July 29, 1982. Regina D. Emidio, Norwood Borough Secretary, July 7, 1982. John Snyder, Eddystone Borough Secretary, July 28, 1982. Ken Vogt, DELCORA, July 28, 1982. Department of Environmental Resources, Division of Water, Norristownt Pa., July 28, 1982. Dick Nugent, Tinicum National Environmental Center, July 28, 1982. Richard Marchelletta, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wild- life Service, July 27, 1982. Kerry R. Dyer, Delaware County Planning Department, July 16, 1982. Lois Binder, Delaware County Planning Department, July 16, 1982. Doug May, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, July 16, 1982. Robert Wright, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, July 16, 1982. Ronald Degraw, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, July 16, 1982. Dan Korzemiowski, Philadelphia International Airport, July 14, 1982. Gary Rohn, Army Corps of Engineers, Flood Plain Management Division, July 14, 19 8 2. Ik H. Gilroy Darmn, Engineer for Muckinipates Sewer Authority, August 6, 1982. 1. -W I I I I ZONING ORDINANCE ANALYSIS AND PROPOSALS BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE ZONING ORDINANCE ANALYSIS AND PROPOSALS Growth and development in Eddystone is regulated by an ex- tremely detailed and comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. This Ordinance moves a step-beyond traditional zoning procedures, and has incorporated the more progressive Performance Stan- dards as its regulatory devices. Building configuration and locations can be determined not only by strict minimum and maximum requirements, but in some cases by such devices as yard to height ratios, minimum sky exposures, and floor area ratios. These methods can potentially produce in a communi- ty a healthy variety not possible with the more traditional zoning measures alone. Residential Districts: There are three residential districts in the Borough. In keeping with the character of an older, suburban community, these districts permit lot size minimums ranging from 1,350 square feet to 6,000 square feet. Not only are these rela- tively small lots consistent with what already exists in the Borough, but they can also help reduce housing costs of new units. These small lots are also better suited to accommodate the smaller housing units necessitated by modern economic and sociological conditions. A full range of housing types is permitted in the Borough, including highrise towers. A developer wishing to build in the community is also offered the option of the Planned Unit Development concept, which enables them to mix housing types and densities if gross density standards are met. Performance standards are applied in these costs to protect the character and livability of any development produced in this manner. Business Districts: Commercial development is classified into two districts: Neighborhood Business, which allows those establishments dealing in the sale of convenience goods or goods essential to daily life; and General Business, which includes most all retail trade, as well as commercial and professional offices and entertainment establishments. Institutional Districts: Uses permitted in an institutional district are churches, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, museums, and other simi- lar uses. Industrial Districts: The Borough contains two industrial districts, one permitting light industry such as research laboratories, assembling plants, and'administrative offices, and the other permitting an extensive list of heavy industrial uses. Combined Residential Office District: This new district, which was-approved in May of 1982, allows residential, commercial, and professional uses to co-exist in the same development complex, if specific conditions are complied with. Conformance With the Comprehensive Plan: Eddystone's current Zoning Ordinance is very consistent with the goals and objectives stated in the Comprehensive Plan. The opportunity exists for a variety of land uses and the re- lationship of these land uses to each other is very appro- priate. - The Residential Districts enjoy easy access to the two business districts with the neighborhood business dis- trict being within walking distance of most residents. - The General Business District, which requires a more regional population to support it, is located on Chester Pike, where it is easily accessible to this population. - The Instituti@nal uses which are most important to the residential users are also well located within easy walking or driving distance of most residents. - The Residential-Office District, which introduces the mixed use planning concept to Eddystone, will help pre- serve the historically significant Baldwin Towers as a dynamic residential-commercial-professional urban complex. -2- The Industrial Districts are concentrated in the southern and eastern portions of the community. These are the ideal locations for these uses, as they enjoy excellent transportation access via rail, ship, and truck, and have also been rendered unsuitable for resi- dential uses due to the noise impacts from the Phila- delphia International Airport. The Eddystone Printworkers Housing is contained in the Light Industrial