1994 Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan

Transcription

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
Bucks County
Board of Supervisors
Planning Commission
Russell M. Kavana, Chairperson
Raymond P. Mongillo, Vice Chairperson
Kevin P. Hastings, Secretary
Robert J. Brann
Karen A. Selvaggi
Clark E. Whitesell, Chairperson
Charles Parkerson, Vice Chairperson
Loretta Mongillo, Secretary
Michael J. Cibik
Edward J. Poltonowic:z, Jr.
Russell Taylor
Alan J. Vogenberg
Planning and Zoning Consultant
Urban Research and Development Corporation
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
This Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors on March 1, 1994.
This Plan Is printed on 100% recycled paper.
Dedicated to the Memory of
Clark E.. Whitesell
May 8, 1927 - April 6, 1994
Middletown Township Planning Commission
Member from July 31, 1969
. Chairperson from July 16, 1974
· CONTENTS
PAGE
PAGE
INTRODUCTION
ACTION PROGRAM
Planning For Middletown's Future ...............
Previous Planning Efforts and A New Commibnent '"
Purpose of the Comprehensive Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Importance of Plan Implementation ..............
Citizens and the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Fonnat of the Plan ..........................
1
1
1
1
2
2
Next Steps ............................... 75
Action Program ............................ 75
APPENDIX A
Middletown Township Inventory of Historic
Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. A-1
BACKGROUND FOR THE PLAN
Regional Location and Setting .................. 4
Population, Housing, and Employment . . . . . . . . . . .. 5
Natural Features ........................... 15
Existing Land Use ......................... , 22
Historic and Cultural Resources ................ 29
Community Facilities and Services .............. 30
Circulation ............................... 42
Municipal Finances ......................... 46
Summary of Assets and Concerns .............. , 51
A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
The Vision ...............................
Middletown Within the Region ................ ,
Goals - Choosing A Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Land Use, Housing and Future Development Plan . ..
Resource Management Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Community Facilities and Services Plan . . . . . . . . . ..
Circulation Plan ...........................
53
53
53
55
62
67
72
APPENDIXB
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. B-1
APPENDIXC
Middletown Township Board of Supervisors'
Resolution for Adoption .............. C-1
MAPS
Regionall..ocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Natural Features .............................. 20
Geology & Watershed Boundaries ................. '21
Multi-Family Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Public Sewage Service Areas ..................... 33
Public Water Service Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Fire Company Service Areas ..................... 37
Existing Recreation & Park Areas ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Townshlp-Owned Greenbelt/Open Space Areas ........ 40
Qrculation .................................. 43
Comprehensive Plan Map ........................ 57
Proposed Bikeway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Historic Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. A-16
-:zo
.,
.
7
2
-
?5
-J
o
o
o
c:
(;)
o
~
o
::tI
-
-~
INTRODUCTION
PLANNING FOR MIDDLETOWN'S FUTURE
PREVIOUS PLANNING EFFORTS AND A NEW
COMMITMENT
This comprehensive plan provides policies to guide the
growth and preservation of Middletown Township over the
next 10 to 15 years. The plan's real value will be in
evaluating proposed changes in the Township against the
plan's policies for land use, roads and community facilities
and services. The test of epch change affecting anyone of
these elements should be the question "Does it conform with
our comprehensive plan?", or "Does it carry out the goals of
our plan?"
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of
1968, as amended)
empowers townships and other
municipal governments to plan and govern development by
zoning and other public actions. Middletown adopted a
comprehensive plan in 1961 and updated it in 1972. The
Township last revised its zoning ordinance in 1991 and its
subdivision and land development ordinance in 1992. This
1993 comprehensive plan represents a commitment to
continue the planning process in Middletown Township.
The Middletown Planning Commission has prepared this
comprehensive plan. The Township Board of Supervisors
has adopted the plan to guide future decision making.
ReSidents, businesses and community groups will assist the
Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to
implement the plan.
The Planning Commission considered the
questions when preparing the plan.
•
PURPOSE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
This comprehensive plan describes the Township's official
polices for preservation, development and future public
improvements. These policies are described in the plan text
and illustrated on the accompanying comprehensive plan
map.
following
What are the Township's assets and constraints?
IMPORTANCE OF PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
•
How do we build on our assets and overcome our
constraints?
•
What do we want to change and what do we want to
preserve?
A plan is only as good as the local commitment to carry it
out. Legal documents such as the zoning ordinance and
subdivision and land development ordinance need to reflect
policies adopted in this plan.
•
How do we achieve the changes we desire, prevent
the changes we want to avoid and preserve what is
valuable to the Township?
The plan should continue to reflect Middletown's current
policies on gUiding change, whether this change is related to
new development or a new policy to preserve open space.
1
INTRODUCTION
The Township should continuously confinn the
appropriateness of the plan's major policies, possibly on an
annual basis, but at least once every five years.
CITIZENS AND THE PLAN
The Middletown Township Planning Commission will help
the Township Supervisors implement the plan.
The
Supervisors and the Planning Commission should continue
to seek residents' input on the Township's future growth and
development. Citizen participation and local support will be
necessary to carry out the plan's poliCies during the 1990's
and beyond.
FORMAT OF THE PLAN
The Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan includes
three major parts:
1.
2.
3.
Background For The Plan
A Plan For the Future
Action Program
Background For The Plan summarizes existing conditions
and trends in Middletown Township. A Plan For The Future
describes the vision for Middletown's future. The Action
Program outlines steps Middletown should take to ensure its
plan is put into practice.
2
RL-iIONAL LOCATION
Middletown Township
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
New Jersey
A
NORTH
I
012345
'=='...:::J='==' !::-=:f
This part of the plan summarizes major findings in several
subject areas:
boroughs of Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Penndel and
Hulmeville.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Middletown was among the fastest growing post-war suburbs
in the Philadelphia area during the 1950's. The Township
is still a growing community in a highly developed
metropolitan region. Pressures for both residential and nonresidential growth continue to be strong forces for change in
Middletown and much of the surrounding area. These
conditions underscore the need for ongoing comprehensive
planning in the Township.
.
Regional Location and Setting
Population, Housing and Employment
Natural Features
Existing Land Use
Historic and Cultural Resources
Community Facilities and Services
Circulation
Municipal Finances
These findings are used later in the plan as a basis for goals
and recommendations.
Setting
Middletown is a unique and diverse community. It contains
19.4 square miles and is the third most populous of Bucks
County's 54 municipalities, according to the 1990 Census.
The southern portion of the Township is home to the
Levittown residential development. The central portion
contains large areas devoted to retail and other commercial
development. Western Middletown is largely an older
residential area. Northern Middletown is the fastest growing
part of the Township and the only portion of Middletown
with substantial undeveloped properties.
REGIONAL LOCATION AND SETTING
Regional Location
Middletown is in the heart of Lower Bucks, the most heavily
urbanized portion of the County. The Township is situated
approximately midway between Philadelphia to the west and
Trenton to the east. Middletown is adjacent to the
Pennsylvania Turnpike, about 1.5 miles from Exit 28 and 2
miles from Exit 29. The Township is crossed by major traffic
routes, including I-95, U.S. 1, and PA Route 413, among
others. These roads are convenient links to locations across
the Delaware Valley and lead directly to the interstate
highway system.
Particular care is being taken to conserve the natural
environment and the existing low-density land use pattern in
northern Middletown. Striking a balance between the
Township's overall growth and preservation needs is a
central theme of this comprehensive plan.
Eleven municipalities border Middletown. These include the
townships of Newtown, Lower Makefield, Falls, Bristol,
Bensalem, Lower Southampton and Northampton, and the
4
•
POPULATION, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT
Local population, housing and employment trends illustrate
how the residents, housing stock and economy of an area
are changing over time. This information helps determine
planning and zoning policies such as how much land to set
aside for commerce, industry and different types of
residential uses. Population, housing and employment
trends in Middletown Township are summarized in this
section, using U.S. Census data, state employment statistics,
building permit records and other information sources.
Middletown grew by 8,880 persons between 1980 and
1990. Newtown Township was the only Bucks County
municipality to add more persons during the 1980's.
TOTAL POPULATION
Middletown Township & Bucks County, 1950-1990
MIDDLETOWN TWP
BUCXS COUNIY
YEAR
Population Trends
The following five tables summarize the demographic
characteristics of Middletown Township, changes that have
occurred over time and how the Township compares to the
rest of Bucks County.
Population
% Increase
Population
% Increase
1950
4,987
-
144,620
-
1960
26,936
+440.1
308,567
+113.4
1970
32,145
+19.3
416,728
+35.1
1980
32,246
+6.5
479,180
+14.9
1990
43,063
+25.7
541,224
+12.9
i
I
SOURCE: U.S. Census
Total Population
• Between 1950 and 1990, Middletown's population
increased by more than 760% while Bucks County's
grew by over 270%.
•
•
Population Projections
• The Bucks County Planning Commission projects that
Middletown Township will grow to 47,000 persons by
the year 2000, an increase of 9.1 % over the Township's
1990 population level.
The development of Levittown in the 1950's accounts for
the extraordinary popUlation growth of the Township
from 4,987 residents in 1950 to 26,936 residents in
1960.
•
The population of Middletown grew by 25.9% between
1980 and 1990, from 34,246 to 43,063. The population
of the County increased nearly 13%, from 479,180 in
1980 to 541,224 in 1990.
5
The County projects Middletown will grow to 52,380
persons by the year 2010 and 56,750 persons by the
year 2020. These increases would represent growth
rates of 11.4% for the 2000-2010 period and 8.3% for
the 2010-2020 period.
•
The County prepared high and low projections to
complement the middle range estimates cited above.
These high and low figures illustrate a range of. future
growth scenarios. The following table shows all of Bucks
County's current population projections for Middletown
Township.
County, the fastest growing age group was the 65-74 age
group which increased by 54.2%, while the over 74 age
group increased by 52.9%.
•
POPULATION PROJECTIONS
Middletown Township, 2000-2020
I
Several age groups lost population between 1980 and
1990 in Middletown. The age group 15-19 fell by the
largest percentage, 21. 7%. The three age groups that
comprise the 10-24 age group fell by 16.6%. 44-54 year
olds decreased by 8.8%.
YEAR
HIGH
MIDDLE
LOW
2000
47,800
47,000
45,530
2010
55,010
52,380
49,940
Household Size and Racial Characteristics
• Middletown Township has a somewhat larger percentage
of white residents (96.5%) than Bucks County (95%).
2020
64,390
56,750
51,280
•
The Hispanic popUlation in Bucks County represents
1.6% of the County's population. This is slightly higher
than in Middletown where 1.2% of the population is of
Spanish descent.
•
In 1990, the "Other Race" category included 654 Asians,
or 1.9% of Middletown's population. In Bucks County,
the percentage of Asians was 2.1 %.
•
Average household sizes across the country were smaller
in 1990 than in 1980. Middletown Township's average
household size decreased from 3.11 in 1980 to 2.88 in
1990. Bucks County's average household size remained
slightly lower than Middletown Township's.
SOURCE: Bucks County Planning Commission 1993 Population Projections
Gender
• There are no special conditions in Middletown Township
that have altered the traditionally even distribution of
males and females.
Age
•
The age distribution in Middletown Township is generally
close to the distribution in all of Bucks County.
•
Between 1980 and 1990, the fastest growing age group
in Middletown Township was the over 74 age group
which increased by nearly 190%. Throughout Bucks
6
PERSONS BY AGE
Middletown Township and Bucks County, 1980 - 1990
----
-_ _
..
...
-
BUCKS COUNTY
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
AGE
CATEGORY
1980
(% TOTAL)
1990
(% TOTAL)
%
CHANGE
1980
(% TOTAL)
1990
(% TOTAL)
%
CHANGE
UNDER 5
2,282 (6.7%)
3,367 (7.8%)
+47.5%
33,543 (7.0%)
39,755 (7.3%)
+18.5%
5-9
2,575 (7.5%)
3,509 (8.2%)
+36.3%
36,688 (7.7%)
39,766 (7.3%)
+8.4%
10 -14
3,139 (9.2%)
2,918 (6.8%)
-7.0%
43,380 (9. i %)
37,289 (6.9%)
-14.0%
15 - 19
3,508 (10.2%)
2,747 (6.4%)
-21.7%
46,140 (9.6%)
36,013 (6.7%)
-21.9%
20-24
3,351 (9.8%)
2,678 (6.2%)
-20.1%
41,705 (8.7%)
35,543 (6.6%)
-14.8%
25-44
9,880 (29%)
15,347 (35.6%)
+55.3%
138, %2 (29%)
185,177 (34.2%)
+33.3%
45-54
4,376 (12.8%)
3,991 (9.3%)
-8.8%
54,626 (11.4%)
60,099 (11.1 %)
+10.0%
55 - 64
3,304 (9.7%)
3,965 (9.2%)
+20.0%
46,001 (9.6%)
48,620 (9.0%)
+5.7%
65 -74
1,179 (3.4%)
2,650 (6.2%)
+124.8%
23,480 (4.9%)
36,195 (6.7%)
+54.2%
OVER 74
652 (1.9%)
1,889(4.4%)
+189.7%
14,855 (3.1%)
22,717 (4.2%)
+52.9%
!
SOURCE: U.S. Census
7
i
RACIAL AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
Middletown Township and Bucks County, 1980-1990
-
-
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
CHARACTERISTIC
1980
1990
1980
1990
TOTAL POPUIATION
34,246
43,063
479,211
541,174
WHITE
33,588 (98.1 %)
41,565 (%.5%)
460,493 (96.1%)
514,240 (95.0%)
BlACK
357 (1.0%)
675 (1.6%)
11,950 (2.5%)
15,313 (2.8%)
OrnER
301 (0.9%)
823 (1.9%)
6,768 (1.4%)
11,621 (2.1%)
HISPANIC ORIGIN
281 (0.8%)
531 (1.2%)
5,684 (1.2%)
8,895 (1.6%)
HOUSEHOlD SIZE
3.11
2.88
3.02
2.80
SOURCE:
*
BUCKS COUNlY
u.s. Census
The 1990 racial breakdown is based on the uncorrected U.S. Census population total for Bucks County.
8
I
INCOME AND EDUCATION CHARACTERISTICS
--
MEDIAN ANNUAL
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
PERCENT COLLEGE GRADUATES
(among residents 25 or older)
PERCENT HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES
(among residents 25 or older)
AREA
1980
1990
(% CHANGE)
1980
1990
1980
1990
MIDDLETOWN
$23,963
$46,756 (+95.1 %)
19.6%
26.1%
80.6%
84.9%
BUCKS COUNlY
$22,016
$43,347 (+96.9%)
18.6%
24.8%
74.7%
82.9%
PENNSYLVANIA
$16,880
$29,069 (+72.2%)
14.0%
17.9%
65.0%
74.7%
SOURCE: U.S. Census
Income
• Median annual household income in Middletown
Township increased by 95% from $23,693 in 1980 to
$46,756 in 1990.
Education
• In 1990, Middletown Township continued to have a
higher percentage of college graduates (26.1 %) than the
rest of Bucks County (24.8%).
•
Middletown's 1990 median household income is over
60% higher than the Pennsylvania median household
income.
•
College graduates in Middletown increased from 19.6%
in 1980 to 26.1% in 1990. The percentage of high
school graduates also rose, from 80.6% in 1980 to
84.9% in 1990.
•
The median annual household income in Bucks County
increased by nearly 97% from $22,016 in 1980 to
$43,347 in 1990.
•
The percentage of high school and college graduates in
Middletown Township is conSiderably higher than in
Pennsylvania where 17.9% are college graduates and
74.7% are high school graduates.
9
Housing Trends
The table on the following page shows characteristics of the
housing stock in Middletown Township and Bucks County,
and how those characteristics changed between 1980 and
1990.
•
25.4% of all housing units in Middletown Township were
occupied by renters in 1990. Median monthly rental
rates were $581 in 1990, 106% higher than in 1980.
•
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the
Township was $138,800 in 1990, 167% higher than in
1980. Home-ownership became less affordable between
1980 and 1990 because household incomes rose by only
95% in comparison. The median owner-occupied home
value in Bucks County was $140,000 in 1990.
•
The percentage of housing units occupied by owners
increased since 1980 in Bucks County. In 1980,74.4%
of the housing units in Bucks County were occupied by
owners. In 1990, 75.7% were owner-occupied.
•
Housing values in Bucks County did not increase as
much as they did in Middletown Township between
1980 and 1990. The median home value in Bucks
County increased from $56,200 in 1980 to $140,000 in
1990 (+149.1%).
Housing Type
•
There were 14,942 housing units in Middletown
Township in 1990, an increase of 28.3% since 1980.
The number of housing units in Bucks County increased
by 21.2%.
•
Middletown had 8% of the population of Bucks County
in 1990, and 7.5% of the housing units.
•
Single family detached homes accounted for 68.7% of all
housing units in the Township in 1990, more than any
other housing type. Attached housing styles grew at a
faster rate than detached homes during the 1980's.
•
The mobile home category increased from 2 units in
1980 to 146 units in 1990. The number of units in 2-4
unit structures increased by 96% and the number of
single family attached housing units grew by over 61 %.
•
In 1990, 3.1 % of the housing units in Middletown Township were vacant compared to 4.7% of the units in Bucks
County.
10
HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
BUCKS COUNTY
CHARACTERISTIC
1980
1990 (% CHANGE)
1980
1990 (% CHANGE)
# HOUSING UNITS
11;644
14,942 (+28.3%)
164,914
199,934 (+21.2%)
SINGLE FAMILY
DETACHED
7,873
10,261 ( +30.3%)
107,093
126,347 (+ 18.0%)
SINGLE FAMILY
ATTACHED
629
1,014 (+61.2%)
14,978
24,446 (+63.2%)
2-4 UNIT SlRUCTURE
149
292 (+96.0%)
10,219
9,987 (-2.3%)
5+ UNIT SlRUCTURE
2,991
3,229 ( +8.0%)
27,737
31,301 (+12.8%)
MOBILE AND OTHER
HOMElYPES
2
146 (+7,600%)
4,887
7,853 (+60.7%)
VACANT UNITS
5.5%
3.1%
3.5%
4.7%
RENTER-OCCUPIED
26.9%
25.4%
25.6%
24.3%
OWNER-OCCUPIED
73.1%
74.6%
74.4%
75.7%
MEDIAN HOME VALUE
$51,900
$138,800 (+ 167.0%)
$56,200
$140,000(+149.1%)
MEDIAN RENT/MONlH
$282
$581 (+ 106%)
$252
$524 (+ 107.9%)
i
SOURCE:
u.s. Census, Pennsylvania State Data Center, URDC
11
Employment Trends
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Middletown Township, January 1993
An analysis of the economy of Bucks County provides
important information about the type of work in which
Township residents are engaged. The three tables that
follow present information about the economy of Middletown Township, Bucks County and other areas of the state.
