Section 2 - Planning

CAPRA Self-Assessment

2.1 – Overall Planning Function within Agency

Standard:
The agency shall have planning functions with established responsibilities, including at least one staff member or consultant with planning capability.

Narrative:
Planning functions for Lower Makefield Township are conducted by the Community Development Department and Parks and Recreation Department, who have on staff a licensed Professional Planner, a licensed Professional Engineer, a certified Parks and Recreation Professional, and a certified Parks and Recreation Executive. Day to day support for the staff is provided by personnel from Remington & Vernick Engineers. The Township also contracts with Toole Recreation Planning, and Bucks County Planning Commission on an as needed basis to assist with the future planning and development of the Parks and Open Space.

The Parks and Recreation Department assists and advises the Park and Recreation Board, whose Powers and Duties are outlined in Township Code § 31-6:

The Park and Recreation Board shall assist the Township Supervisors in planning, laying out and maintaining parks, recreation facilities and programs. They recommend to the Board of Supervisors such plans and provisions as it deems necessary and indicate the cost of such to the Supervisors. This is done so that they may be prepared to allow for such programs in the budget of each succeeding year for equipment, maintenance and personnel for such programs.

Community Development assists and advises the Planning Commission, whose Powers and Duties are outlined in Township Code § 37-3:

The Planning Commission shall have all the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon it as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted. (see Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968) Section 209.1. Powers and Duties of Planning Agency)

Supporting Documents:
Monica Tierney, Director of Parks and Recreation, Resume, CPRE Certificate
Lynn Todd, Operations Manager CPRP Certificate
James Majewski, Director of Planning and Zoning Resume and Certification
Ann Toole from Toole Recreation Planning, Resume
Remington Vernick Engineers, Resume
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code Section 209.1

2.2 – Involvement in Local Planning

Standard:
The agency shall be involved in local planning, e.g. comprehensive planning, strategic planning, and capital improvement planning by reviewing development proposals, monitoring the decisions of planning and zoning boards or commissions and participating on task forces and committees that will impact parks and recreation services within the jurisdiction.

Narrative:
Lower Makefield Township Parks and Recreation Department and staff are heavily involved in the planning process. The Director is heavily involved in initiating the planning process, taking part in planning meetings, making suggestions based on overall departmental goals, communicating with the Township Manager, Township Engineer, Park Board and Board of Supervisors throughout the process. The park management staff also play an integral role in the development of plans within the Department, they often assist with the writing and design of plans specific to their area of expertise and give comment and recommendation throughout the process. The Director of Parks and Recreation takes part in planning meetings for all new construction and actively participates in surveying, presenting and writing all future plans for the Parks Department. This is true not only for physical structures, but for administrative and program planning.

Supporting Documents:

Evidence of Compliance:

2.3 – Planning with Regional, State, and Federal Agencies

Standard:
The agency shall have a working relationship with the regional, state, and federal agencies to ensure the coordination of planning efforts that affect the delivery of parks and recreation services within the jurisdiction.

Narrative:
Lower Makefield participates in local, regional, county, state, and national committees to ensure that the agency is participating in and is aware of planning both internal and external to the department. Just recently the agency participated in a joint commission planning committee that discussed the connectivity of the neighboring Township of Newtown with the State Owned and Operated Canal Trail system. This trail system would need to connect through Lower Makefield Township in order to reach the Canal along the Delaware River. This study is ongoing and would ultimately need to be adopted by the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors in coordination with the Newtown Board of Supervisors and the Bucks County Commissioners.

Evidence of Compliance:

2.3.1 – Community Comprehensive Plan with Park and Recreation Component

Standard:
The jurisdiction with land use authority within which the agency operates shall have a comprehensive plan adopted by the governing authority that dictates public policy in terms of transportation, utilities, public facilities, land use, recreation, and housing. In some jurisdictions the comprehensive plan is called the general plan or the land use plan. Zoning for the jurisdiction is based upon the comprehensive plan. To meet this standard, the comprehensive plan shall have a park and/or recreation component that discusses how the jurisdiction intends to meet the needs for parkland and public recreation facilities in concert with other land use priorities.

Narrative:
Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors adopted the 2019 Comprehensive Master Plan Update on August 7, 2019. The plan contains a Park and Recreation Planning component, including Future Needs and Recommendations for Action: Township of Lower Makefield Comprehensive Master Plan Update. The Park and Recreation Board and Department provided content for this section and their feedback was incorporated by way of their responses to the questionnaire that was submitted to all departments and committees during the adoption process.

Supporting Documents:

2.4 – Park and Recreation System Master Plan

Standard:
The agency shall have a comprehensive park and recreation system plan that provides recommendations for provision of facilities, programs and services; parkland acquisition and development; maintenance and operations; and administration and management. The plan shall be officially adopted by the policy-making body, updated periodically and linked with a capital improvement budget and a phased development program. The system master plan shall implement policies adopted in the comprehensive plan for the jurisdiction. Interested and affected agencies, organizations, and groups shall be engaged in the planning process.

Narrative:
In 2018, a Lower Makefield Township Recreation Assessment was prepared in advance of an updated Master Plan. On June 1, 2022, the Play for All Master and Strategic Plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Supporting Documents:

2.5 – Strategic Plan

Standard:
An agency shall have a strategic plan, approved by the approving authority, stating how the agency will achieve its mission, goals, and objectives over an extended period of time, typically three to five years. The strategic plan shall be reviewed annually. The goals and objectives of the plan shall be measurable to demonstrate progress and results. The strategic plan shall support the priorities and initiatives of the whole organization. The strategic plan is a tool to implement the Parks and Recreation System Master Plan.