zone, which will enable these struc- tures to be utilized as administrative offices, light services industries, publishing houses, or produce de- velopment laboratories. This is very important as these activities can be conducted from these histori- cally significant buildings which are not best suited to residential uses. The Heavy Industrial District permits only manufactur- ing activities, which do not pose a significant threat to the health or welfare of residents. Proposed Changes: Residential uses should not be prohibited in Commercial Districts, as apartments over commercial uses have proven successful elsewhere in preventing the abandon- ment of commercial and office districts between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., when stores and busi- nesses are not in operation. Sections 2.5 and 2.6 of the Borough's Zoning Ordinance should be altered to allow residential uses in these commercial districts. The following changes to these two sections will accomplish this objective: Section 2.5 - Neighborhood Business District: Uses Permitted by-Special Exception: Add: 5. Residential use on second and third floors over commercial establishments provided these units meet all build- ing code and other applicable Borough regulations, including those regarding access, egress, fire escape, and park- ing requirements. -3- Uses Prohibited: Delete: 2. All residential use. Section 2.6 - General Business District: Uses Subject to Special Exception: Add: 16. Residential use on second and third floors over commercial establishments provided these units meet all build ing code and other applicable Borough regulations regarding access, egress, fire escapes, and parking requirements. Uses Prohibited: Delete: 7. Any form of permanent residential use in a building in which there is a business use. Creation of a Recreation-Conservation District which should be applied to the banks and other available land adjacent to the Ridley and Crum Creeks. The pro- visions of such a Recreation-Conservation District are attached. This district would be included in the Zon- ing Ordinance and could be applied to other lands in the Borough which in the future are deemed suitable for use as open space and/or recreational areas. Summary: The current Borough Zoning Ordinance, with a few minor chan- ges, has the potential to guide future change in Eddystone in the direction prescribed by the Borough's Comprehensive Plan. It contains guidelines which, if properly enforced, are rigid enough to prevent unacceptable uses in all areas of the community, yet flexible enough to enable residents, officials, and developers to respond to conditions in the future with innovative projects and ideas. According to the Borough Solicitor,'Mr. Joseph Cronan, the legality of all components of the Ordinance appear sound, and to his know- ledge, few problems have been encountered regarding either the interpretation or the scope of the Ordinance. -4- PROPOSED: RC RECREATION-CONSERVATION DISTRICTS APPLICABILITY OF REGULATIONS In the Recreation-Conservation District, the following regu- lations shall apply: Permitted Uses: A building may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes and no other: 1. Wildlife preserve; stream valley or forest preserve; any other conservation purpose. 2. Public park, recreational, or historic area-owned and operated by Eddystone Borough, or other governmental or private nonprofit agency. 3. Park,-picnic area, swimming area or outdoor recrea- tional use, other than a use permitted in this section above, customarily located in rural..areas,:including any structure utilized in conjunction with an inci- dental to any permitted outdoor use, when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, and provided that: a. The use and its design are compatible with the natural character of the area and the conserva- tion purpose of the district. b. Each use or activity shall be screened or sepa- rated from a public street and adjoining property by a landscaped planting strip not less than one hundred (100) feet in depth. 4. Signs, subject to Borough standards and regulations. BOROUGH OF EDDYSTONE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AND REVIEWS According to Borough Secretary John Snyder, there are very few development proposals in the Borough which must be sub- jected to subdivision review. As such, no subdivision reg- ulation or ordinance has been formulated for Eddystone. According to Mr. Snyder, any proposal which does necessitate review is sent to the Delaware County Planning Department for review under its Land Development and Subdivision Ordi- nance. This Ordinance, in conjunction with the Borough's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance, is utilized as a means of assuring the appropriateness of any development. The County Subdivision Ordinance is detailed and highly com- prehensive and utilizes the most current planning and de- velopment concepts as its standards. As such, it appears that the subdivision review process can regulate development in conformance with the provision of the Borough's Comprehen- sive Plan. Therefore, it is recommended that the current procedure be continued. -6- 1 1, 1 3 6668 14102 96