An analysis of these tables reveals:
•
Each of the nine largest employers in the Township are
service oriented, non-goods producing businesses;
•
The percentage of Bucks County residents who are
employed is higher than the comparable percentages for
the state or the nation;
•
EMPLOYER
INDUSTRY
#
EMPLOYEES
St Mary's Hospital
Health Care
1,622
Neshaminy School
District
Public Education
1,587
Sesame Place
Recreation &
Entertainment
812
T &Ttemps
Employment
684
Service
Bucks County had a 6.7% unemployment rate in
September, 1992, higher than in September, 1991 when
the unemployment rate was 6.2%.
Macy's
Retail Sales
501
Lenox, Inc.
Warehouse/Retail
Sales
439
Pennswood Village
Nursing Care
409
National Business
Service, Inc.
Publishing
404
Reedman
Corporation
Automobile Sales
378
SOURCE: Middletown Township Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report, year ended December, 1991
12
SELECTED PENNSYLVANIA AND U.S. LABOR MARKET AREAS
Civilian Labor Force and Unemployment Rates, September 1992
I
LABOR MARKET AREA
I
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
I
UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS
I
-
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Allentown-Bethlehem MSA
342,800
26,100
7.6%
Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle MSA
341,200
17,100
5.0%
Lancaster MSA
230,800
10,500
4.6%
2,450,400
178,400
7.3%
Reading MSA
176,400
12,000
6.8%
York, MSA
227,500
12,900
5.7%
Pennsylvania
6,004,000
419,000
7.0%
United States
127,044,000
9,090,000
7.2%
300.500
20.300
6.7%
j
i
Philadelphia MSA
Bucks County. PA*
SOURCE: Preliminary September, 1992 data from the PA Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Research and Statistics
•
Bucks County is part of the Philadelphia Primary MSA, which also includes Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Camden. Burlington
and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey.
13
•
The service industry employs the largest percentage of
Bucks County residents (27.4%), followed by the retail
industry (21.8%) and the manufacturing industry
(21.4%). Collectively, these three industries employ 70%
of the people who work in Bucks County.
•
The mining industry pays the highest average wage
($45,304), but experienced the largest fall in wage rates
since 1990. State and Federal government employees'
wages ranked second ($33,780) and wholesale trade
, employees' wages third ($32,302) in 1991.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY
Bucks County, 1991
AVERAGE MONTHLY EMPLOYMENT
(% CHANGE FROM 1990)
AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE
(% CHANGE FROM 1990)
2,373 (-9.6%)
$17,848 (+0.9%)
435 (-11.9%)
$45,304 (-38.9%)
Construction
10,251 (-18.2%)
$30,352 (+5.1 %)
Manufacturing
42,823 (-5.6%)
$31,448 (+3.4%)
Transportation
5,448 (-8.6%)
$29,325 (+0.8%)
Wholesale Trade
12,952 (+ 1.3%)
$32,302 (+3.5%)
Retail Trade
43,568 (-2.4%)
$14,685 (+2.7%)
9,006 (+4.6%)
$27,827 (+3.0%)
54,908 (-0.2%)
$21,476 (+4.0%)
16,782 (+3.0%)
$29,992 (+4.1%)
5,523 (-2.9%)
$33,780 (+ 16%)
200,150 (-2.8%)
$24,612 (+3.0%)
INDUSTRY
Agrlculture/ForestIy/Fishing
Mining
,
Finance, Infurance, Real Estate
Services
!
,
Local Gov~rnment
State & Federal Governments
I
TOTAL
,
SOURCE: PA Department of Labor and InduslIy, Bureau of Labor Statistics
14
I
I
NATURAL FEATURES
groundwater if the heavily-pumped wells are spaced
properly.
This section of the plan identifies and interprets the natural
resources in Middletown Township. These resources create
a story about the fonnation of the Township's land and
provide a basis for understanding how land areas should be
utilized. Existing environmental resources that are discussed
include geologic fonnations, soil properties, topography,
hydrology, and elements of the biotic landscape. Maps
accompany the text throughout this section to indicate the
prevalence and diversity of the many unique natural features
found in the Township.
Soils
The geology of the Township influences local soils and
groundwater characteristics. The predominate soils in the
Township are Chester, Duncannon, Howell, Hatboro and
the Urban Land series. With the exception of Hatboro and
the Urban Land series, the soils are deep and well-drained.
The Urban Land series comprises most of the developed
areas in the Township. Most Urban Land series areas
exhibit soils and foundation materials that are highly
variable. The Hatboro series exhibits poor sub-surface
drainage qualities.
Much of this land is found on
floodplains, or is located in stream valleys and along the
headwaters of streams. Ideally, these areas should be served
by public sewer facilities.
Geological Features
There are four geologic fonnations in Middletown Township
that affect groundwater resources in the area. These rock
fonnations are important because they typically characterize
areas with water-bearing capacities. The accompanying map
notes the locations of these four geologic areas in the
Township.
Soil suitability and the capability of soils to support various
densities and types of development are critical. The Soil
Survey of Bucks and Philadelphia Counties (U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 1975)
delineates soil areas in the Township most suited for on-site
septic systems. Because most land within the Township is
serviced by public water and sewage systems, the concern
for soil suitability is focused on those undeveloped areas in
the northern sector. The northern sector of the Township
contains many areas unsuitable for on-site septic systems.
However, this has not constrained development in northern
Middletown because the Township requires all subdivisions
The groundwater in Middletown Township is obtained from
aquifers in Stockton lithofacies, Wissahickon schist, gneiss,
and chickies quartzite fonnations. Wissahickon schist, gneiSS,
and chickies are reliable sources of small to moderate
supplies of groundwater for the Township. The groundwater
acquired from these aquifers is generally acceptable because
it is low in dissolved solids and hardness fonning materials.
The fourth fonnation, Stockton lithofacies, occupies the
upper third of the Township. This area is among the best
bedrock sources of groundwater in Bucks County. Stockton
lithofacies has the capability to provide adequate
15
Historical Resources
SEE THE ACCOMPANYING MIDDLETOWN
TOWNSHIP INVENTORY OF HISTORIC
SITES FOR THE KEY TO NUMBERS
SHOWN ON THIS MAP.
l\1IDDLETOWN
TOWNSHIP
BUCKS
COUNTY,
-
PENNSYLVANIA
0"'0""",- ."SE M.... ""~"AA£O ... THI! Buell. C OUNTY I'UHHlHQ COMMISSIOH
.....
L....-_-----""_
---
•
-"' U'II.,," 1It(~U.ItCH
LJ
•
.lHI)
DEY'I! LO PMEHf COla"OflA1lOtt
U~ ~P'DHnu.HA
o
-
y.:;J
",
Wetlands
Vegetation, soils, and the level of water below the surface
determine the location of wetlands. Wetlands can include
marshes, bogs, swamps, and similar areas. The wetlands in
Middletown are scattered throughout the Township. One of
+the Township's largest wetland areas is located between
Big Oak Road and 1-95. The accompanying map delineates
these and other wetlands in Middletown.
deposited by the flood waters. These soils are reliable
indicators of an area threatened by flooding.
The largest site containing alluvial soils in Middletown is
located along the northern section of the Neshaminy Creek.
Alluvial soils are also found in smaller areas around the
perennial tributaries of the Neshaminy Creek, as well as Mill
Creek and Queen Anne Creek.
Floodplains
Roodplains are defined as areas adjoining streams, ponds,
or lakes which are subject to inundation by lOO-year floods.
Roodplain land is found along major stream systems and
their tributaries.
High Water Table Soils
These are soils that typically have water tables within three
feet of ground surface sometime during the year. Uke
alluvial soils, high water table soils indicate where chronic or
occasional wetness may weaken foundations or otherwise
constrain construction. Failed on-lot septic systems, flooded
basements, poor foundation stability, and the disturbance of
natural drainage and groundwater recharge are potential
problems with high water table soils. Because these wateroriented areas are prone to floods or wetness, every effort
should be made to retain their natural character.
Aoodplain land along the Neshaminy Creek provides open
space for Middletown Township. Bucks County and
Middletown Township recognize the potential to link major
open space areas in Lower Bucks County by means of an
open space corridor along the creek.
Rooding is not limited to floodplains. Areas with alluvial
.soils and high water table soils are also subject to
intermittent inundation.
Care should be taken to maintain the highest water quality
possible within the watershed. Development in sensitive
hydrologic areas can be detrimental to both existing aquatic
and non-aquatic species.
Alluvial Solis
Alluvial soils are poorly drained soils that are usually
adjacent to small streams. When flooding occurs, fastmoving stream water overflows its banks and extends
beyond the floodplain. Alluvial soils are the sediments
The major pollutant in stormwater is sediment. Sediment is
carried by water flowing over exposed areas and transported
into a stream.
Large volumes of stormwater create
additional sediment by scouring and eroding stream banks.
Sediment in streams makes respiration difficult for aquatic
wildlife.
18
Biotic Resources
The tenn biotic relates to life. The accompanying map
shows important flora and fauna within Middletown Township. Woodlands are the most conspicuous flora in the
Township.
Middletown Township's subdivision and land development
ordinarice prohibits the removal of large trees from a
development site. The subdivision and land development
ordinance also requires developers to replace vegetation lost
during the development process.
Woodlands are a natural resource important for erosion
control, wildlife habitats, and aesthetic relief. Concentrations
of wooded areas greater than five acres are shown on the
accompanying map. Large wooded lots can be found in
Middletown Township along the border of Northampton and
Lower Southampton Townships. Other large woodlands are
located along Mill Creek and in Core Creek Park.
The Township zoning ordinance regulates tree cutting in
woodland areas and mandates precautions to avoid injuring
trees during the construction process. The zoning ordinance
affords extra protection to woodlands in environmentallysensitive areas such as floodplains, steep slopes and
wetlands, among others.
Most wooded areas in western Middletown are adjacent to
the Neshaminy Creek. Groves and forests are comprised
largely of oak, ash, maple, birch, walnut, and sycamore.
These trees play an important role within the stream valley
because they stabilize stream banks and help buffer the
stream from pollutants and sediment.
The landscape of northern Middletown is occasionally
reminiscent of the Township's rural heritage. Open fields,
hedgerows, and fann lots exist among many of the area's
newer residential developments.
With the exception of high water table areas, the woodlands
in Middletown Township can generally be described as an
Oak-Hickory association. The dominant species within this
association are the oak, hickory, ash, beech, aspen and
poplar.
19
_.<: --~-I
c::
~ p;
-:
'-'
.-
'-'
J>
•
G~o
gy
o
WateIrsne,.._
o
~Im((ll
lW..l!1ll.1MJ.Ill.&I.Jrne§
Stockton Lithofaci es
D
Wissah ickol1 Sch ist
Chickies Quar tz ite
D
o
08
Gneiss
()
@
Watershed Boundaries
M Ull)If]ILlE1fcQ)WlriI
P-Ir ((2) \~¥ Ir~ § IT=~ IT 1P
BUG"S
"
C OU NTY,
"~ ~
~~ . _
''''''
:a
,..., ~
.
r,~~ Ui'lOAIlr."~EA~Clt r. !10
~ u.J
U!\OC
OEV'f lo ;>rl s;rr CON' OO1 l\flOfl
tr. " ~ 0'9J q: 1 :li' l\,2'~~
P r:NN SY I. VA N IA
..
."
f
7.-~i'
~\
EXISTING LAND USE
public; open space and nearby farm properties contribute to
the scenic attractiveness of this area.
Concern for the use of land is the essence of comprehensive
planning. Middletown is a large community that encompasses both highly developed areas and pristine natural
lands. The central, western and southern portions of the
Township contain older residential areas and most of
Middletown's commercial and industrial development.
Northern Middletown is characterized by newer, larger
homes, and undeveloped areas. The Township's central
location in Lower Bucks County has prompted great
diversity in its land use. Middletown is a convenient and
attractive place to locate a home or business. The
Township's existing land use pattern is described below by
type of use.
The Langhorne Terrace and Parkland neighborhoods in
western Middletown, and Langhorne Gardens in central
Middletown were the first residential subdivisions
constructed in the Township. These homes were built on
small lots, often less than 10,000 square feet. Many were
conceived as summer residences. Some Langhorne Terrace
properties are adjacent to the Neshaminy Creek and subject
to frequent flooding. All three neighborhoods are stable
oveIC;ill but have experienced problems often characteristic of
older areas. These problems include deteriorating private
roads, malfunctioning on-site septic systems, an aging
housing stock and deferred maintenance. The Bucks County
Planning Commission targeted portions of these
neighborhoods for a housing rehabilitation effort in its 1981
.
Middletown Neighborhood Revitalization Study.
Residential Land Uses
Single-family Detached Residential
Single-family detached homes are the predominant land use
in Middletown Township. The age, size and condition of
these homes vary widely in different parts of the community.
North Middletown residential development consists
predominantly of large colonial style homes built during the
late 1970's and 1980's. One-half to one-acre lots are
common throughout the area. Sidewalks and curbs,
curve linear roads and cuI de sac streets are prevalent design
features in the area's reSidential neighborhoods. Lakeview
Estates, Luxembourg Estates and Hampton Bridge, among
several others, are typical of northern Middletown's lowdensity, residential subdivisions. Core Creek County Park,
The Penncrest and Brendwood Manor neighborhoods are
located in central Middletown adjacent to Langhorne
Borough. Penncrest and Brendwood Manor were constructed during the 1950's and 1960's. These neighborhoods feature medium-sized homes on residential lots
ranging around one-half acre in area. Both neighborhoods
are very stable and generally well-maintained.
Levittown comprises most of the residential area in lower
Middletown, the region south of the former Reading Railroad
tracks and east of the adjacent boroughs. Levittown, built
in the early 1950's, is a planned residential community complete with parks, public open space and schools. Most of
the residential lots in Levittown are less than 10,000 square
22
BACKGROUND FOR THE PIAN
feet in area, and many of the development's small ranch
homes have undergone substantial additions. Streets and
sidewalks in Levittown are well-kept; most homes still reflect
the pride with which they were first occupied 40 years ago.
(quadraplex homes), both located in southern Middletown.
The following list shows apartment complexes in Middletown
Township, including the apartments found at the Summit
Trace and Middletown Trace residential developments.
Langhorne Gables is the other sizeable single-family
neighborhood in the lower portion of Middletown Township.
This area is north of Trenton Road, just west of Route 1-95.
It features very small residential lots, many in the range of
5,000 square feet or less. Its grid street pattern is similar to
that found in adjacent portions of Penndel Borough.
Housing conditions are variable with many located on
undedicated, unimproved streets. While the area is generally stable, there are some indications of deferred maintenance.
EXISflNG APARTMENT COMPLEXFS
Middletown Township, 1993
Name
Racquet Club Apartments
Foxwood Apartments
Middletown Trace
Summit Trace
Chesterfield Apartments
Country Manor Apartments
Woodbourne Apartments
Country Club
SheIWood Gardens
Orchard Square
Twin Terrace
Tareyton Apartments
Longview Gardens
Townhouses, Related Styles, Apartments and Elderly
Residential
Middletown Township offers a range of housing opportunities in addition to single-family detached homes.
Tareyton Estates in central Middletown is a townhouse and
apartment development. Townhouses are also found
adjacent to the Middletown Country Club (Windy Bush),
along Uncoln Highway bordering Penndel Borough (The
Meadows) and in southern Middletown (Hollybrooke).
Middletown Trace in southern Middletown features townhouse type apartments. Summit Trace in northern Middletown contains apartments, condominium units and townhouses. Related housing styles found in the Township
include Ramblewood and Indian Creek Village II (twin
homes) and the Villas of Middletown and Timberwoods
23
No. of Apartment Uniis
356
304
280
252
246
200
176
112
102
84
65
50
46
: ;: 1,
,-·.Ii
~.-
~ ,O
:::-
~
'"
<
.-<
(Jl
;;:
~
m
"0
~'
9
~-~
l
9
£tt::J
d J
'hi
-....~
-:;:::J
~
g
I:L=l ffi
VJJ ~
-I
li l
-< ~!.,
~
c:
0
~
~;;
-::;;J[g
g~
"
~
~
~
w ,----.,j'
c:
n
. ~.
", .. !..
n
EXISTING lLAND USE
i
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
o
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
D
INST!TUTIONAL
o
D
o
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
AGRICULTURE/UNDEV ELOPED
H
Xl\1IT[ AI>fL, t :'T < -\iH2 'I
~U' 'C'I lJ~:J ~ J § , ~~q U '.1,' "
J
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
vania to issue bonds for road-building. By the mid-1800's,
a system of roads radiated out from Langhorne. By 1876,
Middletown was able to utilize the Bound Brook railroad line
that passed through the town.
Settlement and Development
Middletown Township was once a land of virgin woodlands
with a rolling landscape rich in minerals. The inhabitants of
this time were the Unami, an Indian tribe known for its
successful farming practices in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Unami moved westward shortly after the arrival of the
first white settlers. The Swedes and Dutch were the first
Europeans to establish their homes in this area. Their
settlement on the lowlands was soon matched by development on the uplands from German and English settlers.
Together, these new peoples created a community. Middletown was settled in 1682 by thirty individual landowners and
incorporated in 1692. The land was known by the title
Middle Lots as late as 1703, and it was called Middle
Township until 1724. These names were derived from the
community's location midway between the river farms along
the Delaware and those further inland.
Although Middletown participated in the technological
advances of this era, its leisurely pace was in contrast to the
activity in surrounding urban areas. Middletown arose from
an agrarian heritage. Resident's lives and the local economy
were based on agricultural pursuits.
Ufe in Middletown continued to be largely agrarian until the
mid-twentieth century when William Levitt built the Levittown residential development. Before 1950, Levittown was
a conglomerate of 150 farms totalling 5,500 acres. After
development, approximately 13,000 people resided in the
development's ten new neighborhoods. Bucks County
became one of the fastest growing counties in the United
States due, in large part, to growth in and around Middletown Township.
The first industries among colonists were those of the miller,
the sawyer, and the ship-builder. Operations at the mills
were of vital interest to the community and were important
to the entire region. Langhorne was the largest settlement
in Middletown and a hub of activity for political, social, and
educational interests.
Existing Historic and Cultural Resources
Much of Middletown's history is preserved today in the architecture of buildings and other developed spaces in the
Township. 113 properties are listed on the Middletown
Township Inventory of Historic Sites completed by the
Middletown Historic Preservation Commission in 1992. This
inventory identifies buildings within the Township that are
over 100 years old (see Appendix A). Two houses from this
inventory are enrolled on the National Register of Historic
Places: Edgemont and Beechwood, both in the central area
of the Township. Edgemont, at 212 Bridgetown Pike, is a
While life thrived within the community of Middletown,
communication and commerce with other areas was severely
limited. The building of the Durham Road, an important
transportation link, began in 1693. The last section reached
Easton around 1750. Middletown pioneered in road
improvement, and was one of the first townships in Pennsyl29
fonnal, federal-style structure constructed in 1824.
Beechwood is a restored stone and frame building at the
Woods School on 469 East Maple Avenue. Beechwood was
constructed around 1840.
