New sidewalk, commercial corridor regulations approved in Hempfield

Hempfield officials are hopeful that new rules regarding sidewalks and commercial corridors will help create a more connected community.

Township supervisors approved the two ordinance revisions on Monday.

Sidewalks will now be required in new residential or commercial developments. Revised standards were also approved for new construction along the township’s major commercial corridors.

Patrick Karnash, the township’s community development director, said the sidewalk and commercial ordinances go hand in hand.

“We’ve known for a long time that Hempfield Township is a vehicular-centric township. We have to drive everywhere,” he said. “This is the first step in trying to change that philosophically, and create more pedestrian-connected communities.”

What’s new

The corridor enhancement overlay district includes all parcels adjoining Route 30, Route 119, Business Route 66, Mt. Pleasant Road, Arona Road and Route 136. It also encompasses Georges Station Road from Route 30 to the intersection with Donohoe Road and Donohoe Road from Route 30 to the intersection with Georges Station Road.

New construction within this district will need to have sidewalks to connect businesses and along the roadway, meet a more specific aesthetic requirement for their facades and keep parking lots at the side or the back of the property.

Developers also will be encouraged to have shared access routes, meaning shared curb cuts from the main road instead of multiple cuts for each property.

Previously, the overlay rules only really required certain types of landscaping and driveway lengths, Karnash noted.

“The purpose is to give our commercial corridors a unique look and feel, to encourage people to take part in the commerce along those areas instead of just driving down a road and seeing parking lots and not having that inviting feeling,” Karnash said.

The overlay ordinance cites the township’s comprehensive plan, approved in September. It connects to feedback brought up through community engagement as the township moved through the process of building that plan, Karnash added.

Sidewalks aim to connect

The sidewalk ordinance revisions certain new subdivisions in Hempfield must have sidewalks installed.

“To break that down a little bit, whenever you build a road in Hempfield and you want the township to take it over, to plow it and maintain it, you have to meet a set of standards,” Karnash said.

“Now, what we are saying is that part of that standard is that you have to install sidewalks. The philosophy behind that is that we are trying to work towards creating more connected communities, both residential to residential and residential to commercial. This is the beginning of that effort.”

For existing properties, if they are going to be re-subdivided into 10 or more lots, developers must install sidewalks.

Sidewalks and connectivity are part of a general goal for the township to become more connected and welcoming, especially to the younger generation, said Supervisor Doug Weimer.

To supplement this goal, the township plans to work on building up trails, stairs and bike lanes that would connect existing neighborhoods and developments.

“Creating these pathway connections to neighbors, to parks, to bike trails, to commercial areas, it seems that the younger generation of homebuyers is more attracted to areas where they don’t have to travel in an expensive car from one area to another,” he said.

“It is certainly is what the movement is in the country, and it really is folks trying to do less and less with vehicles.”