Natural resources for protection include streams, floodplains, hydric soils, wetlands, woodland, slopes of 15 to 25%, and slopes greater than 25%. The resources are shown on the following Natural Resource Preservation Plan. Resources are further detailed and described in Chapter 6. The most critical resources for protection in the Region are agricultural resources, but protection of those resources is discussed separately in Chapter 5 and the Future Land Use Plan, Chapter 12.
To protect identified resources in the Region in the past, primary reliance has been on ordinance provisions and this will continue in the future. Most resources are found in the Townships, and Union Township has incorporated restrictive floodplain overlay zoning, forestry use standards, and Natural Resource and Environmental Features standards. The latter limit clearance of forested areas in environmentally sensitive areas and to a lesser extent in non-environmentally sensitive areas, give guidelines for open space, and limit grading of steep slopes (the steeper the slope, the less grading is permitted).
Union Township should as a minimum retain the provisions it has adopted, and consider whether to adopt additional provisions. Germany Township should incorporate natural resource protection standards in its forthcoming zoning ordinance, addressing the concepts listed below and further detailed in the Action Plan.
Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Techniques for Use in Protecting Natural Resources
• >25 Slopes – severely restrict development through slope controls and net-out provisions
• 15-25 Slopes – require larger lots, limit clearance and impervious cover through slope controls and net-out provisions
• Floodplains – restrict development through floodplain overlay zoning and net-out provisions
• Wetlands – restrict development through net-out provisions
• Hydric Soils – restrict development, pending wetlands study results for hydric soils areas
• Wetlands Margins – restrict development through net-out provisions
• Woodland – limit clearing through woodland controls and net-out provisions
• Establish Riparian Buffers requirements along watercourses
• Require resource analyses for subdivision and land development plans to identify the above resources
• Encourage use of conservation development through zoning, which will result in significant open space preservation that can protect natural resources
• Require open space and greenways to be provided along the Conewago, Alloway, and Piney Creeks and their tributaries by developers
• Adopt Net out Provisions – In the zoning ordinances, require developers to identify resources on a site and protect from development a specified percentage of that resource
• Consider lot averaging, which will allow a developer to average lot size over a site, to give flexibility in lotting in order to avoid and protect resources
• Consider Transfer of Development Rights, which will allow transfer of development rights from natural areas such as woodlands in Rural Conservation-Agriculture areas to Designated and Potential Future Growth Areas
• Require Environmental Impact Studies of developer to explain impacts on resources and means of mitigating those impacts
• Encourage Best Management Practices for agriculture and storm water management to protect resources in the vicinity of those activities
• Require protection of natural drainage channels through review of subdivision and land development plans
• Adopt Forestry Regulations – regulate forestry operations in order to prevent adverse impacts
Administrative Means for Protecting Natural Resources
On the Natural Resource Preservation Plan, two Preservation Easements are shown in Germany Township. One is located between Gettysburg and Fish and Game Roads and one is located north of Ulricktown Road. Areas of the easements will be protected from development in perpetuity. The establishment of such easements is an “administrative means” because it is not accomplished through ordinance but by independent actions of
various parties. Municipalities may or may not be involved. Sometimes municipalities may encourage actions or help bring parties together. In this Region, it is most likely that the municipalities will encourage developers to establish greenways along watercourses and protect nearby sensitive environmental areas and watersheds by granting conservation easements to organizations such as the Land Conservancy of Adams County.
Municipal Parks, open space and recreation plans should further discuss greenway planning in the Region and identify any target areas for open space preservation and/or acquisition by conservancies or the Townships through donation, purchase with recreation fees, or purchase using grants, bonds, and/or tax revenue. The Townships should determine whether they want to establish a joint or individual Environmental Advisory Councils to oversee resource protection of natural resources and establishment of greenways and open space acquisition in the Region.
The Watershed Alliance of Adams County and Adams County Conservation District can be partners of the municipalities and/or Environmental Advisory Council(s) in encouraging stream corridor management along the Conewago Creek, Alloway Creek, and Piney Creek and their tributaries. These agencies can work with landowners and developers in utilization of best management practices, stream corridor improvement projects and establishing riparian buffers. The agencies can also be partners in increasing watershed awareness for the Conewago, Alloway, and Piney watersheds, Conewago Watershed planning projects, and implementation of regional planning efforts including the Monocacy River Watershed Stormwater Management Plan and Adams County Water Supply and Wellhead Protection Plan.
Recommended techniques are further discussed in the Action Plan.
SECTION 2 – GREENWAYS
The Pennsylvania Greenway Partnership Commission defines a greenway as follows:
“A greenway is a corridor of open space. Greenways vary greatly in scale, from narrow ribbons of green that run through urban, suburban, and rural areas to wide corridors that incorporate diverse natural, cultural, and scenic features. Greenways can be land- or water-based, running along stream corridors, shorelines, lakes, waterfalls, or wetlands. Some follow old railways, canals, ridgetops, or other features. They can incorporate both public and private property. Some greenways are primarily recreational corridors, while others function almost exclusively for environmental protection and are not designed for human passage. Greenways differ in their location and function, but overall, a greenway network will protect natural, cultural, and scenic resources, provide recreational benefits, enhance the natural beauty and the quality of life in neighborhoods and communities, and stimulate economic development opportunities.”
Greenways improve the quality of life and livability of communities. Greenways are generally linear corridors of public and private lands or water-based open space used primarily for recreation purposes or open space preservation. They can be trails, rail trails, streams and other waterways, scenic byways, parks and linked tracts of open space.
Greenways provide open space for human access and recreational use, but also function as corridors for wildlife habitat and movement, environmental protection and intermodal transportation.
A system of Greenways can conserve stream corridors and develop the Region’s green infrastructure, which can connect with that outside the Region. The system should connect communities, parks and public lands, and should provide a system of trails where appropriate in order to provide access, recreation and encourage alternative forms of transportation. To summarize the benefits of greenways, they:
• Provide safe links between parks, schools, community areas, and neighborhoods.
• Protect open space along creeks.
• Preserve natural resources and wildlife habitats and corridors.
• Foster public recreation.
• Provide educational opportunities as an outdoor classroom.
• Increase property values.
• Attract and retain businesses.
• Provide alternative forms of transportation.
• Enhance the quality of life.
• Allow access to natural resources.
• Link communities together.
On the Conceptual Pedestrian Concepts Plan discussed in the Transportation Plan Chapter, three major greenways are indicated, along the Conewago Creek, along the Alloway Creek, and along the stream from the Conewago Creek to the inactive rail line north of Hanover Pike. At a minimum, these greenways would provide open areas to preserve quality of the streams. The greenways could also serve as areas in which trails could be developed. A trail along the tributary to the Conewago Creek would connect with the major trail system shown along the inactive rail line.
For stream protection purposes, greenways should be established along the Alloway, Conewago, and Piney Creeks and their tributaries. Further greenway planning will be addressed in the County Greenways Plan and municipal recreation plans.