Education
Middletown Township is part of the Neshaminy School District, which includes Lower Southampton Township, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Penndel
Borough and Hulmeville Borough. 9,716 students were
enrolled as of December, 1992. District enrollment reached
a high of approximately 14,000 pupils in the early 1970's
and decreased to 8,217 in 1985. Since 1985, enrollment
has been rising and is expected to continue growing in the
near future. A 1989 Pennsylvania Department of Education
study prOjected that District enrollment would reach 11,000
students by 2000. A recent Neshaminy School District
analysis established a high projection of 13,000 and a low
projection of 10,000 for the year 2000.
The historic inventory lists several "Other Sites of Interest",
in addition to the 100 year old structures noted above.
These sites include the Langhorne Spring Water Works,
graveyards at Snowball Gate and Red Rose Gate, and the
following bridges in the Township:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Twin Bridgesffunnels, Route 413
Camelback Stone Bridge, Route 413 & Bridgetown Pike
B&O Railroad Bridge over the Neshaminy Creek at
Playwicki Park
Core Creek Camelback Bridge, Silver Lake Road
Tunnel Hatchery Stone Tunnel, Railroad Bridge,
Woodbourne Road at Wood Road
Iron Bridge on Neshaminy Creek, Bridgetown Pike.
Eleven of the Neshaminy School District's 15 schools are in
Middletown Township. These are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Community facilities and services refer to education, public
water, public sewers, solid waste collection, emergency
management and other community-oriented functions.
These are described for Middletown Township in the
following paragraphs.
30
Pearl Buck Elementary School
fonner Eisenhower Elementary School
Samuel Everitt Elementary School
Oliver Heckman Elementary School
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Walter Miller Elementary School
Albert Sweitzer Elementary School
Neshaminy Junior High School
Carl Sandburg Junior High School
Maple Point Middle School
Neshaminy High School
BACKGROUND fOR THE PLAN
The Neshaminy School District's other schools are all located
in Lower Southampton Township. These include:
•
•
•
•
in northern Middletown is a Quaker boarding and day
school for grades 9-12. The Newtown Friends School (K-8)
is affiliated with the George School and located adjacent to
it on Route 413. The Woods School in central Middletown
is for physically handicapped children. Queen of the
Universe is a Catholic elementary school in southern
Middletown for grades K-8.
Lower Southampton Elementary School
Tawanka Elementary School
Poquessing Elementary School
Poquessing Junior High School
The former Eisenhower Elementary School is now occupied
by the School District's maintenance headquarters and the
Bucks County Department of Mental Health. The former
Maple Point High School is reopening in September 1993 as
a middle school. Currently, ali District elementary schools
are grades K-6. Junior high schools are grades 7-9 and high
schools are grades 10-12. The 1993-1994 realignment will
change aU elementary schools to grades K-5. Neshaminy
High School will remain grades 10-12. Maple Point School
and each of the District's two existing junior high schools
will be redesignated as middle schools (grades 6-9). These
changes will relieve capacity problems created by the recent
surge in the District's elementary school enrollment.
Public Water
Almost all homes and businesses in Middletown are connected to a .public water system. The Newtown Artesian
Water Company, the Lower Bucks Joint Municipal Authority
and the Middletown Township Utilities Department provide
public water within the Township.
The Newtown Artesian Water Company serves northern
Middletown, northwest of Core Creek. The Company provides approximately 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of
water to Middletown. Sources include 4 wells in Newtown
Township and water purchased from the Bucks County
Water and Sewer Authority. Company storage tanks are in
Newtown Township. Existing supplies are adequate for
current and anticipated future demand. The Newtown
Artesian Water Company continues to accept new connections in the northern Middletown area.
Night school in Middletown Township is held at Neshaminy
High School but operated by Neshaminy Adult Education
Inc., a private, self-sustaining organization that offers a
variety of educational and recreational programs in the
greater Neshaminy School District area. The Bucks County
Technical School in Fairless Hills provides vocational technical training to Neshaminy and four other school
districts in the Lower Bucks County area.
The Lower Bucks County Joint MuniCipal Authority serves
the entire Levittown area in Middletown. The Authority
owns a 5.6 million gallon storage tank located in Levittown
and its own water treatment plant. The Authority has
adequate capacity to meet current and expected near-term
future demand.
There are four private schools in Middletown (excluding
preschools and day care). The George School on Route 413
31
The Middletown Township Utilities Department supplies
water to all public water customers in the Township not
served by the two above-described providers. The Department's water service area includes the central area of
Middletown, western Middletown, portions of southern
Middletown and northern Middletown southeast of Core
Creek. The Department provides water within the Boroughs
of HulmevilIe, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor and Penndel.
Middletown also has an inter-connection ready to supply
water to Falls Township in case of a fire fighting emergency.
shape, though selected areas need upgrading. Lines in the
Oaklihurst area and portions of the system that the Township owns in Langhorne Borough need to be refurbished.
Extending service within the Parkland area of the Township
is also apriority.
Public Sewer
Most homes and businesses in Middletown are connected to
public sewers. Small areas, mostly located in northern and
western Middletown, are still served by on-site systems.
Existing property owners can request a connection to public
sewers at their own discretion. However, residents must
bear the full costs of any line extension. The Township
mandates that new developments have public sewers.
The Middletown Township Utilities Department pumps 0.25
MGD from a Township-owned well located near LanghorneYardley Road in northern Middletown. The Department
purchases the balance of its supply from the Bucks County
Water and Sewer Authority (2.0 MGD) and the Lower Bucks
County Joint Municipal Authority (0.75 MGD).
The Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority serves
the Levittown area. The AuthOrity conveys wastewater
through its own lines to its sewage treatment plant in Bristol
Township.
The plant was recently placed under a
moratorium issued by the PA Department of Environmental
Resources which limited new flows to the 10 MGD facility
pending certain plant improvements. This moratorium has
been rescinded and the system is now accepting new
connections. The Authority conveys about 2.6 MGD of
sewage from Middletown Township at present.
The Township hopes to continue expanding its revenueproducing role as a wholesaler of water to nearby communities. The Township's water transmission system has a
theoretical capacity of 12-15 MGD, yet only about 3 MGD
is flowing through the system at present. The system will still
have excess capacity after Middletown is entirely built-out.
Large water mains owned by Middletown are available to
convey water from Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority transmission mains near the Neshaminy Creek to adjacent
municipalities. The Township is exploring the possibility of
providing water to the Keystone Water Company in the
Lower Makefield-Yardley area.
The Middletown Township Utilities Department owns and
maintains 78.75 miles of water lines. The system is in good
32
-.:
'<
~:-
III
-
'0"
C:;"
=
:s
~
~j.
:s
0
r",-:
.-. r ,
;. S"!
o ;::
""'l:'-:'"
~
:?
b.~
0
L
LJ
I
:s
....
3(1l
~
.-
"0
0t1l
Cfl
'""
t1l
<-i-
c
'-3
~
"9
::;
0
~
$:
0.:
0..
CD
,..,
GI
n
I==-~
(>
t:=::!
(;:7.j
~
.2
f8
0
,c,.,
t=lc
.=<J
c'
fG
1=1
(~
~-
(fG,
crY€;
\8
«J
«1
J./j
If"
~
IT)
t=::I
ffi
f=8
sQP
J¥lmltvHficc \v\'h:Q~(~[C ~§)~jr\V~~ce
AIL~21§
0 ; J:".
l
l~
Middletovvn Township Utilities
Department
.,'
.- .,'
[~_J
I
Newtov>!i1 A.rtesian 'Water
Company
Lower Buck:; Joint Municipal
Authority
--~
..
'1
JRf\lil fD) II)) ILTI~ IT<<J)\~W)n[
'--)J1 ((J)
\\~V!
"'~
__ "
J .I f.0,1
j )l
13 Ij C :( S
1'J.~I'l '''.\l
G 0 U ['.J TV,
U... ,;" '~ .·.P .. nEP ......
"t> 0"
J1JT
.. !:l
n»
J~r...._'
PEN N S V L V t:\ rIll P.
'"l UU:::I(!i COU:, ' , ~l.\l""l'a C~H.~U'5~'~'1
~...,7"_~~• • _ .n::':~.·~r::7-:-,.
~:j ~~~~'~~~~~:;~~~~cinM'OI:
IJ!10::: ·: .... ' '':''1 c : ' ,·r.. ,·.~"A
,@
.Q)
.,
._ ~
~'_!:I. : .
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority provides
wastewater treatment to most public sewer connections in
Middletown outside the Levittown area. Approximately 3.0
MGD of sewage is conveyed to the Core Creek branch of
the Authority's Neshaminy Interceptor via 69.66 miles of
sewer line owned and maintained by Middletown Township.
Some sewage flows to the Lower Bucks County Joint
Municipal Authority treatment plant from the Township's
Sewer I District. These areas border Levittown and include
the Gables and Oaklihurst.
Waste from Middletown and the other municipalities
connected to the Neshaminy Interceptor is treated at the
Philadelphia Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant which
is owned by the City of Philadelphia. The plant's capacity
of 220 MGD is more than adequate to treat current and
anticipated flows from its service area. The sewer lines
owned and maintained by Middletown Township have the
ability to carry over twice the current volume of sewage flow.
Plenty of sewage capacity remains to serve new development in Middletown Township.
Fire and Rescue Service
Six volunteer fire companies provide primary fire protection
to Middletown. Approximately 170 volunteer fire fighters
belong to these fire companies. The Township relies on a
County-wide mutual aid agreement to provide additional fire
fighting assistance as needed. The six fire companies serving
Middletown Township, their locations and their service areas
are listed below. Existing fire service districts are shown on
the accompanying map.
•
Newtown Fire Association
Newtown Borough
Service area: Upper portion of northern Middletown
•
Parkland Fire Company
Avenue 0, Middletown Township
Service area: Western Middletown
•
Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company
Langhorne Borough
Service area: Central Middletown and the lower portion
of northern Middletown, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough
•
Levittown Fire Company No.2
Bristol Township
Service area: Very small portion of southern Levittown
•
William Penn Fire Company
Hulmeville Borough
Substation at Oxford Valley and Apple Street,
Middletown Township
Service area: Lower portion of Levittown, Hulmeville
Borough
•
Penndel Fire Company
Penndel Borough
Service area: Upper portion of Levittown, Penndel
Borough
Middletown Township funds the operating costs and most
capital costs for the Parkland, Langhorne-Middletown,
William Penn and Penndel Fire Companies. A dedicated 3mill tax provides the revenue for these activities. The
Middletown Township Board of Supervisors allocates these
35
tax revenues. The Township's 7-member Emergency Services Advisory Board coordinates annual budget requests
from the four fire companies. The Emergency Services
Advisory Board has also prepared an Apparatus Plan to
ensure that the Township funds basic fire protection needs
in Middletown. Fire companies who acquire additional
equipment, in excess of the equipment allocated by the
Apparatus Plan, pay for this equipment with their own
funds.
Middletown is considering constructing a substation for the
Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad and possibly a substation for a fire company in northern Middletown. These
facilities would be located, along with a park and a public
works area, on the 41-acre Township-owned property
purchased in 1993 from the Ukrainian Church.
A substation at this location would allow the Emergency
Squad to improve its response time in northern Middletown,
which already meets standard emergency response time
guidelines. The Bucks County Emergency Health Services
Council and the Bucks County Planning Commission are
preparing a plan to ensure full pre-hospital emergency health
care coverage throughout the County. This plan will suggest
how Middletown can improve its coverage until the northern
Middletown facility is built. The Township's fire coverage
also complies with similar guidelines by virtue of Middletown's six fire coverage areas and the County-wide intermunicipal mutual aid agreement.
In recent years, Middletown has made an annual contribution to the Newtown Fire Association and to the Levittown
Fire Company No.2. The Township is phasing out its
donation to the Levittown Fire Company because William
Penn Fire Company will eventually take over the Levittown
Fire Company's coverage area in Middletown Township.
The Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad provides prehospital emergency care to almost aU of Middletown Township. The Squad contains a 60-person volunteer ambulance
corps and is located on Uncoln Highway in Middletown.
Middletown Township dedicates 0.5 mills in tax revenue to
the Squad each year. This funding is coordinated through
the Middletown Township Emergency Services Advisory
Board and covers a portion of the squad's total annual
expenses. The Squad raises the balance of its annual funds.
St. Mary's Hospital in northern Middletown, Lower Bucks
Hospital in Bristol Township and Delaware Valley Medical
Center in Falls Township are the nearest emergency health
care facilities for Middletown residents.
Two organizations assist the Penndel-Middletown Emergency
Squad in small portions of Middletown Township. The
Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad serves the Quincy
Hollow section of Levittown and the Newtown Rescue
Squad covers the Summit Square vicinity in northern
Middletown.
36
'"
:.... . , I' '.,._.
'." ''':';-'': .. . . ...'": '
,."
....
----
,-------.---.
'-
.\
\
.;
I. " ,;
j'
.."
-.--- -.~' ~
'-
,~
.~
" ......
'-
..'.. ...
,
'
'If
~~ .
..
., .:_.
'" i'!'
;/
' ,,'
.' 1
.~.:
~
.i., -:>~" . :;
....."
f
..
.. ,
~,
."
..,
,'"
-.. \t,
o
~ .~.
"
.. :
...
','
I
'.'
... .;.,
......
.'.: '.':
:
:l: :.~
'''' ,... '
. ; ~~ (
·'i,..
.:
'.,
'. " ... :.~
.;:'.
~~) ':"
. . ..
. '.
. .... ... .
.-: .
......
..
'.
:'..'
.,:.
,.". ..,....
:.... .'.
.' '. ,
'
... :;i
1>1
. ..:.:... ' , .....
.: .......: ..
"'::::"
..:.:~::'~~:
. ........
::'
, '.~
.t.,
,{J':'.: .
;~~ :~ ~ j
.
\.:':................
.. :.:.... :
. . . ' . '. -: .'::..' I,
l':r
:
'~
.i<~.:.: '::.
"
'-
i II
! .
-1.- "1'
,
"
,~,
"y'
\',!.
'-, !' ... ~ -',
I
--- ":=:1
"-;':~~J
C0~
;..-~
;C7.=l
.{
.=:=";;,..
':::/~J
!~ I
i'::',)
;==:.'. \')
l~
'"
l..l.J
:--r=!
oo
';r:;l ~
. .
.':'., .' .~.<. .~...:~.:.: .: ~:'l:" '~ ..~..\.:.:.
~~.:
: '. ::'. ...
•...•. ...
..: ...•. ,...
: :.
): " .~:'
''-:' '.
-~-:~'
1 i~
'i ..,':,
" .
,. ;;.i,.
GO
[)
.
.~
\
I.;.
".
./
,>
'::?
i.
I
':."
~:- ..::;:--)
" 1
i,
i
n
.. ,
... ,,,.;:,
I,
j
I.
'
o'2
~
9C ;--1
t-:'J
o
tJ r'
Ai
_ t'::I
1Jj~
-I
5t
:
'-.I
:.
(, 'J
1......J
>
~-.D
.-c
I"':",
I')
~
" Ji
".. ..
'~'\
~
(l;J
1-'
\-..-:~
f=r_1
,~
r)
~"""""'"
i~'-:::::: l-:;"
~(D
.
I--=:=:-\
c:)-'
I~\
I-~
(1)
i;~
" bI
!~
LI.J
Middletown's Police Department and the Public Works
Department are located on municipally-owned land on New
Rodgers Road in southern Middletown. This parcel contains
a police building that consists of office space, a holding cell,
processing area and locker space. The parcel also contains
a Public Works Department building that consists of office
space, a municipal garage, a salt storage building, a materials. yard and fuel dispensing facilities for all Township
vehicles. The Township owns 16 public works vehicles and
9 pieces of off-road equipment, all currently located on this
property along with police cars.
Roadway Network
Middletown has 127.18 miles of Township-owned roads, 43
miles of state roads and 6 miles of interstate highways.
Middletown's road network should permit safe, efficient
movement of people and goods. This netWork should be accessible and convenient. Roads have various functions:
some are designed to expedite through traffic, while others
mainly provide access to local residential areas. Roads can
be classified by function according to the following categories:
Expressways: Roads that are limited access, high speed
connections to the interstate roadway network.
The Township is considering a public works substation,
which will include a salt storage building, on a portion of its
newly acquired northern Middletown property. Major access
routes between the current public works site and northern
Middletown are along state roads, over which the Township
has no jurisdiction. This is often a problem during snow and
other emergency situations, especially when state roads have
not been cleared to allow passage of smaller Township
equipment en route to residential developments. A public
works substation in northern Middletown would expedite the
provision of services to affected residents.
Arterials: Roads that provide a direct connection between
local population centers.
Collectors: Roads that collect traffic from local residential
areas and funnel it to arterials.
Local: Roads that provide direct access to residential areas.
This functional classification of roads has important implications. Rights-of-way should be wider and front yard setbacks
should be greater on roads that carry higher traffic volumes.
High volume roads should have more lanes and higher
speed limits than local secondary streets.
CIRCUlATION
Circulation refers to the movement of people through and
within an area. The Township's roadway network and
public transit routes in the community are the two primary
means to travel through and within Middletown Township.
42
The 1991 Middletown Recreation, Parks and Open Space
Plan concluded that while Middletown has sufficient regional
parks, community parks and neighborhood parks on a
Township-wide basis, central Middletown and northern
Middletown need more community parkland and more
neighborhood parkland. The plan also suggested the
Township should consider 1/4 to 1I2-acre "mini-parks" in
future residential developments.
Municipal Administration and Public Works
Middletown is a township of the second class governed by
a five-person board of supervisors. Supervisors are elected
at large for six-year terms.
The accompanying chart shows how Middletown Township
government is organized to carry out its municipal functions.
The Township has a planning commission, a park and
recreation board, a water and sewer adviSOry board and
various other boards and commissions that are appOinted by
the Middletown Board of Supervisors to advise the Board on
specific public policy matters. The Township retains three
engineers and a solicitor, as well as a Zoning Hearing Board
solicitor. The Township Manager administers day to day
operations. The Township employs 105 full-time, 40 parttime and 32 seasonal workers in seven municipal departments.
The 41-acre property that the Township acquired in 1993
from the Ukrainian Church will help address park needs in
northern Middletown. Recent athletic fields constructed at
Core Creek County Park will also benefit northern Middletown directly. The Township has diversified its recreation
programming to indude more non-athletic activities, in
accordance with a recommendation in the plan. The Township is continuing to examine the feasibility of an environmental education center at the Langhorne Spring Water
property, another important plan recommendation. Middletown will consider a full-time recreation director when
additional funds become available.
Middletown Township'S municipal building is on Trenton
Road in southern Middletown. Township meetings and an
active senior citizen program are held at this location. A
small playground is at the rear of the property. The
municipal building contains the following:
The Township is searching for resources to help implement
the bikeway trails recommended in its 1990 Bikeway
Systems Master Plan. This plan cans for Township-wide
bikeways to connect schools, parks, residential neighborhoods and other points of interest. The plan calls for
specific bikeway segments in various parts of the Township
that can be implemented over time as Township funds and
supplemental revenue sources become available.
•
•
•
•
•
•
41
Township Manager's Office
Community Services Office
Finance and Personnel Department
Utilities Department
Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Department
Licenses and Inspection Department
,' .;:;:-
.~- ..'\
~
~
~ ~~
j ~~
Bl
I~~
I
i
ill"
:1:
iJ,
f
/t;
~j
ffi
:;;;:
;::.
;:>
g
<
r-
:-~
:==~
1
~
:-~
,~
~1
~
,.........,
""G: if:!jj 1-1
:;;;:
J ((~
'<"' l=r:
[::::1..... ~
m
r-I
2'? g
,~ '~)
-< r:.- ·I
-!
~
:::
0
~)
l=l
~
[g1
,- :1 '--v
';j
w (r~\
\':::;;J
,j
,',
.::
~
I
,
~
<::
fD
"
.~
\ ~ '.
\
".
..~~ ~i '.
:~'"
':"I:,.
t/~
(F1
:::I
0
.-.
;l.'I
.-..
CI1
~;>
t /' ,
.1
(1)
c"
~
,
\
0..
ill
0
~
i:Il
(")
0
Jif
1/
0
-:
en
.....
(1)
(")
0
n
;:!
.....
I:fl
::l
~
!};l
L-
(C
;::
r'
en
CXI
c::
'",-]~
m
CI"J
r
Q;J
~
!};l
0
:=
ClQ
CO
;Al
~
-3
~
tTl
CI1
(")
0'"
!::
~
~
Ul
~
'""!
('D
P
-.
.-,
~
Ul
'<:
""~
rJ'J
("\)
""I
"t:l
rr:J
x
-
~
t:
-;:
!
'.,.
,~
Yo
~'\
:\\.~~>"
0
::l
c-:.
I:ll
(")
-~
en
en
Q;J
(j
0
::I
r:J
.-:-
(")
;::
"i1
'<:
~
0..
::.;I
;:0
0
.- '
©
~o
.~
~
t==:J
i=!
f?
p
I~
~o
~
r,...-...,
~ j
MUNICIPAL FINANCES
50% over the course of the Township's current five-year
contract with its private waste hauler. Taxes and service
charges combined to account for 81.5% of all General
Governmental revenues in 1991.Ucenses, Fees and Permits; Fines and Forfeits; Rents and Interest; Intergovernmental Revenues; and Miscellaneous Revenues provided the balance of General Governmental Revenues, as
shown on the accompanying table.
General Governmental Revenues and Expenditures
Middletown Township's General Governmental (General
Fund and Special Revenue Funds) revenues and expenditures for 1987 through 1991 are shown on the accompanying table. General Governmental revenues and expenditures have steadily grown over the 1987-1991 five-year·
period. The general fund is the principal fund of the
Township. It accounts for most financial transactions in
Middletown except those involving services funded from
specially targeted revenue sources such as street lights, fire
protection, highway aid, recreation, debt service and several
others. Each of the Township's special revenue funds is a
separate accounting entity.
Public Safety is the largest General Governmental expenditure· category, representing 47.8% of all General Governmental costs in 1991. Public Safety primarily accounts for
the costs of operating the Middletown Township Police
Department. Public Works - Sanitation is the second largest
General Governmental expenditure category; it represented
21.5% of all General Governmental expenses in 1991.
Public Works - Sanitation is the fastest growing General
Governmental expenditure in Middletown, as described
above. The Township nearly doubled its Public Works Sanitation expenditures between 1987 and 1991. The
General Government, Public Works - Highway and Other
categories together accounted for less than 31% of all
General Governmental expenditures in 1991. Each of these
categories except park and recreation accounted for a
smaller proportion of General Governmental expenditures in
1991 than it did in 1987.
Taxes accounted for 51.9% of General Governmental
revenues in 1991, the largest single source. Middletown's
21.51-mill real estate tax provides the largest share (51.8%
in 1991) of these tax revenues. Per capita, real estate
transfer, amusement, mercantile and mechanical devices
taxes also contribute to General Governmental revenues.
Service charges are the second largest source of Middletown's General Governmental revenues, accounting for
29.7% of these revenues in 1991. This is a significant
increase from 1987 when service charges accounted for only
12.7% of total Ge~eral Governmental revenues. Middletown's trash collection and disposal fee is the Township's
most significant service charge. The Township retains a
private waste hauler and directly passes the hauler's costs to
the Township's households. The costs of trash disposal have
escalated rapidly in recent years. These costs will increase
46
GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
1987
REVENUES
$
1988
%
$
$
%
1991
1990
1989
$
%
%
$
%
4,397,006
63.0
4,840,639
58.9
4,709,172
55.7
4,923,691
52.9
4,886,807
51.9
77,714
1.1
86,573
1.0
112,409
1.3
120,754
1.3
134,147
1.4
I
Fines & Forfeits
153,019
2.2
143,723
1.7
133,997
1.6
155,852
1.7
138,603
1.5
I
Rents & Interests
188,533
2.7
279,156
3.4
332,013
3.9
313,508
3.4
237,156
2.5
Intergovernmentzll Revenues
690,987
9.9
589,358
7.2
647,139
7.7
749,805
8.0
738,931
7.8
cru.rges for Services
886,679
12.7
1,672,680
20.4
2,008,137
23.7
2,588,686
27.8
2,793,097
29.7
Miscell.aneous Revenues
584,533
8.4
606,530
7.4
513,898
6.1
458,371
4.9
490,718
5.2
6,978,471
100.0
8,218,659
100.0
8,456,765
100.0
9,310,667
100.0
·9,419,459
100.0
732,292
10.7
922,408
10.4
977,918
10.5
934,606
9.8
836,769
8.7
Public Szdety
3,324,534
48.7
3,864,345
43.6
4,083,676
43.6
4,236,170
44.6
4,600,064
47.8
Public Works - Sanitation
1,050,946
15.4
1,650,045
18.6
1,940,726
20.7
2,119,217
22.3
2,063,266
21.5
Public Works - HighWAY
1,117,440
16.4
1,708,424
19.3
1,525,764
16.3
1,335,889
14.1
1,212,715
12.6
PArks & RecreAtion
221,914
3.2
309,862
3.5
341,601
3.7
369,523
3.9
429,237
4.5
Debt Service
148,001
2.2
141,289
1.6
184,244
2.0
186,297
2.0
180,940
1.9
Other
233,890
3.4
265,224
3.0
302,634
3.2
310,604
3.3
291,099
3.0
6,829,017
100.0
8,861,597
100.0
9,356,563
100.0
9,492,306
100.0
9,614,090
100.0
TZlXes
Ucenses, Fees, & Permits
Totzll Revenues
EXPENDITURES
Geneml Government
Totzll Expenditures
SOURCE: 1991 ComprehenSive Annual rmAncial Report, Middletown Township
47
Special Funds
Middletown uses a series of special funds in addition to the
General Fund, to carry out its wide-ranging municipal functions. These special funds include the following:
Road Machinery Fund
A small real estate tax levy helps Middletown purchase road
machinery and related equipment under this fund.
Fire Hydrant Fund
The Township is charged to maintain fire hydrants owned by
the Lower Bucks Joint Municipal Authority, Newtown
Artesian Water Company and Middletown Utilities
Department. A fire hydrant real estate tax provides required
revenues.
General Street Lighting Fund
A dedicated real estate tax and a special street light
assessment on lighted residential properties provide revenues
to this fund. Expenditures include the cost of electricity,
street light maintenance and selected pruning around street
lights.
Debt Service Fund
This fund pays for interest and principal on Township bond
issues and loans. Building improvements, a salt storage
structure, police vehicles and recreation land are recent or
planned expenditures for which Middletown has borrowed
money.
Fire Protection Fund
This special real estate tax funds a portion of the costs of
operating the fire marshal's office and four local fire
companies. The Township grants subsidies from this fund to
two additional fire companies and assorted fire prevention
activities.
Highway Aid Fund
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation provides
funds to Middletown from proceeds of the State gasoline tax.
The Township uses this money to resurface and reconstruct
roads.
Snow removal and traffic signal
operation/maintenance are also financed from this fund.
Park and Recreation Fund
A real estate tax and user fees underwrite the costs of maintaining and operating Township-owned recreation areas.
This fund includes the costs of all Township-sponsored
recreation programs and special events.
Ambulance and Rescue Fund
This fund helps support the Penndel-Middletown Rescue
Squad. A special real estate tax provides fund revenues.
Federal Community Development Block Grant
Program
A federal Department of Housing and Urban Development
grant administered by Bucks County assists in funding
48
selected public improvements in low and moderate income
areas within Middletown Township. Renovations at the
senior center, culvert replacement, road reconstruction, water
lines and sewer lines are typical of Middletown projects
funded under this program.
value of all real estate grew 19% in Middletown between
1984 and 1988. It increased only 5% between 1989 and
1993, and shrank between 1992 and 1993. This decline in
total assessed valuation caused the value of a tax mill to
decrease. Middletown Township's overall real estate tax rate
of 21.51 mills will generate $40,500 less in 1993 than it did
in 1992, according to Township Finance Department estimates. The follOWing table shows the 10-year trend in
Middletown's total assessed valuation between 1983 and
1993.
Other Special Funds - Several additional funds help Middletown Township plan and manage public works projects,
capital expenditures, open space conservation, municipal
pension plans and assorted other municipal activities.
TOTAL ASSESSED VALUATION
Municipal Taxes and Special Assessments
Middletown Township collects both real estate taxes and Act
511 taxes. Real estate taxes are paid by all property owners
and are based on the assessed value of real estate. Act 511
taxes (with some exceptions) are neither paid specifically by
property owners nor based on real estate assessments.
Middletown levies special assessments on households for
trash collection and street lights. Middletown Township's
municipal taxes and special assessments for the 1989-1993
five-year period are shown on the accompanying table.
Middletown has faced the rising costs of municipal governinent over the last 17 years without raising its General Fund
real estate tax. The Township's General Fund real estate tax
is 14 mills, the state limit that cannot be exceeded without
court approval. The last increase in the basic Township real
estate tax was in 1976.
YEAR
AMOUNT ($).
1984
89,987,350
1985
93,171,200
1986
98,434,910
1987
102,855,090
1988
107,255,430
1989
111,019,BOO
1990
114,381,650
1991
118,068,240
1992
118,483,380
1993
116,529,890
SOURCE: Press
Limits on the property tax and the recent decline in total
assessed valuation in Middletown place severe limits on the
Township's potential to generate revenue. The assessed
Rele~e
Middletown Township 1993 Budget
.. Excludes fmc exempt properties.
49
I
TAXES AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
REAL ESTATE TAXES (in mills)
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
General Fund
14.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
14.00
Highway Ughting Fund
0.98
0.~4
0.25
0.70
0.48
Fire Protection Fund
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
Park & Recreation Fund
2.77·
2.43
2.34
2.63
1.63
Ambulance & Rescue Fund
0.36
0.46
0.46
0.44
0.46
Road Machinery Fund
0.00
0.49
0.41
0.07
0.01
Fire Hydrant Fund
0.22
0.21
0.37
0.24
0.28
Debt Service Fund
0.50
0.78
0.68
0.43
1.65.
TOTALMIILS
21.83
21.51
21.51
21.51
21.51
Per Capita Tax
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$5.00
Real Estate Transfer
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
Mercantile Tax (wholesale)
1/2 mill
1/2 mill
1/2 mill
1/2 mill
1/2 mill
Mercantile Tax (retail)
3/4 mill
3/4 mill
3/4 mill
3/4 mill
3/4 mill
Amusement Tax
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Vending Machine Tax
$20.00
$20.00
$20.00
$20.00
$20.00
Mechanical Amusement Device Tax
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
. $100.00
Non-residential Building Permit Privilege Tax
-
$2/Sq. Ft.
$2/Sq. Ft.
$2/Sq. Ft.
$2/Sq. Ft.
Solid Waste Collection & Disposal (per household)
$113.53
$170.23
$189.17
$214.17
$236.46
Residential Street Ughting Assessment (per foot)
$0.40
$0.38
$0.44
$0.47
$0.43
ACf 511 TAXES
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
SOURCE: Middletown Township
NOTE:
Middletown property owners will pay 53.5 mills to Bucks County and 317.6 mills to the Neshaminy School District in addition to Township real estate
taxes in 1993.
50
Capital Budget/Capital Program
Middletown has an annual capital budget which is included
in the Township's annual operating budget. 1993 capital
expenditures are budgeted to purchase equipment, repair
buildings, rehabilitate utilities and fund similar improvements.
These expenditures will be funded from a variety of sources,
including the Township's Capital Reserve Fund.
Assets
• Strong population growth indicates that Middletown
is still one of Bucks County's most attractive residential
locations.
Middletown Township does not have a capital improvement
program that schedules the funding and implementation of
capital improvements over a period of years. Many
communities adopt and annually revise such multi-year,
capital spending plans. The Township's first multi-year
Capital Improvement Program has been prepared in
conjunction with this comprehensive plan update.
•
A wide range of housing types supplies ample choice
and opportunity to prospective Middletown homeowners
and renters.
•
Vigorous commercial activity in Middletown provides
jobs, commercial tax revenues, retail goods and services
and evidence of Middletown's ideal location for business.
•
Parks and other public open spaces are plentiful and
well-situated throughout Middletown Township.
•
Public water and sewer facilities in Middletown have
excess· capacity and are in good physical condition.
•
Public transit and the federal, state and local road
network in Middletown conveniently links the Township
to locations throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond.
•
Fiscal constraint and good management have
allowed Middletown to continue providing essential
municipal services without property tax increases.
SUMMARY OF ASSETS AND CONCERNS
Middletown's strengths and weaknesses are the basis for
preparing a plan to guide the area's future development-and
preservation. The plan should capitalize upon the area's
assets and identify ways to overcome or mitigate concerns.
This is a logical approach to planning for the future.
This summary of assets and concerns reflects the themes
most frequently cited by the Township Planning Commission, Township staff, community leaders and other residents
who participated in the citizen input initiatives undertaken
for this plan.
51
.....
.. ~
r;:.". . ..
"C.
::J>'
I
'
A PlAN FOR THE FUfURE
TI-lE VISION
Southampton and Northampton, and the boroughs of
Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Penndel and Hulmeville.
The purpose of comprehensive planning is to provide vision
for a community's future. The current land use pattern must
be the basis for this vision in a highly developed area like
Middletown Township. Middletown's overall pattern of land
use is largely set. However, mature communities face
challenges and opportunities that do not exist in rural or
semi:-rural areas still focused on managing the potential
effects of encroaching suburbanization.
Planning in Middletown Township also seeks to be consistent
with the policies of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning
Commission (DVRPC) and Bucks County Planning Commission (BCPC). The DVRPC year 2010 Regional Development
Strategy designates generalized developed areas, future
growth areas and open space areas in Middletown. These
designations are baSically consistent with the vision for the
future of the Township described in this comprehensive plan.
The 1993 Draft Bucks County Comprehensive Plan does not
propose future land use designations for Middletown Township. However, the BCPC plan contains growth management goals and preservation-oriented policies very similar to
those featured in this comprehensive plan.
Issues such as mass transit, resource preservation, traffic
management, and the high costs of public services command
attention in Middletown. This comprehensive plan reflects
these concerns. The plan's recommendations address a
range of topics in addition to the future of the Township's
remaining developable land. Together, these recommendations present a vision of how Middletown Township can best
capitalize on its assets and overcome its constraints
throughout the 1990's and beyond.
GOAlS - CHOOSING A DIRECflON
The goals identified below are the specific aims of this .
comprehensive plan. The subsequent sections on recommendations suggest ways to achieve these goals. Both goals
and recommendations are described in four parts:
MIDDLETOWN WITi-iIN TI-lE REGION
Middletown recognizes its future will be influenced by what
occurs outside Township boundaries. The Middletown
Township Comprehensive Plan considers existing and
planned land uses in the municipalities that border
Middletown Township.
Middletown recognizes the
importance of regional cooperation in development and
preservation decisions made by the eleven municipalities that
border the Township. These include the townships of
Newtown, Lower Makefield, Falls, Bristol, Bensalem, Lower
•
•
•
•
53
Land Use, Housing and Future Development
Resource Management
Community Facilities and Services
Circulation
A PIAN FOR TIlE Rm.JRE
•
Police, Fire and.Rescue: To continue supporting the
most cost-effective methods of providing full police,
fire and rescue services to Township residents.
•
Parks and Recreation: To expand and diversify
recreation lands, facilities and programs available to
Township residents.
•
Undeveloped Areas: To preserve open space to the
greatest extent possible through the Township.
Public Works: To ensure all areas of the Township
receive adequate road maintenance and other public
works services.
Resource Management Goals
•
. Natuml Features:
To preserve steep slopes,
floodplains, woodlands, wetlands and other sensitive
environmental resources.
Circulation Goals
•
Roads and Bridges: To work with PennDOT and
local developers to fund and implement highway and
bridge improvement priorities.
•
•
Land Use, Housing and Future Development Goals
•
•
•
Residential Development: To provide land for a
variety of housing types in suitable locations
throughout the Township.
Non-Residentlal Development: To ensure adequate
land is available for new commerce and industry to
enhance the tax base and provide more jobs.
Historic and Cultural Resources: To identify and help
preserve man-made landmarks that illustrate· the
Township's unique heritage.
Plan Interrelationships
The above-listed planning components and goals are inter. related. Planning and capital programming actions taken in
anyone of these areas are likely to interrelate with one or
more of the other planning components. For example, land
use decisions usually affect circulation patterns and
community services such as public water, public sewer and
recreational facilities, among others.
Community Facilities and Services Goals
•
Education: To ensure adequate school facilities are
available to meet growing enrollments and other
changing needs.
•
Public Transit: To work with SEPTA and others to
improve access to and from Middletown Township.
Public Water and Sewer: To expand and upgrade
the existing public water and sewer systems as needs
require and opportunities permit.
54
lAND USE, HOUSING AND FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT PlAN
Residential Areas
This comprehensive plan designates four types of areas for
residential development. These planning areas provide land
for a variety of housing types and densities.
Overview
This Land Use, Housing and Future Development Plan
·describes where different types and densities of residential
and non-residential development should be directed within
Middletown. The plan suggests the following functional roles
with regard to Middletown's various geographic sectors:
•
Northern Middletown should remain the Township's
lowest density residential area. Future development
of currently vacant parcels should employ density
bonuses and other techniques that provide incentives
to maximize open space preservation.
•
Planning in western Middletown should focus on
preserving the integrity and attractiveness of this
area's affordable single-family neighborhoods. Future
commercial development should be confined to the
West Uncoln Highway Corridor.
•
Central Middletown will continue to be a regional
business and trade center. Fuller development of
existing industrial lands and ongoing office· growth
should be encouraged to complement this area's
concentration of retail uses.
•
Levittown is the dominant feature of southern
Middletown. However, the Woodbourne Road and
New Rodgers Road corridors should continue to
provide multi-family housing and mixed use
development opportunities.
55
•
Ruml Residential: The Rural Residential planning
area is designed to preserve the low density
development pattern and semi-rural environment that
now exists in much of northern Middletown (see
accompanying Comprehensive Plan Map). This
planning area provides land for Single-family
detached homes. Minimum lot sizes of 1/2 acre
(22,500 square feet) to 1 acre (43,560 square feet),
as permitted under current zoning in the area, are
appropriate. The Rural Residential planning area
provides a transition between the LevittownLanghorne region of Middletown and central Bucks
County located just north of the Township. This
portion of Middletown contains the Township's
largest undeveloped, residentially zoned properties.
Guidelines are provided in a later section to help
ensure these parcels are developed in a manner
compatible with the overall planning objectives of the
Rural Residential planning area.
•
Suburban Residential: The Suburban Residential
planning area provides land for single-family
detached homes at densities somewhat higher than
those envisioned for the Rural Residential area.
Minimum lot sizes of 7,000 to 15,000 square feet, as
allowed under current zoning, are appropriate in this
area. Current zoning allows 12,000 square foot,
. cluster style lots instead of 15,000 square foot lots if
A PLAN FOR THE FUfURE
the developer agrees to set aside certain permanent
open space area. Another existing zoning provision
in this area of the Township requires a single family
residential development to remain in 75% open space
if 7,000 square foot lots are proposed. These
regulations help maintain natural amenities in
Middletown Township by providing incentives for
developers to set aside permanent open space.
•
mobile home parks are consistent with the objectives
of this comprehensive plan.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED
RESIDENTIAL PlANNING AREAS
Planning
Area
Multi-Family Residential: The Multi-Family planning
area is designed to accommodate a range of housing
types beyond single family homes, including twins,
townhouses, garden apartments, mid-rise units and
high-rise units. Existing zoning districts within this
planning area now pennit townhouses on lots as
small as 2,200 square feet, twin homes on 4,700
square foot lots and high-rise units at densities of up
to 30 dwelling units per acre. These ranges are
appropriate for a planning area of this type, provided
underlying zoning regulations continue to foster good
design and permitted uses are generally grouped by
housing type and allowable density.
•
Rum! Residentizd
56
Single-Family
Detached
Pennitted
Density
'At acre (22,500 S.F.)
to 1 acre (43,560 S.F.)
I
rninbnurnlots~es
I
Suburban Residentizd
Single-Farnlly
Detached
7,000 to 15,000 S.F.
rninbnurn lot s~es
Multi-Family
Twins, Townhouses,
Garden Apartments,
Mid-Rise Apartments, High-Rise
Apartments
- Twins and Townhouses: 2,0005,OOOS.F.
Mobile Home Park
Mobile Home Parks: Mobile home parks should be
directed towards that area of the Township where
they are permitted under .existing zoning. . This
includes land bordered by 1-95 and the old Reading
Railroad tracks in central Middletown and along
Zimmerman Lane in the southern part of the
Township, as shown on the accompanying
Comprehensive Plan Map. Current zoning regulations that require a minimum site of 25 acres and a
maximum density of 5.5 dwelling units per acre for
Pennitted
Housing
Type
Mobile Homes
rninbnurnlots~es
- Apartments: to 30
units per acre
5.5 homes per acre
~~
x~
~
,~
"~
( I)
F
~,
~
c'
5'
-,
v,
-/ '
I~ ~ . .~ii
0 '
(-,
~
0
t;
( ',
0
,""..
'D
r.f)
g
.9
5.
f';
'" ,
a
>-'j
0"
'":]
c
( )
_
v'
:::1
(7j
1- :
:-:-1
:1--<.1
'-,'
1":'-:
'7'
J
c'
_I 2
j
_
t~
",';.,
c'
~'1-'
~,
'i"
t=:!
x
o
",,'
J~--" ~'~~...... ,
§:
,~
~
~
!=!
::0-
~
~
0.
~
~.
.-',
l
'i:---I
\3,.I
~
\oj
~ -,
.=,
", -,
",.
f
rI
'/
.I
e:
g
~.
:;:
:X:'
,~
,
E-
7 '
-7I
i..}
~.
0-:;
<>
:=:
Q"'
0'
0'
G'
", '
I
.
UI,_ I
r~-I
;:.~ .
,-::::
p'
~ ,
~
( )
!;
G'
§~
B.:
g
~J
,,'
;~
t::
,..,
~
~J
8"
:.:;
tTl
:;:J
c'
;?
i v'
I 1:3
-' t!
z
=
=
~
r-c
..,.:
rJ1
B
.. ',
~
a
~
(j
A PLAN FOR THE FUruRE
help conserve open space and environmental
amenities by reducing the number of lots allowed on
the tract.
•
The required open space set aside applicable to this
tract (1,500 S.F. per dwelling unit) should be used to
help preserve open space along the Route 413
corridor.
•
The Township should urge future developers to incorporate the stately, tree-lined driveway on the
property into the design of any future residential
subdivision.
Future Development Considerations:
•
Industry is not appropriate for this site given the
nearby residential neighborhood and its limited
access to arterial roads. Residential development
would be the most desirable future use of this
property when its current business use is abandoned.
3. The Styers Troct
Current Land Use: Commercial orchard, farmstead, store.
•
This property should help provide a transition
between northern Middletown and the more densely
.developed southern half of the Township.
Residential use should prove more acceptable to the
neighbors than leaving the site in industrial zoning.
Physical characteristics will limit the number of homes
that can be accommodated on the property.
•
Middletown's current RA-3 zoning district permits
single-family detached homes on lots of 22,500
square feet. This would be an appropriate density
for any homes eventually built on this property.
Size and Location: 107 acres within the triangle created by
Langhorne-Yardley Road, Woodbourne Road and the railroad tracks in North Middletown.
Non-Residential Areas
This comprehensive plan provides three types of planning
areas for business development. These deSignations reflect
the Township's desire to expand local job opportuniti~s
without significantly increasing the amount of land in the
Township where commercial and industrial uses are now
permitted.
Environmental Features: Varying topography, including
steep slopes and ravine· area; woodlands; orchards;
wetlands.
Surrounding Land Use: Core Creek Park; Single-family
detached homes; Industrial development; Commercial
development.
•
Current Zoning: M-l Ught ManufactUring which permits
manufacturing uses on lots of 80,000 square feet.
60
Commercial: The commercial planning area is
designed to accommodate retail trade, services and
office development. It borders Business Route 1
throughout most of central and eastern Middletown.
A PIAN FOR THE FUTURE
This includes Sesame Place, Oxford Valley Mall and
the row of auto dealers located along Business Route
1 from Penndel Borough to Oxford Valley. Various
other existing shopping centers and office buildings
are also encompassed within this planning area. The
accompanying Comprehensive Plan Map shows some
small convenience commercial locations in other parts
of Middletown. However, it is recommended that
additional development of this nature be strictly
limited.
•
Middletown with some exceptions.
Significant
undeveloped land exists for industry within this
vicinity. Regional access, surrounding land uses, the
existing road system, and utilities in this area are all
well-suited for industrial development.
Guidelines for Business Area Planning
•
Encourage the development of well-planned business
uses in appropriate locations to provide jobs and tax
revenue. Business development generally provides
substantial tax revenue to the School District, while
not directly generating any additional school children.
Also, most light industrial uses require relatively few
Township services.
Mixed Use:
Areas along Woodbourne Road and
New Rodgers Road (and in selected other locations)
contain commerciaVoffice development adjacent to
medium density and high density townhouse and
apartment complexes.
These concentrations of
development are essentially mixed use areas and are
recognized as such in this comprehensive plan.
Residential or commerdaVoffice uses on any single
parcel within these larger multi-use areas should be
considered equally desirable, as these properties
change owners and/or uses in· the future. Building
layout, parking andlocational characteristics are
similar among most parcels within these multi-use
areas and equally suited for townhouses, apartments
and several forms of retail or office use.
•
light Industrial: The Light Industrial Planning Area
is for environmentally-safe manufacturing and such
nonmanufacturing activities as storage, distribution,
mining and quarry operations. Light industrial
planning areas are clustered in and around central
61
•
Direct new commercial uses into unified, well-planned
business centers and commercial subdivisions as
opposed to individual uses on small individual lots.
•
Provide for adequate "neighborhood" commercial
areas to conveniently selVe the needs of residents of
different areas of the Township and to allow
competition among stores.
•
Provide for commercial uses in locations that will
avoid conflicts with residences and that will allow for
carefully controlled traffic access to major arterial
.
roads.
•
Ensure that adequate design measures are used to
make businesses compatible with any adjacent
residences. These measures include landscaped earth
A PIAN FOR THE FUIURE
benns and buffer yards, careful direction of lighting
and adequate setbacks.
•
Control the intensity of the use of land by
appropriate maximum building and impervious
coverage percentages.
Note: Middletown Township may wish to consider
preparing an economic development plan in the
future. This plan would address ways to continue
attracting and retaining quality bUSinesses, as well as
encouraging educational and training opportunities to
help promote future economic growth.
•
Provide for adequate parking lot landscaping and
green space along roads ..
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
•
Continue to control signs to prevent traffic hazards,
protect property values and preserve natural beauty.
Ground signs surrounded by landscaping should be
encouraged.
•
Locate parking to the side or rear of buildings,
leaving landscaping between the building and the
road. This is important to protect sight distances and
for attractiveness.
•
Design parking lots so that traffic is steered into welldefined traffic lanes that avoid conflicts with
pedestrians, with traffic entering and exiting the site
and with drive-thru facilities.
•
•
Control the height, intensity and direction of lighting
to prevent glare onto roads and adjacent residences.
Overview
Middletown Township's living environment is comprised of
both natural and man-made resources. Natural resources
refer to steep slopes, flood-prone areas, woodlands and
other facets of the area's ecology. Man-made resources
consist of historic bUildings and other structures that are
remnants of Middletown's heritage and early culture. The
Natural Features section of this document (beginning on
page 16) describes the types and extent of both natural and
man-made resources that exist in the Township. Current
protection efforts are also noted. The sections that follow
include recommendations on conserving these amenities for
future generations to enjoy.
Preserving Sensitive Natural Features
Land varies greatly in the amount of development that it can
naturally support. Some land, such as flood-prone and very
steeply-sloped property, should remain in open space.
Other lands are physically suitable for moderate or intense
development.
Continue to ensure that business development
includes adequate improvements to abutting roads to
handle the additional traffic, and adequate driveway
design and sight distance.
62
Development in Middletown Township should only be
allowed in a manner that carefully respects the natural
features of the land. Environmentally sensitive lands should
be preserved in public or private open space to maintain
environmental balances. The following table provides
guidelines on how important natural features can be
protected.
Township. Under historic overlay zoning, there is no
historic district or architectural review board that
regulates stylistic changes. Historic overlay provisions
apply to a designated list of historic properties and
typically require that:
1. Developers identify potential impacts on historic
resources on site or nearby and propose ways to
mitigate these impacts.
Preserving Historic Resources
2. Demolition of historic resources is delayed to allow
for alternatives to demolition to be negotiated.
Middletown's history and cultural background are evident
throughout the Township. The community's National
Historic Register sites and other features of local historic
significance are described in the Historic and Cultural
Resources section of this comprehensive plan (see page 27).
Conserving these and other structures, sites and landscapes
that are visible reminders of Middletown's heritage is an
important goal of this comprehensive plan.
3. Adaptive reuses (not normally permitted) are
allowed in appropriate historic structures to sustain
the economic viability of the resource. For example,
historic overlay regulations may allow an old bam to
be converted to a gift shop or similar retail establishment.
The following recommendations are designed· to help
enhance historic preservation in Middletown Township.
•
The Middletown Historic Preservation Commission
recently updated and mapped historic resources in
Middletown Township.
The Township should
continue to assist in future updates and support
efforts to place additional properties on the National
Register of Historic Places.
•
Middletown Township should consider adopting
historic overlay zoning provisions. This technique is
well-suited to preserving scattered historic resources
that are not concentrated in a specific area of the
•
63
Middletown should encourage private conservation
easements to preserve historic properties. When a
landowner grants a conservation easement, he or she
donates the land development rights, typically to a
private non-profit organization. This tool is useful in
protecting historic resources, as well as
environmentally sensitive areas.
Incentives are
prOvided for the landowner because the value of the
easement is considered to be a charitable deduction
for federal income tax purposes, as long as it serves
a long term public benefit. Seminars should be held
by local historic groups to inform Township residents
and others about conservation easements.
A PIAN FOR THE FUTURE
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
GUIDELINES FOR PROreCflNG IMPORTANT NATURAL FEATURES
Type of
Natural Feature
Steep Slopes
Slopes of 8% have 8 feet of vertical
change for every 100 feet of horizontal
distance. Steep slopes are often wooded
and along creeks.
Strategies
for Protection
Potential Problems
If Not Protected
Description
•
Difficulty of maintainirig and snowplOWing steep roads.
• Higher costs of buildings.
High rate of septic system fallures.
Increased erosion and runoff.
Winter driving hazards from steep roads
and driveways.
Disturbance of scenic areas.
Increased costs to extend public water
and sewer lines.
•
•
..
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Use special precautions during building.
Site houses on the most suitable land,
whlle keeping steep slopes in open
space.
Keep natural vegetation intact.
Continue to enforce the Township regulations on slopes 8% or greater.
Require larger lot sizes in steep areas.
Groundwater
Groundwater is stored underground after
entering through the soll or seeping from
creeks. Both private wells and public
water systems are dependent upon
groundwater.
•
Polluted groundwater.
Dry wells.
•
•
•
•
•
Continue to control the percentage of
lots covered by buildings and paving.
Make sure remaining septic systems are
designed and operated properly.
Monitor underground storage tanks for
leaks.
Avoid polluted stormwater runoff.
Avoid high volumi·withdrawals of
groundwater.
Aoodplains
Areas that are prone to flooding. These
include not only the legally designated
floodplain, but also areas along drainage
channels.
•
•
Increased flooding in other areas.
Loss of potential public recreation area.
Threats to important wildlife and bird
habitats.
•
Continue to prohibit all structures
within the 100 year floodway (which is
the actual main flood channel) and
along the adjacent 100 year floodfringe.
Seek to preserve natural vegetation
immediately adjacent to creeks.
Seek to preserve more land along the
Neshaminy Creek and other local
streams.
•
•
•
•
_.
64
A PlAN FOR THE FUTURE
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
GUIDEUNES FOR PROrnCDNG IMPORTANT NATURAL FEATURES
Type of
Natural Feature
Wooded Areas
Description
Areas with numerous mature trees.
Strategies
for Protection
Potential Problems
If Not Protected
•
•
•
•
•
•
Loss of important bird and wildlife
habitats.
Loss of hunting areas.
Loss of air purification.
Increased erosion and runoff.
Loss of scenic resources.
Noise and incompatible development
may become more noticeable.
•
•
•
Continue to enforce restrictions on
cutting of trees during building.
Seek to preserve tree stands in public
or private open space.
Seek replanting of woods that must be
disturbed.
Shallow Depth to
Bedrock
Areas with shallow soils, with bedrock
close to the surface.
•
Expensive building.
•
Avoid building in these areas.
Creeks
There are four major streams within
Middletown Township: Core Creek,
Neshaminy Creek, Mill Creek and Queen
Ann Creek.
•
Loss of potential public recreation areas.
Threats to important bird, fish and
wildlife habitats.
•
Prevent soil erosion to avoid sedimentation of creeks.
Consider areas along creeks for public
greenways.
Prevent runoff from polluting creeks
with pesticides, grease and industrial
wastes.
Avoid runoff that is heated by parking
lots in the summer from harming
aquatic life.
Require buildings and paving to be setback from creek banks.
Control the peak rates of stormwater
runoff from development to avoid
increased flooding.
Continue to enforce the Township's
enhanced pretreatment standards.
enhanced stormwater regulations.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Natural Drainage
Channels
Channels that carry stormwater to creeks
during heavy storms.
•
•
Increased flooding.
Erosion of soil.
65
•
•
Preserve adequate width along
channels in open space .
Prevent erosion.
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
GUIDEUNES FOR PROIEcnNG IMPORTANf NAlURAL fEAlURES
Type of
Natural Feature
High Water Table
Solls
Potential Problems
If Not Protected
Description
Solls that have a shallow depth to the
seasonally high water table.
•
•
•
•
Hooded basements.
Disturbance of natural drainage and
groundwater recharge.
Poor foundation stability.
Failed on-lot septic systems.
66
Strategies
for Protection
•
•
•
•
wetland regulations.
Place on-lot septic systems and
buildings outside these areas.
Waterproof basements.
Carefully design all facilities.
A PLAN FOR THE RITURE
COMMUNI1Y FACIUTIES AND SERVICES PlAN
Recommended Community Facilities and Services Policies
Overview
Education
Middletown Township provides or helps to provide a variety
of community-oriented services to its residents. These
include:
Middletown Township contains 11 of the Neshaminy School
District's 15 schools. Enrollment has been increasing since
1985 and is projected to continue growing in the foreseeable
future. Middletown Township should continue to work with
the Neshaminy School District to plan for evolving school
facility needs according to the following principles:
•
•
•
•
•
public water and sewers;
fire, police and rescue;
parks -and recreation;
road maintenance; and
residential solid waste collection and disposal,
among others.
In addition, the Township oversees non-residential solid
waste disposal and recycling services performed by private
trash haulers.
Middletown also maintains interest in
Neshaminy School District decisions affecting educational
services to Township residents.
Aging facilities, a growing population and nsmg costs
challenge the Township's ability to deliver basic services
without increasing taxes and user fees. Middletown tries to
share costs and resources with neighboring municipalities
whenever possible. However, inter-municipal efforts are not
yet widespread in the Delaware Valley. Cost-effective management, incremental improvements and continued efforts to
foster more regional cooperation will be necessary in the
future to maintain the efficient delivery of community
services to which Middletown Township residents are
accustomed.
•
Schools should be located near the students they serve.
Elementary schools should be within walking distance if
possible. Middle schools, junior highs and senior highs
should be easily accessible by car and bus.
•
Schools should be located on adequately sized properties
away from commercial and industrial uses.
•
Future school construction and renovation should be
undertaken with the idea of making indoor and outdoor
facilities available for community use.
Public Water
The Newtown Artesian Water Company, Lower Bucks Joint
Municipal Authority and Middletown Township Utilities
Department together proVide public water to almost all
homes and businesses in Middletown. In addition, the
Middletown Township Utilities Department supplies water to
the boroughs of Hulmeville, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor
and PenndeL Middletown Township should adopt the
following policies with regard to public water supplies.
67
A PIAN FOR THE RJI1JRE
•
•
Continue to cooperate with all entities that provide public
water in Middletown Township and the local municipal
authorities that supply bulk water to the Township.
town should 'use, the excess capacity available in its
conveyance lines to:
Continue the current policy that allows residents to
petition the Township for the extension of public water
to their neighborhoods, with the full costs of such
projects to be borne by the new customers through
assessments.
•
Continue to expand the Township's role as a wholesaler
of water to nearby communities.
•
Continue the aggressive policy to equalize water rates in
the regulated and non-regulated customer service areas.
•
Continue to encourage water conservation measures for
residential and non-residential uses.
Public SeWer Seroice
The Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority and the
Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority provide wastewater treatment to most homes and businesses in Middletown. Small isolated areas, mostly located in northern and
western Middletown, are still served by on-site systems. The
Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority conveys
wastewater to its own treatment plant. The Bucks County
Water and Sewer AuthOrity transmits sewage from its service
area to a City of Philadelphia treatment plant. Middletown
maintains and operates pump stations and collector systems
in the central and northern areas of the Township. Middle-
•
Extend sewage facilities to currently unserved areas of
the Township, based upon the desires of affected
residents and public health considerations.
•
Continue the Township's policy of requiring that all
subdivisions with three or more units be connected to
public sewers and those with two units, where
economically feasible.
•
Continue the policy of requiring new customers to pay
the full cost of public sewer extension projects through
assessments.
•
Continue to encourage water conservation to reduce the
hydraulic load at wastewater treatment facilities thereby
reducing treatment costs and potential impacts to the
environment.
•
Continue to enforce the Township's sewage pretreatment
standards.
Fire and Rescue Seroice
The following fire companies provide fire protection to
Middletown Township:
•
•
•
•
68
Newtown Fire Association
Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company*
William Penn Fire Company*
Parkland Fire Company*
A PIAN FOR THE FmURE
•
•
Levittown Fire Company No. 2
Penndel Fire Company*
*Funded by Middletown Township.
The Middletown Township Emergency Services Advisory
Board allocates Township revenues from a dedicated 3-mill
tax to support the annual operating and capital needs of
four of the six fire companies that serve Middletown, as
noted above. In addition,. the Township provides small
annual grants to both the Newtown Fire Association and
Levittown Fire Company #2.
Implement plans for an emergency services substation at
the Township's 41-acre property in northern Middletown.
•
Seek ways to fund a larger share of the PenndelMiddletown Emergency Squad's annual costs.
•
Continue the distribution of state foreign fire insurance
tax funds to the four fire companies and emergency
services relief associations.
•
Find additional revenues to fund future apparatus needs
of the volunteer fire companies.
Work with the local fire companies to preserve the
volunteer system .
•
Determine the need and provide assistance in acquiring
personal protective clothing and equipment, as well as
protection from blood-borne pathogens, for all volunteer
emergency services personnel.
Police
The Middletown Township Police Department consists of 59
full-time personnel. Staffing levels are considered adequate
in view of decreased incidents requiring a police response
and decreased traffic accidents in recent years. Efforts to
study the feasibility of regional police services have not
captured the support of neighbOring municipalities. The
Township's future policy on police services should incorporate the following recommendations:
The Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad is the primary
provider of pre-hospital emergency care in Middletown
Township. The Township's Emergency Services Advisory
Board oversees Middletown's annual contribution to the
Squad which is funded by a dedicated O.S-mill tax. In the
coming years, Middletown Township should:
•
•
69
•
Continue to improve administration, organization and
efficiency within the Police Department in accordance
with suggestions contained in the 1990 management and
manpower study commissioned by the Middletown
Township Board of Supervisors.
•
Strive to generate. more local interest about regional
police protection. Involve the PA Department of
Community Affairs in re-introducing the topic among the
eleven municipalities that border Middletown Township.
•
Provide a safe and convenient indoor facility for firearms
training.
•
·
MIddletown
Townsh·Ip.Draf t
I
Bikeway System
~
~~
NEWfOWN BIKEWAY SYSTEM
WOODBOURNE ROAD
;
j
~
\
Ii
ww:u:::t 11 ~\I\UJJlll\jJiill""",,
-
Primary Bikeway
_
_
Optional Bikeway
II IIII II IIi
County or Other Bikeway
NESHAMINY JR.
~trRFNtON ROAD
~NESHAMlNY
CREEK COUNTY UNK B<RK
II_OXFORD VALLEY
~
COUNfYPARK
MIDDLETOWN
TOWNSHIP
BUCKS
COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
OAIGIHAl. .ASE M"'~ ",.E,...."EO !lY THE. 8UCKS COUNTY Pl. ... ffHIND COMMISSION
"-==--,,;;;;;;;;;!=
~
~J
URIAH ,",SEARCH ANO
.DEVELOPM'EHf CORPOflATJOH
~1IE1M.OUl.1'DfiS'I'_
"12).
SOURCE: J.G. Park Associates, Inc 1990
ZIMMERMAN LANE
A PlAN FOR mE FUfURE
- Establish a reserve or "rainy day" fund.
- Establish an emergency building maintenance fund.
- Prepare three-year projections of revenues and
expenditures as part of the annual budget process.
- Develop a long-term capital improvement program.
• Allocate additional operating funds for the annual road
resurfacing program and base maintenance decisions on
a sound pavement management program.
Mwddpal Finances
Middletown has provided municipal services without raising
its General Fund real estate tax since 1976. This tax rate is
now 14 mills, the state limit that cannot be exceeded without
court approval. Rising costs and stagnating real estate tax
revenues are straining the Township's ability to continue
providing efficient, cost effective municipal services. Middletown should pursue the following policies to preserve the
Township's sound financial condition.
•
CIRCUlATION PlAN
Overview
Roadway Network
Middletown has over 126 miles of Township-owned roads,
43 miles of State roads and 6 miles of interstate highways.
These roads are classified as Expressways, Arterials,
Collectors and Local roads, as described on page 35 and
shown on the accompanying Circulation Map. These classifications are designed to reinforce the concept that the
number of traffic lanes, speed limits, rights-of-way widths
and building setback distances should be greater on more
heavily travelled roads than on secondary streets.
Explore opportunities to establish regional structures to
deliver municipal services and perform administrative
functions, such as police protection, code enforcement,
personnel management and road maintenance.
• Establish objective standards and evaluate performance
in each Township department.
The Middletown Township Transportation. Capital Improvements Plan, as amended, describes current road improvement priorities. The Township has an impact fee schedule
according to which developers will help fund these road
improvements. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) lists additional Middletown Township
projects on the early phases of its 1990-2002 Twelve-Year
Highway and Bridge Improvement Program. The functional
roadway classification scheme and Transportation Capital
Improvements Plan are the basic guides for Middletown's
current and future policies related to its highway network.
• Implement the following major recommendations contained in the 1993 Township Finance Panel report,
Evaluation of Fiscal Condition and Financial Indicators:
Explore alternative ways to diversify the Township's
revenue structure and protect against short-run
fluctuation in anyone revenue source.
Review all user charges and fees each year to
ensure they remain related to the costs of municipal
services.
72
A PIAN FOR THE FUIURE
Public Transit
The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(SEPTA) provides a regional rail line (R-3) that traverses
Middletown and several bus routes that connect the
Township to Philadelphia and various locations in Lower
Bucks County. These public transit routes are shown on the
Circulation Map following page 37. SEPTA is studying the
feasibility of a new regional rail line that will link Chester and
Bucks Counties without being routed through Philadelphia
like all current rail lines.
tional traffic and demand for parking likely to be created by
a facility of this magnitude.
Middletown endorses the construction of the proposed Cross
County Metro rail line as an effective means of helping to
meet the growing need for intra-suburban commuting. The
Middletown Township Board of Supervisors and the Middletown Township Planning Commission intend to work closely
with SEPTA on both the intermodal hub and the Cross
County Metro projects. Middletown will also cooperate with
SEPTA and PennDOT on planning alternate highway and
transit routes during the upcoming reconstruction of Route
1-95 in Philadelphia and Bucks Counties.
SEPTA has proposed. an intermodal hub in Lower Bucks
County to link regional rail lines with local roads, Amtrack
lines and bus routes. Such a center could be a terminus on
the proposed Cross County Metro rail line. SEPTA is
considering a site on Woodbourne Road in Middletown
among other locations for this intermodal hub.
Road Improvements
The following page summarizes Middletown's road improvement priorities, as contained in the Township's Transportation Capital Improvement Plan, as amended and the first
four years of the PennDOT 1990-2002 Twelve-Year
Highway and Bridge Improvement Program.
Public Transit
Middletown Township supports the idea of an intermodal
transportation hub in the Lower Bucks County area.
However, the Township does not believe the proposed
Woodbourne Road site in Middletown is an appropriate
location for this transportation center because of the addi73
SUMMARY OFlRANSPORfAll0N CAPlTALJMPROVEMENTS PIAN
Middletown Township, 1991, as Amended
Road Segment/lntersectlon
Trenton Road at Durham
Road
East lincoln Highway at
New Rodgers Road
North Rowers Mill Road
Langhorne-Yardley Road at
Bridgeton Pike
Woodbourne Road at Ellis
Road
Woodbourne Road at Oxford
Valley Road
Big Oak Road
Woodbourne Road at East
lincoln Highway
East lincoln Highway at 1-95
southbound ramps
New Rodgers Road at Frosty
Hollow Road
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) 1990-2002
Twelve-Year Highway and Bridge Improvement Program contains the
following Middletown Township projects in its first four-year priority
phase:
ImprO\leJ1lent
Modify signal phasing and
widen road to provide an exclusive
southbound left-tum lane
Revise signal timing and
alter southbound approach lane
use
Provide 3-lane roadway section
Widen road to provide exclusive southbound and northbound
tum lanes
Widen roads to provide tum
lanes
Modify signal and widen road to
provide exclusive southbound right
turn lane and additional
westbound through lane
Reconstruction and drainage
improvements
Modify signal, revise timing;
widen to provide exclusive tum
lanes and additional through lanes
Revise signal timing
~evise
PROJECI'S ON PENNDOT 1992-20041WELVE-YEAR
PROGRAM - FIRST FOUR YEARS
Middletown Township
Road Segme.oI/Intersedion
Trenton Road at Durham Road
Woodbourne Road at Langhorne-Yardley Road
Bridgetown Pike over Nesharniny
Creek
Route 413 over Core Creek
Bridgetown Pike at Route 413
Woodbourne Station Park and Ride
PA 413 Widening from Old lincoln
Highway to Bath Road
PA 413, Business Route 1 and
South Rowers Mill Road
Woodbourne Road
Bridge improvements
Bridge improvements
Intersection improvements
Pave and expand parking
area by 100 spaces
Widening and intersection
improvements
Silver Lake Road Bridge over
Core Creek
Intersection improvements at
Business Route 1, at Trenton
Road & at Oxford Valley
Road; engineering and ROW
acquisition only
Bridge replacement;
engineering only
South Rowers Mill Road
restoration;
New Falls Road Bikeway
Safety improvements and
engineering only
Bikeway construction
signal timing
74
Improvement
Intersection improvements;
engineering and ROW
acquisition only
»
s:
»
::a
~
0
::a
"'C
Z
0
~
-
~
s:~
G')
0
:::0
""C
2
9
0
>
ACTION PROGRAM
NEXT STEPS
and 2) the text whjch sets forth the regulations that apply in
each district along with general information regarding
administration of the ordinance.
The goals and recommendations in this plan should be
frequently reviewed and updated as necessary. As part of
its continuing planning process, Middletown should
cooperate with Bucks County and with its neighboring
municipalities to ensure the Township's future planning has
a regional outlook not just a local perspective.
Middletown'should continue to monitor its zoning ordinance
to ensure it remains current in light of municipal planning
goals, prevailing development trends and state law.
Subdivision and Land Development Regulations
Middletown Township has a subdivision and land
development ordinance that includes regulations to control
the layout of streets; the planning of lots; and the provision
of utilities. The objectives of a subdivision and land
development ordinance are to:
ACTION PROGRAM
This comprehensive plan is valuable because it makes
recommendations on land use and natural resource
preservation, among other topics. This comprehensive plan
contains recommendations for gUiding future development
and for preserving the historic, natural and cultural resources
of the Township. But, it is not a legislative document.
There are three basic tools needed to help implement this
plan: 1) the zoning ordinance, 2) the subdivision and land
development ordinance, and 3) the capital improvement
program.
Zoning Regulations
Middletown Township last updated its zoning ordinance in
1992. The zoning ordinance is a legal tool to regulate the
use of land. Its regulations apply to: 1) the permitted use
of land, 2) the height and bulk of structures, 3) the
percentage of a lot that may be occupied by buildings and
other impervious surfaces, 4) yard setbacks and 5) the
density of development. The zoning ordinance has two
parts -- 1) the zoning map which delineates zoning districts,
•
coordinate street patterns;
•
assure adequate utilities and other improvements are
provided in a manner that will not pollute streams,
wells and/or soils;
•
reduce traffic congestion; and
•
provide sound design standards as a guide to
developers, the planning commission and other
municipal officials.
Middletown last amended its subdivision and land
development ordinance in 1993. The Township should
continue to periodically review its subdivision and land
development ordinance to bring it up to date as necessary.
75
ACTION PROGRAM
Capital Improvement Programming
Capital improvements relate to streets, stormwater systems,
water distribution, sewage treatment and other major public
facilities. These projects, which involve the expenditure of
funds beyond those needed for normal operations and maintenance, should be prioritized in the form of a capital
improvements program. The program should be prepared
by the Middletown Township Planning Commission and
adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors.
•
It facilitates proper allocation of community financial
resources.
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code also gives
the Planning Commission other responsibilities. At the
request of the Township Board of Supervisors, the Planning
Commissions may:
A capital improvements program has many benefits,
including the following, among others.
•
make recommendations to the governing body
concerning the adoption or amendment of an official
map;
•
prepare and present a zoning ordinance to the
governing body and make recommendations on
proposed amendments to it;
•
prepare, recommend and administer a municipality's
subdivision and land development ordinance;
It helps assure that projects are based on the
Township's ability to pay and on a schedule of priorities
determined in advance.
•
It promotes financial stability by scheduling projects at
proper intervals.
Role of the Planning Commission
The Middletown Township Planning Commissions must
assume the lead role in assuring that this comprehensive
plan is implemented and updated as needed. The Planning
Commission should periodically review the plan and
recommend any changes to reflect current conditions and
priorities.
Middletown Township prepared its first six-year capital
program in conjunction with updating this comprehensive
plan. This capital improvements program includes a capital
budget which identifies the highest priority projects
recommended for funding in the next annual Township
budget. The Middletown Township Planning Commission
should revise the capital improvements program and capital
budget every year as projects are completed, new needs
arise and priorities change.
•
•
It helps assure capital improvements are viewed
comprehensively.
76
ACTION PROGRAM
•
prepare and present a building code and housing code .
to the governing body;
•
prepare and present an environmental study to the
governing body;
•
submit a recommended capital improvements program
to the governing body;
•
promote public interest in, and understanding of, the
comprehensive plan and planning;
•
make recommendations to governmental, CIVIC and
private agencies and individuals as to the effectiveness
of the proposals of such agencies and individuals;
•
hold public hearings and meetings; and
•
in the performance of its functions, enter upon lands to
make examinations and land surveys with the consent
of the owners.
.
and the Planning Commission should keep one another
informed of important planning related matters in the
Township.
Role of the Governing Bodies
The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors must also
play a vital role in implementing this comprehensive plan.
The Supervisors have the final decision on any action that
requires an ordinance or expenditure of funds. The Board
of Supervisors should maintain a relationship of trust and
confidence with the Planning Commission. The Supervisors
77
0
0
~
:c
10(
:t
C/)
~
~
C/)
Z
m
.~
0
CJj
n
:=
0
~
0
>
0
0
."
<
"n
=
0
0
Z
0
....oJ
-
0
Z
-a
0
r-
<:
z
"Q
--
zE
C/)
:c
0
~
z
~
d
rn
."
rn
0
0
r-
:s:
m
(J)
~
:=
C/)
.
0
C/)
-~
rn
."
0
C/)
"n
0
c;:,
r~
~
-- a:J
a:J
;J>
0
a:J
n .a:J
CIJ
'='
nrrJ
:2!
rrJ
~
.~
(I)
(I)
-~
( ')
::0
o
~
-
."
o
:c
~
~
l'TJ
-~
OF
"~E
r"
I
!
RECE!VED
OF iHE MANAGER
!
INVENTORY
OF
,.,.' . ::.. -,
-. .. -.-......
~.
---...- .
SITES
PREPARED BY BARBARA A. RUSSELL
MIDDLETOWN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 28, 1992
REVISED JULY 11, 1993
A-l
"'f :,' ·~r~·.o:: ~:'
'.:":.. '..
::-.~:.::
TOWNSHIP
HISTORIC
~
I
'
MIDDLETOWN
,
DEC I 6 I::':~~
. :.:. ":. ,__ .~~~. - '\i
.'
I
~~.~
j
',
-~
...
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
Inventory of Historic Sites
22-004-004 Worth Farm (Sharon House) - George School, Route 413,
Newtown, Pa. 18940.
Circa 1804
#1 A. Ma in entrance with ex tens i ve pane ling, three window
transom with an ovoid fanl ight above and one sidel ight
B. Modified gambrel roof
C. Four tall thin chimneys, two each gable
D. Decorative denti I I molding around gables and pent
overhang
E. Pediment with date stone
F. Dormers 10/10 with fan I ights above
G. Spr i ng House
22-004-004 George SChool Barn - George School, Route 413,
Newtown, Pa. 18940 Largest exi sti ng stone barn wi th
#20riginal marker. Circa 1814 by J. Worth. Eliptical stone
walls leading up to barn floor are quite unusual.
22-004-004 Cottage House - George School, Route 413, Newtown, Pa.
Small one room, one story plastered stone cottage with one
#3 large chimney, hipped roof with a gable on each side, palladian
window one each side, fan I ight on front gable, front door solid
panel with sidelights and transom. One of four walls entirely of
a large walk-in fireplace.
22-004-004 Tate House - George School, Route 413, Newtown, Pa. 18940.
Modified gambrel roof, unique window in E gable 6/6 with fan
~4transom and keystone above.
Reference in GHOST IN BUCKS COUNTY
by Adi Kent Jeffrey. Spring House.
22-004-004 Friends Meeting - George School, Route 413, Newtown, Pa.
Circa 1812, moved 1973 from 12th Street, Philadelphia, and
#5 reconstructed at presen t I oca t i on in 19.74. "Twe If th Street
Meeting House" building constructed of brick, Charles Hoff of
Conshohocken, PA architect". Sl ides of the moving and reconstruction available.
22-004-007-2 Secrest House - Bernatowicz, Joseph M. and Rosenna,
1104 Langhorne Newtown Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
~6Circa 1792, built by the Watson family, referred to in the
Quaker Saga, frorit of house pointed cut stone and remainder
walls plastered, seven fireplaces, classical entrance with
transom-and sidelights.
22-004-023 Davis, John and Jean, 1343 Langhorne Newtown Rd.,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Small one room down and one room up
~-7structure with an entrance in the basement to two underground
vaults used during the underground RR, later a tollhouse for
Durham Road.
A-2
22-005-005 Werner House - Donald B. McCoy and James J. Auchinleck
(attorneys) T/A Clover Crest Assoc. 1701 Langhorne Newtown Rd.,
. #8Pa. 18940. A pretty Victorian structure, typical example of a
frame home of that period.
22-005-007 Stone Meadows Farm - Stone, Ezra C. and Sara E. Seegar,
Route 413, Box D, Newtown, Pa. 18940. Circa 1850, country manor,
#9 dayl ight basement creating four 'full stories, entrance is a
double paneled door with Federal style porch and transom.
Unique featUre is a large 1 1/2 story spring house with a cottage
size section, windows. chimney. Hand dug well, outhouse pointed
stone. large stone and frame barn.
22-005-012 Pahlman. Edward C Jr. and Mary. 1567 Ful ling Mill Rd.,
Langhorne. Pa. 19047. Large pointed fieldstone. JMB datestone
#10 on 1842 gabled end. (Buchman)
22-005-015-4 Deon, Pasquale. 1717 Ful ling Mill Rd., Langhorne, Pa.
house, pointed stone, with 1st floor windows 12/12 with a
stone arch support above them, unusual for Middletown, large
trees, barn.
#11 Main
22-009-132 Fowler, -Joseph, 1377 W. Maple 'Ave .• Langhorne. Pa.
19047, plastered stone. 2 1/2 stories, five bays wide. statley,
#12 in need of at ten t i on, 5.4 acres,. Owners address. 71 Lukens St.,
Trevose. Pa. 19047.
22-012-502-1 Kellet Place - Kemp. Charles & Catherine, 555 Fairhill
Rd., Langhorne. Pa. 19047. White frame house with L additions.
#13 eyebrow windows, moved from Old Lincoln Highway to its present
location.
22-013-144-1 Nicholas WaIn House - Piper. 'Arthur
1242 Brownsville Rd .• Langhorn~. Pa. 19047.
#14 1800 <1682 no longer existing) Large formal
original home of Middletown Friends Meeting,
National Registration.
H. an d Le tty R.,
Circa 1740. 1780,
pointed fieldstone,
application in for
22-013-145 Brogan, John J. Jr. and Brenda, 1228 Brownsville Rd.,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Restored barn converted into a res i dence,
#15 pointed stone.
22-013-173-025 Fisher House - Harmon. Dan L. & Mattmuller, Kyle A.,
947 Old Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
#16 Circa 1690, 1811 - 1812,1900. 1767 milestone to Philadelphia
(22 miles to Philadelphia)
'A. Large formal structure. windows 9/9, 9/6, 2nd floor.
B. Entrance. formal paneled door with transom.
C. Roof extending over a large columned portico.
D. Portico on N. gable with a large fan transom.
E. Large double French doors 2nd floor gable and under portico.
F. Large French doors' leading to a formal garden.
G. Plastered stone wall aroun9 garden and reflecting pool.
H. Center section, possibly oldest and bui It in 3 stages.
A-3
I.
J.
K.
Lt. addition with large pointed stone chimney with a window
in the center of the flu.
Large stone barn.
Grant from William Penn.
22-013-174 Vergis House - Moskat, George and Susan Orl in, 823 Old
Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa., 19047. Detai led doorway with
#17 transom, some unique detai Is, pointed stone, moderately large
frame additions.
22-013-303, 304, 319, 320 Maguire House - Phillippi, Todd & Patricia,
1325 Old Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1850 to
#18 1860, new and large section. Original one up one down, walk-in
fireplace, newer Federal period addition with ice cellar below
parlor.
22-015-001 Jobson House - Ousterman, E. Everett and L. Patricia,
#192149 Old Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Large, formal
. structure with fan transom side entrance, ovoid fanlight and
sidelights main entrance, ovoid classical scaloped columns,
unique dormers.
22-016-002 Orourke, Timothy, 1853 Old Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa.
Circa 1786. Sma 1 1 1 1/2 story, one room down, one room up,
#20 p lastered stone, 2nd floor nine panes, gabled end narrow 4/4.
22-016-006-001 Burnhetter Place - Shenefelt, Jeffrey V. & Katherine,
#211830 Old Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Original house
is a tiny one room 1 1/2 story stone structure. Frame addition.
22-016-017-1 Zacca Place - Reichert, Walter L. and Dolores,
21573 Highland Ave., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. A good example of the.
#2 affluence of a farmer with continued additions, Circa 1807, 1817,
1827, 1900's. 1807 section with cooking fireplace.
22-016-107 Comfort Manor - Garber, Gertrude K. EST,and Kreier,
#23George TR & ET, 1768 Highland Ave., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
Circa 1803. Originaly a double house with two entrances and
two enclosed stairways. A grant from William Penn, including
all of Parkland, later belonged to the RR as a farm with a water
station and tower for trains, spring in the basement, spring
house.
22-020-006 Buckman, J. Hibbs and Jane, 732 Highland Ave., Langhorne,
#24Pa. 19047. Circa 1858, French windows with paneled shutters
on the 1st floor, barn, spring house, wood shed.
22-020-042-3 Roach, Robert A. and Carol A., 1009 Hulmeville Rd.,
#25Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1830, paneled door with sidelights
and transom.
22-021-007 Middletown Friends Meeting - West Maple Ave., Langhorne.
#26Circa 1793. Presently at the National Registration status.
A-4
22-021-007 Middletown Friends Meeting Cemetery - West Maple Ave.,
#27Langhorne, Pa.
22-021-015 Twin Ash Farm (Morrow Place) - Nagele, Janice, 1647 Fite
#28Terrace, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Large pointed stone house with
a frame barn.
22-021-016 Godfrey Kirk House (Boone Place) - County of Bucks,
Administration Building, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.
# 29 Loca t lon - 901 Langhorne Newtown Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
Plastered stone with frame additions (handy man special)
Presently all windows and doors are boarded and the structure
is not being mantained. Barn collapsed, stone foundation
remaining. Small, white framed tenant house presently sented.
22-021-019 Trainor House - Park House, County of Bucks, Administration Building, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. Location - Core Creek
#30 Park, main entrance off Bridgetown Pike. Architecture is
unique, palladin window, large frame addition, long 2nd story
porches, windows 12112, 9/9, 8/8, several large multi flu brick
chimneys.
22-021-021 Mill House - Edzrodt, Michael T. Sr. and Mary,
760 Langhorne Newtown Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1861.
#31 Large 2 1/2 story pointed fieldstone Mill House, five bays wide
with fan transome main entrance, later additions. The original
pointed fieldstone mi II is sti II standing.
22-021-025 Tannery - Coon, Kathleen M., 765 Langhorne Newtown Rd.,
#32Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1780. Pointed fieldstone, 2 1/2
story. used as a tannery when Bridgetown was a village.
Location - corner of Bridgetown and Langhorne Newtown Rds.
22-021-026 Edgemont - Reither, John J. Jr.and Eileen, 212 Bridgetown
#33P ike. Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Large for-rna I plastered stone,
Federal period, a Charles Jenks House.
Circa 1824. Listed
on the National Registry of Historic Places.
22-021-027 LoBue Place - Toomes, Harriet, attn: Ruth Ethel Toomes
#34LoBue, 734 Langhorne Newtown Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
Circa 1825. Smal I frame with extended frame addition. Some
alterations with a Victorian flare.
22-021-031 Bennett, Alan and Fern W., 353 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne,
#3SPa. 19047. Circa 1740. Original one room up and one down,
large formal multi room addition, plastered stone. Building on
the property with a steeple looks 1 ike an old schoolhouse
(1809-18130, stone foundation of a former barn (1813), and the
remains of a tal I. narrow, 3 wall stone structure at the corner
of the barn, possibly used as a shop (1823).
22-021-032-1 Cow Barn - Young, Hergert J. Jr. and Hi Ida, 354B Bridge#36town Pike, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Barn converted to a house in
the later 1920/,s, a "dayl ight cellar".
A-S
22-021-041
Zimmerman, Earl and Dolores, 686 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
Pa. 19047. Circa 1815. Smal I plasterea sane with
frame addition. Red tin roof, molding simple.' Built very close
to the road.
~37Langhorne,
22-021-042-3
Eckert, Abe and Hope D., 529 E. Winchester Ave.,
Pa. 19047. A large formal Bucks County pointed stone
manor house, windows 9/9, formal entrance with glass sunburst
transom, pi lasters, and narrow ornate sidel ights. Outbuildings.
Circa 1812. Part of the underground RR.
~38Langhorne,
22-021-043
~39(North
Korman, Hyman Co., Langhorne-Newtown Rd., Langhorne, Pa.
side of Twin Tunnels), 2 1/2 story Victorian Frame.
22-021-044 Mahon Place - Myers, Susan M. and McCI inton, William H. Jr
~40940 Langhorne Yardley Rd., Langhorne, Pa.
19047. Pointed stone
sma I I structure with frame additions. Decorative bric-brac
around the cornice, and unusual oval window in the Lt. gable.
Circa 1784.
22-021-045-1 Alvey House - Engels, Beatrix, 945 Langhorne Yardley
~41 Rd., Langhorne, Pa.
19047. Wh i te frame, 2 1/2 stor i es, a I tered
windows, Victorian vintage. Newer 2 story frame garage or
guest house.
22-021-046-1 Schaeffer, Le0is and Janice, 975 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
#42Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Ma inhouse has an except i ona I I y squashed
narrow depth, 1 1/2 story red frame structure with small L addition. Smal I frame barn.
22-021-049 Home Farm - Attleboro Mansion - Attleboro Assoc. Ltd.,
~43290 E. Winchester Ave., Langhorne, Pa.
19047. Circa 1680.
,
Large formal 2 1/2 story 3 bays by 2 bays deep plastered stone,
with 2 1/2 story 3 bays wide L addition. Classical porches added
later. Completely intact with few alt~rations. Renovated.
22-021-055
Beechwood - Woods Schools, 469 E~ Maple Ave., Langhorne,
19047. Circa 1854 (J~hn Ely). Former home of Senator
Clarence Buckman. Large five bays wide, two bays deep, windows
1st floor floor to ceiling fan shaped dormers, post and lentil
construction, decorative molding, porch across front and both
sides, carriage steps. Pointed fieldstone. red tin roof, main
entrance transom and side-l ights, 2 story plastered stone and
1 story frame L addition. Large circular stone spring house,
outbuildings. Restored. Registered on the National Registry of
Historic Places.
#44Pa.
22-021-062 (Zachmann) - Oppenheimer, David and Lynne, 685 'Langhorne
#4S,Yardle y Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Large 2 1/2 story pointed
stone house, central large stone chimney after an extension of
the original stone structure, a unique feature in Bucks County.
22-021-063 Buehl, Ernie - Wood Lane, Langhorne, Pa. 2 1/2 story,
#461st story stone and 2nd story frame, additions, pent roof.
A-6
Wi Idman House - Arena. Kathleen R., 365 N. Flowers Mi I I
#47'O"d .• Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1687. Original blueprints
~687 and 1747.
Original structure, entrance offers most unusual
features such as a large hand carved sunburst transom with sidelights, large foyer with fireplace. Large 2 1/2 story pointed
stone structure, large glassed solarium with fireplace. attached
smoke house, corn crib may be oldest in Bucks County, tunnels
from basement in underground RR
22-02:-076
22-021-084 Ridgewood - Woods Schools, Langhorne, Pa.
19047. The
#48coach house original to Harewood <demolished in 1981>, renovated
and used as a residential and security building. Large white
frame structure. May no longer be standing.
Widenmeyer, John C. VMD, S. Flowers Mill Rd., Langhorne,
Ci rca 1808. Large 2 1/2 story 5 bay wi de and 2 bay
deep plain Quaker farmhouse with quarried stone and quoins, large
2 1/2 story pointed stone addition. Barns, outbuildings.
22-021-086
#49Pa.
19047.
Mesveskas, Thelma, Fotheringham Court. W. Maple Ave .•
#50Langhorne, Pa. Large 2 1/2 story stone house, recently
modernized with plastic or aluminim siding, owners address is
Southampton, Pa.
22-023-008
Messinger. Robert L. and Nancy. 664 Old Lincoln Highway,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1735. A typical sma 1 I Bucks County
#51 stone farmhouse, referred to as a "ghost house".
22-023-028-1
Tea House - Regan, John J. and Ei leen M., 624 W. RichardAve., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Ci rca 1832. A cot tage look
with unique long sloping tall brick chimney, unique and unusual
windows, possibly a much earlier house. Used as a rest stop for
passengers on the stagecoach while the horses were changed
further down the road. Later used as a kindergarten by Mrs.
Mitten. Hidden room in the attic used,as part of the under-.
ground RR.
22-023-043
#52 son
Bridge, John R. and·Florence, 257 Hulmelvil Ie Rd.,
Pa. 19047. Horses changed for the stagecoach
while the passengers rested at the "Tea House".
22-026-009
#53 Langhorne,
22-026-019
Keene, Robert E. and Sharon K., 373 Hulmevil Ie Rd.,
Pa. 19047.
#54 Langhorne,
Hammock Vi lla - Sommer, Anna (McLaughl in), 1780 Langhorne
#55Yardley Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Formal plastered stone five
bays wide with a large double door entrance and transom, reference in the Quaker Saga as the "Hannock VoIla" as a summer
retreat for Philadelphians. Upon arrival at the Woodbourne RR
station they were taken by horse and buggy to the villa. The
Wildrnans and Watsons bui It the first octagon schoolhouse on this
property. Present owner calls their home "Maple Point".
22-031-005
22-03:-006 Mil er House - Matthew Place - County of Bucks, Adminis#56tration Bu lding, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. Location - Tollgate Rd
at second entrance of Core Creek Park, Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
Circa 1745. The mi I ler for the ful ling mi I I where Lake Luxenberg now exists. A small pOinted stone structure with quoins.
22-031-007 Penn Oak Tree - Core Creek Park, County of Bucks, Adminis#57tratlon Bui Iding, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. Location - adjacent to
the MIller House, Tollgate Rd., can be seen across the lake on
the Woodbourne Bridge. Fel I 1990.
22-031-012 Walton, Richard, Jimenz, Kathleen W. et al trust, Box 302
#5SRD#5, EI lis Road, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Typical Bucks County
pointed stone, 2 1/2 story, farmhouse built by the Jenks fami Iy.
Later 1 story frame addition.
Camel Back Bridge - County bridge, County of Bucks,
#59Administration BuIlding, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. LocationSilver Lake Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1875. High two
arch, one lane, quarried stone bridge.
22-031-014/015
22-031-015 Village Farm - Today Inc., 295 Woodbourne at El I is Rd.,
#6oLanghorne, Pa. 19047. Owner County of Bucks, Administration
BuIlding, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. Built 1776 by Joseph Jenks.
One large manor house, nine bays wide, two bays deep paneled
entrance, glass enclosure extending over the driveway, carriage
shed, tenant house(Amos Carson 1851 date stone, three barns,
smoke house. Presently used as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
22-031-016 Core Creek Farmhouse, Banks Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
#61owner - County of Bucks, Administration Building, Doylestown,
Pa. 18901. Small frame structure built around the 1860's,
outbuildings.
22-031-020 Naylor, Charles F. and Phyllis, Silver Lake and Swift Rd,
#62Box 291, RD #3, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. 'Circa 1757. Paneled door
with fan transom, fan light Rt. gable, dormers moon shaped, addition with three stories on front and 2 1/2 stories on back, seven
fireplaces, dutch oven, stone smoke house and outhouse, barn.
22-031 027 Milnor House - Fleming, David amd Beverly,
#63Box 286, RD #1, Vi Ilage Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1700.
Large square plastered stone farmhouse with one exceptionally
wide plastered chimney (4 flues) at Lt. gable, date of 1700 is
cut into the chimney of the fireplace in the original kitchen.
Some alterations, frame addition used as an apartment. Large
frame barn and frame carriage house demolished by fire 9/17/92.
One steer barn.
22-031-028-1 Subers Family Homestead - Elias, Elmer J. Jr. and Mary,
~642710 Village Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
Large country farmhouse
.
with walk-in fireplace dated and initialed beam, large foyer,
paneling below chair-railing in parlor, smokehouse. Possibly
A-8
the "Great Highway" to Philadelphia passed in front of this
structure. Pointed stone 2 1/2 story with stone/frame addition.
22-031-029-3 Bergen, Donald C. and Debra, 289 Si lver Lake Road. RD #1
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Original structure a log cabin, early
#6s 1800's addition formal pointed stone 2 1/2 story, 3 bay wide
and 2 bay deep, formal paneled entrance with fan transom.
22-031-030
Maple Point School - Zettick, Harry and Tatiana,
Langhorne Yard ley Rd., Pa. 19047. The second schoo I house
built at Wildman's Corner, now Maple Point. Circa 1840.
Provided education for the area including the Wildman, Watson,
and Jenks families. Presently used as a residence.
#662020
22-031-33 Fulmer House - Core Creek Park, County of Bucks, Adminis#67tration Building, Doylestown, Pa. 18901. Location - 295 A
Woodbourne Rd .• Pa. overlooking Lake Luxembourg. Beautiful,
large pointed stone, 5 bays wide, 2 bays deep manor, double brick
chimneys at each gable, formal paneled entrance with fan transom.
Was built by the Jenks family and is possibly "Jenks Hall".
Senator Thomas Jenks, Jr. House datestone (1781 T. J. Jr.)
Circa 1764 and 1840.
22-031-036 Moon.Nursery - Langhorne Yardley, Langhorne, Pa. 19047.
#68Owners - Middletown Township, Trenton Rd., Levittown, Pa. 19056.
Building destroyed by fire January 1992 (Full three story house
with a crescent shaped roof, underground vegetable cellar in
front yard. Circa 1750's) stone walls of structure leveled
May 1992. Outbuildings of some historic value and old barn
remain.
22-031-037 Old Yardley Hotel - (Freeman) - Snipes Nursery. 2880 Lang#69horne Yardley Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Owners -.Snipes,
Bradshaw, and Ingeborgl, U.S. Rt. 1, Morrisvi I Ie. Pa. 19067.
Large square frame house, built by the Watsons, square
dumbwaiter, windows altered, newer barn used for nursery
business. Reference in the Quaker Saga ..
22-031-041-1 Wall, John C. and Patricia, 1257 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
#70 Langhorne, Pa. 19047. A un i que, sma 11 red framed house, ti n
roof, low ceil ings on first floor with low, small, narrow stairc~se.
Windows altered, 3 bay wide and 1 bay deep, fireplace.
L small frame addition earlier, then larger 1 1/2 frame addition
added later creating a square building.
22-031-042 Price, Stanford, Langhorne Yardley Rd., Langhorne, Pa
#71 (adjacent to Styers orchards. Owner - 111 E. Richardson Ave.,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Nondescript small plastered stone and
frame structure with Victorian windows. No maintenance evident.
22-031-051 Styer, Walter, 250 Woodbourne Rd., RD #1 Langhorne, Pa.
#72Location - Behind the Styer Store. Circa 1875. Large 2 1/2
story frame, brick lined covered with Weather boarding. Second
house built on this foundation.
A-9
22-031-054 Lechl ieter Farm - Day, Daniel, 2017 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Owner - Daniel W. Day, 2801 E. Linc~!n
Highway, Langhorne. An unaltered 2 1/2 story frame 5 bays ~!de
and 1 bay deep with 2 1/2 story L addition. Two plastered
chimneys, windows 212,· framed outbuildings and small barn in
need of repair~ Property has quickly deteriorated since present
owner took possession.
~73
Chalmer, Alex and Mary, 2423 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
Pa. 19047. Sma II frame struc ture, cape cod or sa I tbox design with extensive alterations.
22~031-055
~7
4 Langhorne,
22-031-055-1
Anders, Reuben and Margaret, 2385 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
Pa. 19047. A typical large, weI I buJ It farmhouse of
the 1850's of pointed stone with stone addition, large frarr.e barn
with new additions.
~75LanghOrne,
22-031-059
Russell, James D. and Barbara A., 2651 Langhorne Yardley
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1758. Afl .. original tollhouse
. with a cash drawer built into the window of the "hall" or old
kitchen. Large working walk-in fireplace, fine paneling and
woodwork throughout the house. Plastered fieldstone 2 1/2 story
with 1 1/2 story frame addition. Barn dismantled in 1940's.
One tool shed, one wood shed, and a carriage house built in 1988.
#76 Road,
22-031-062-1 Kogut, Matthew and Valerie, 2811 Langhorne Yardley Rd.,
#77 Langhorne, Pa. 19047. A typical Bucks County farm. The house
is constructed of both stone and brick with a 2 story ~rame
addition. Small frame barn.
22-031-063 Guzikowski, Joseph and Adele, 8 Polo Rd. Langhorne, Pa.
#78Location - Laurel dev off Langhorne Yardley Rd. A large white
frame house built for a new bride, formal farm house. The only
structure in Middletown with brick and clay fi I led walls.
Eyebrow windows.
22-031-064 Guzikowski, Edward, 4 Polo Rd., ~anghorne, Pa. 1904 7 .
typical small frame farmhouse with frame addition, some alterations and modernization. Not maintained by owner.
#79A
22-031-073
Lawn Barn - 240 Woodbourne Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 1904~.
- Halkias, Nicholas P. and Marilyn C., 434 E. Holland Rd,
Langhorne, Pa 19047. Large frame barn converted into a la~n
service sales and repair shop.
~80Owner
22-031-076 Lentine, Michael L. and Lois B., 243 Woodbourne Rd.,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1890. Old Woodbourne RR stat:on,
#81 mortise and tenon construction, moved in 1952 from the tracks
to its present location. Presently used as a residence.
22-031-078
Ejdys, Henry and Mi ldred, 1010 Woodbourne Rd., Langhorne,
19047. Small pointed stone house with small addition.
"Gingerbread" in design.
#82Pa.
A:-I0
Wiley, Owen L. and Bertha R., 1010 Woodbourne Rd.,
#83Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Sma I I plastered stone 2 1/2 story, 3 bay
wide and 1 bay deep, with victorian windows.
22-031-088
Miquelez Farm - Neshaminy Point Inc., 314 Neshaminy
4street, Pennde I, Pa. 19047. Large stone 2 1/2 story. Basement
#8 at ground level in back with windows 6/6, an entrance with
transom, bake oven, sma I I stone barn, carriage house, spring
house. All outbuildings demol ished by developer. Early dormers
removed by the developer and replaced with an asphalt roof and
aluminium trim.
22-033-006-1
22-036-001 Spring Valley Farm - Evans, George W. and Elizabeth,
#85Walnut and Bristol Rd., Hulmevi lIe, Pa. 19047.
Circa 1706 11 o'clock house, stone used from quarry in back,
unusual spring house with red door with tulip hinges, barn
mortise and tenon with pegs construction, sycamore tree
pre 1700.
Dunckley, Al I~n and Catherine, 815 Cypress Ave., Langhorne
#86Pa. 19047, circa 1730, 2 1/2 story plastered stone with gabled
end framed, lean to 1 story framed one car garage & enclosed
porch halfway across the front, framed above the porch, all new
windows and doors, roof cedar shingled with 2 dormers, original
a["ces 2200.
22-036-293
Crawford, Edwa["d and Cathe["ine, 3900 Du["ham Rd., B["istol,
#87Pa. 19007.· Abandoned and dete[" i o["at i ng, vine cove["ed stone
wal Is remaining. Mai ling add["ess, PO Box 153, Croydon, Pa. 19020.
22-037-041
Labo["de, Steven C. and Albe["ta M., 715 Main St["eet,
Pa. 19047. Possibly Ci["ca 1'680-1690. Small 2 1/2
,sto["y plaste["ed stone, ve["y na["["ow windows 6/6, sma! I one room
basement with fireplace and one room up .with fi["eplace and tiny
attic. Cement block addition in ["ea[" ..
22-038-006
#88 Hulmevi lIe,
Basa["a Farm - Rue/Bispham
#89Rd, Langhorne, Pa.
22-039-013
Cemete~y,
Du["ham Meadows, Du["ham
Winde[", Ha["old Z. and Ma["garet, 2100 Durham Rd.,
Langho["ne, Pa., 19047. Stone house wi th frame ba["n.
?2-039-014
#90
Old Flowers Mi I I on S. Flowers Mi I I Rd., Langhorne, Pa.
#910wne[" - MIddletown Township, 2140 T["enton Rd., Levittown, Pa.
Vine cove["ed standing stone walls.
22-040-007
22-040-008-1 Brickman Industries, 375 S. Flowers Mi II Rd., Langhorne,
#92Pa. 19047. Plastered stone 2 1/2 story wi th plastered stone
additions, windows 6/6, bake oven in the basement, interio["
altered by p["esent owne[" and being used for office space.
Owner - B["ickman, Theodore W. and Robert 0. c/o Brickman Leasing
Long Grove Rd., Long G["ove, II. 60047.
A-ll
22-040-008-6
Beim Investment Stone, Morrisey, James D. Inc. Old
~93Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Pa.,
(owner address, 9119 Frankford
Ave., Phi ladephia, Pa. 19114), sma I I plain 2 1/2 story white
frame structure, facing rai Iroad tracks, original site of the
Glen Lakes Railroad Station presently located in Newtown, Pa.
22-040-015
Pickering Estate - Woodbourne Rd., RD #1, Langhorne, Pa.
to I 95 overpass. Owner - Salek and Beim Investments,
Box 426, Morristown, N.J., 07960. Former owner - Daniel B.
Louis Retirement Center, Century Plaza, Lansdale, Pa. Some refer
to this structure as the "Will iam Paxson House". Circa 1753.
Long, narrow pointed fieldstone with a formal small later addition with cut stone on gabled end, carriage shed (demol ished),
large frame barn (demolished), and large trees. Structure
vandal ized and torched, roof col lapsed, frame additions also
burned and collapsing. Cut stone from the Edgehill Quarry.
~94Adjacent
22-040-040 Edgehill School - Ren Gar Ridge, 1939 E. Lincoln Highway,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Circa 1894. One of the last one room
school houses built in the area. Constructed of pointed stone,
large 9/9 windows 3 on each side, entrance on each gable ends,
smal I palladian window over front entrance. Presently used as a
used car lot, al I large trees removed and lawn covered with
blacktop.
~95
22-041-001
Casmirri/s Restaurant - Anthony Casmirri, 1033 Bellevue
Langhorne, Pa. Large frame structure, mansard roof with
many alterations, circa 1886.
~96Ave.,
22-044-061-3
Galgano, Edward, 1802 First Street, Langhorne Gardens,
Pa. 19047. Large pointed stone, 2 1/2 story, windows
9/6 1st floor and 6/6 2nd floor, 6 bays long, 2 front entrances,
large stone chimneys gable ends, frame additions.
~97LanghOrne,
22-048-013
Arda Corporation - Buch, Gary and Gesmonda, Renate and
Ridgely Trading as Rengaridge, 210 Woodbourne Rd.,
Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Smal I 2 1/2 story- plastered stone with
L one story frame addition~ Used for offices. Adjacent to
McCafferty Car Dealer.
~98Ryman,
22-049-002 Herson, Lawrence and Glena, 1124 Trenton Rd., Langhorne,
Pa.. 19047. Large, forma 1 plastered stone wIth unusua I roof
deslgn.
~99
22-049-015
Celotto, James A., 970 Durham Rd., Penndel, Pa. 19047.
of Trenton and Durham Roads. Stagecoach stop to Trenton
from PhIladelphia. Shown on the Dav.is Centennial Map as Hotel
Hellings, 2 1/2 story plastered stone with 2 story frame addition
and 1 smal I plastered chimney. attn. MatIlda Celotto, 2638
Summit Ave., Broomall, Pa. 19008.
~100Corner
A-12
Yeager, Eugene T., 1508 Trenton Rd. Penndel, Pa. 19047.
Cor-ner of Trenton and Dur-ham Roads. Small 2 1/2 story pointed
#lOl fieldstone, 3 bays wide with 1 1/2 story pointed stone additior.,
3 stone chimineys on gable ends.
22-049-020
Riggs House - Prettymar., Charles and Julie, 1011 Durham
02Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Pointed 2 1/2 story stone house wit~
#1
a large pointed stone addition done by the grandson of the
original mason. Large buttonwood tree growing around and into
the corner of the house.
22-049-077
Vi Ie, Edwin S. and Li II ian D., 2532 Trenton Rd., Levittown
103Pa. 19047. Wh i te frame, 2 1/2 story, great I y a I tered and
#
modernized structure, 3 bays wide, 1 brick chimney at each gable
and 1 story addition across the back.
22-051-194
Old School House - Wisnia, Michail M., 310 Frosty Hollow
Rd., Levittown, Pa. Circa 1880. Small 1 1/2 stor-y plastered
#104 stone ~ith 2 story flat roof frame addition. Adj acent to
Snowball Gate on Frosty HoI low Rd.
22-053-282
Carrol, John J. and Alma M., 2240 Durham Rd., Penndel,
#lOSPa. 19047. 2 1/2 story brick house with five fireplaces,
windows 6/6 with original shutters on first floor, additions,
old sycamore tree 13 feet in circum.
22-059-014
Wislar House - (Joyce Hallock), Fred R. Petrone, 4001 New
#106Falls Rd., Bristol, Pa. 19007. Circa 1830. Grandfather of
previous owner made the bricks from the clayed soil on the
property, windows 8/12, 2 1/4 fan windows on each gable.
Structure is 2 1/2 story brick, 4 bays wide, double pile deep,
2 large chimneys.
House vacant and deteriorating.
22-059-020
22-060-110 Granados, Ramon L. and Phyl lis N., 381 Fr-osty HoI low Rd.,
#107Levittown, Pa. 1 1/2 story pOinted f'ieldstone, windows 1/1,'
one later large dormer, 1 plast~red brick chimney, 1 story frame
addition.
.
22-062-340 James Headley Place - Ettinger - Hartman, Todd, 233
#lOSQuinc y Drive, Levittown, Pa. Circa 1705. Part of an original grant fr-om Wi I I iam Penn to Edmund Lovett. Oldest frame
house sti I I unaltered, unusual siding. The Ettinger sisters,
decenden ts of the Lovet ts, sa i d that the f ami I y lived- ina cave
nearby while building the house.
22-071-001-1 Rendal I, Douglas B. and EI izabeth, 235 Gr-een Valley Rd.,
#109Langhor-ne, Pa. 19047. Originally a small farmhouse, 2 1/2 story
plastered stone, 2 bay and 1 pile with eyebrow windows, 2 1/2
story plastered stone addition on one side and 2 1/2 story
pointed stone addition on other- side. Additions are at differ-ent
levels. Windows 8/8 and 6/6. Combination springhouse and smokehouse, frame barn, and stone foundation of a former barn.
22-073-265
Healy House - Durham, Stephen K. and Ricky R., 12 Healy
#110Way, Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Plastered stone (formal section)
with plastered brick additions and a frame addition, formal
entrance with fan transom.
22-074-010 Callahan, Charles David and Judy, 1743 Janney Terrace,
#111 Langhorne, Pa., a typical small stone farmhouse, circa 1830, with
a small enclosed stairway around the "kitchen" fireplace, an
unusally small fireplace without mantle in bedroom over the
parlor. Large frame addition built in the 1970's.
Canby House - Lipson, Carol & Richard - 504 Heaton Mill Rd.
Pa. 19047, A large formal pointed stone, a fine
example of use of cut stones on corner with the rest of
fielfstone, windows 1st floor 9/9, circa 1804 & 1814. Large
stone barn and outbuildings leveled by developer in 1988.
22-074-127
#112 Langhorne,
22-081-377 Styler House - Daly, William L. II & Cathe, 299 Dillworth
#'113Lane, langhorne, Pa. 19047 (Laurel Oaks Development). The only
frame house with full 3 stories, elaborate dentil work under the
overhang, recently modernized in 1988, poorly done.
OTHER SITES OF INTEREST:
- Langhorne Spring Water Works, 1886 pump house.
#114
- Graveyards
#115 Red Rose Gate - VanHorn
#116
Snowball Gate - Hellings
- Bridges
#117 Twin
Bridges/Tunnels, Durham Rd. (route 413)
#118 Camelback
Stone Bridge, Durham Rd. (route 413
&
Bridgetown Pike)
#119Railroad Bridge" Baltimore & Ohio Rr, Neshaminy Creek, Playwicki Park.
#121 Tunnel
# 122Two
Hatchery Stone Tunnel, RR Bridge, Woodbourne Rd.
Tunnel/Railroad Bridges, Langhorne Yardley Rd.
#123Iron Bridge on Neshaminy Creek, Bridgetown Pike
A-14
#124 Old
Lincoln Highway Bridge over Neshaminy Creek, Bristol Road
and Old Lincoln Highway
#125 Hulmeville
#126 South
**
#127-
Road Tunnel/Railroad Bridge
Flowers Mill Road Tunnel/Railroad Bridge
See also #59: Core Creek Camelback Bridge, Silver Lake Road
Churches
Langhorne Presbyterian Church
Gillam and Bellevue Ave.
A-iS
Additional Township Facilities Report, Middletown Township Manager's Office; 1980.
An Analysis of Zoning Along Woodbourne Road, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1989.
Bikeway System Master Plan, Middletown Township, J. G. Park Associates, Inc., 1990.
Bucks County Sewerage Facilities Plan, Albright & Field, Inc., 1970.
Central Middletown Study (Incomplete), Bucks County Planning Commission, 1982.
East Middletown Development Guide, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1974.
Evaluation of Fiscal Condition and Financial Indicators, Middletown Township, Finance Panel, 1993.
Land Use Assumptions Report, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1991.
Uncoln Highway Beautification Study, J. G. Park Associates, Inc., 1991.
Management Study of the Middletown, Pennsylvania. Police Department, University City Science Center, 1990.
Middletown Neighborhood Revitalization Program, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1981.
Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1971.
Middletown Township Comprehensive Traffic Circulation Study, Wilbur Smith Associates, 1989.
Middletown Township Development Plan, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1961.
Middletown Township Neighborhood Analysis, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1970.
Middletown Township Transportation Capital Improvements Plan. as amended, Middletown Township Board of Supervisors'
Resolutions 92-26R and 92-27R, 1992.
Middletown Township Recreation. Parks and Open Space Plan, Urban Research & Development Corporation, 1991.
B-1
Middletown Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, as amended, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1986.
Middletown Township Survey and Analysis, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1970,
Middletown Township Zoning Ordinance, as amended, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1991.
North Middletown Study, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1979.
North Middletown Township Road Report, J. G. Park Associates, Inc., 1985.
Recommended Funding Plan - Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, Wilbur Smith Associates, 1990,
Roadway Sufficiency Analysis - Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, Wilbur Smith Associates, 1991.
West Middletown Study, Bucks County Planning Commission, 1979,
B-2
\>
.....
RESOLUTION NO. 94-07R
A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
TOWNSHIP OF MIDDLETOWN. COUNTY OF BUCKS.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. ADOPTING THE MIDDLETOWN
TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WHEREAS. Middletown Township has an existing Comprehensive Plan which
was established by the enactment of Resolution #7 of 1971: and
WHEREAS. the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Middletown.
County of Bucks. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is empowered to adopt or
amend the Comprehensive Plan. in whole or in part, by resolution pursuant
to the Act of July 31. 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, Art. III Section 302 as
re-enacted and amended per the Act of December 21, 1968. P.L. 1329, No 170,
Section 20: and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors retained Urban Research and
Development Corporation of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to prepare a
Comprehensive Plan for Middletown Township in order to provide a statement
of objectives of the Township concerning future development; a plan for
land use; a plan for movement of people and goods, a plan for community
facilities and utilities: a statement of the interrelationships among the
various plan components; a discussion of short-range and long-range plan
implementation strategies; and a statement indicating the relationship of
the existing and proposed development of the Township to the existing and
proposed development and plans in contiguous communities. to the objectives
and plans for development in the County of Bucks, and to regional trends:
and
WHEREAS. Urban Research and Development Corporation has completed the
Comprehensive Plan and has presented the plan to the Board of Supervisors
for review and approval: and
WHEREAS. the Board of Supervisors desires to adopt the Comprehensive
Plan as the Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan.
NOW. THEREFORE. the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Middletown. County of Bucks. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does hereby
resolve as follows:
1.
That the Comprehensive Plan. dated January, 1994. prepared by Urban
Research and Development Corporation and recommended for adoption by
the Middletown Township Planning Commission. shall be adopted as the
Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan. a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit "A" and fully incorporated herein by reference.
2.
That the Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan shall
following chapters: Introduction, Background for the
for the Future, and that said plan shall also include
and various maps. as listed in the Table of Contents.
C-l
consist of the
Plan. and a Plan
Appendices A. B,
depicting
regional location. natural features. geology and watershed boundaries,
multi-family housing. existing land use. public sewage service areas,
public water service areas. fire company service areas. existing
recreation and park areas. Township-owned greenbelt-open space areas,
circulation. comprehensive plan. proposed bikeways. and historic sites.
RESOLVED this First day of March. 1994.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
TOWNSHIP OF MIDDLETOWN
BUCKS COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
ATTEST:
SECRETARY
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of
Resolution No. 94-07R, enacted by the Board of Supervisors of Middletown
Township in the County of Bucks. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this
First day of March. 1994.
COMPPLAN.~B/RES.ORD
C-2

1994 Middletown Township Comprehensive Plan

Transcription

Similar documents

The Penn Township Campus Landscaping Beautification Project

Renzo Gracie JDFK Flyer - Jasons Dreams for Kids

PC Minutes - Warwick Township

Case Study-Middletown CT - Connecticut Main Street Center

Substitute Teacher Handbook for 2015-2016

27th ANNUAL MUD VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Township of Wall Regional Bike Path Central Section Map Map 3 of

Loyalist Township - County of Lennox and Addington