Narrative:
Lower Makefield Township Park and Recreation Board recommended moving forward with an updated action plan and the BOS approved the bidding of the plan in April of 2021. The plan is part of an all encompassing Master and strategic plan called the Play For all Plan. The Plan was voted on by the Board of Supervisors on June 1, 2022.

Supporting Documents:

2.6 – Feasibility Studies

Standard:
Studies shall be conducted to determine the feasibility of proposed facilities.

Narrative:
In the past, feasibility studies were used to determine the necessity of needs relating to different park services. Most recently, Lower Makefield Township entered an agreement with Aquatic Facility Design to create a feasibility plan for the pool that would bring the pool into the future. When the pandemic hit the plan was put on hold. In the upcoming months, the updated plan will be brought before the Park Board for recommendation and the Board of Supervisors for adoption.

Supporting Documents:

2.7 – Site Plans

Standard:
There shall be site plans to guide the use of existing and the development of future areas and facilities. A site plan is a depiction of a park site of that is drawn to scale and delineates features such as building and facility locations, roads and trails, use areas and utility easements.

Narrative:
The Lower Makefield Township Community Development Department, located at 1100 Edgewood Road, Yardley, PA manages and maintains all development plans, including site plans for park facilities. These plans are kept in paper form and stored electronically as PDFs. The Parks and Recreation Department also keeps copies of active site plans at the Community Center for reference as projects are in progress. One example is the Memorial Park East Expansion Development Plan. This Park has been through phased development for the last 15 years. In 2022, the racquet that includes both dedicated pickleball and tennis court areas will open and the Township is actively applying for additional grant funding to pursue the final additions to the buildout.

Supporting Documents:

2.8 – Historical and Cultural Resource Management Plans

Standard:
Historical and cultural plans include an inventory of historical, cultural resources and strategies for how they will be managed. These resources may be addressed as part of the jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan or the agency’s park and recreation system master plan.

Narrative:
Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors adopted the 2019 Comprehensive Master Plan Update on August 7, 2019. The plan contains a Historic Resources Planning component, including Future Needs and Recommendations for Action (pages 95-98). The Lower Makefield Township Historical Commission and Historical Architectural Review Board assist and provide recommendations on Township planning for historic and cultural resources. In 2006, the Historic Commission worked with the Heritage Conservancy to develop document management strategies for Lower Makefield Township Historic Resources that are still referenced today. In addition, the Board of Supervisors approved May 5, 2021 an Ad Hoc Property Committee in order to review all Township Properties and to make recommendations for the future.

Lower Makefield Township owns two historic homes located on designated parkland, the Slack House located on Makefield Highlands Golf Course and the 5-Mile Woods Nature Center. In more recent history Lower Makefield Township also manages the Pennsylvania State 9/11 Garden of Reflection Monument located inside Memorial Park.

Evidence of Compliance:

2.9 – Community Involvement

Standard:
The agency shall include community involvement in the planning process that includes ongoing and systematic outreach to include the entire community. It is critical that the diversity of individuals (i.e., all cultures, ages, and abilities) and local, regional, and national non-governmental community organizations, agencies, businesses, and service providers such as the Red Cross, Sierra Club, Trust for Public Land, YMCA/YWCA, Boys and Girls Club, and local foundations and employers are afforded opportunities for input.

Narrative:
Lower Makefield Township is not only required by state law to make decisions publicly; the Township has also embraced the community engagement process most recently during the pool feasibility study, and as part of the needs assessment process.

The needs assessment process was public driven, where the Township sent 6,600 emails from distribution lists 3 times. The Agency also pushed information out through social media including Instagram, the Parks and Recreation Facebook, the Township Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Signs were put in all parks and at the community center, the notice was also printed in the senior newsletter. Announcements were made at senior events, BOS meetings, at EAC meetings, and Park Board meetings. Additionally, it was promoted by user groups who sent it out to their users. In addition to the survey, a public meeting was held where residents could make comments and provide feedback. In addition, the Needs Assessment was discussed at a league meeting and two Park Board meetings. The Park Planner also did key person interviews with the BOS, The Park Board, The Pennsbury Superintendent and the Chair of the EAC.

Groups like the Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, Friends of Five Mile Woods, all of our boards, The Veterans Committee, the 9/11 Garden of Reflection Foundation, The LMT Seniors, Program Participants, Pool Members, Pickleball, YMS, LMFA, PAA, YM Tennis, Lady Elite Falcons, Lower Bucks Lacrosse, the Swim Team and the School District were all contacted during this process.

In addition, when considering reopening the pool after COVID 19, the public was included in the process through surveys and presentations.

Evidence of Compliance:

2.10 – ADA Transition Plan

Standard:
The agency shall develop and adopt a phased plan for the removal of barriers at existing recreation facilities, parks, and amenities owned or operated by the agency, pursuant to the requirements of the US Department of Justice Title II regulation issued September 14, 2010 and effective March 15, 2011.

Narrative:
The Parks and Recreation Department recognized the need for an Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) plan. The staff requested the aid of the Township Disability Advisory Board (DAB) to assess and develop a plan for the Township moving forward. The DAB then took on the task of identifying barriers within the park system in order to improve Parks and Recreation services to residents with disabilities and users of the parks. Together, the Parks and Recreation Department and the DAB developed the document being read today.

The Parks and Recreation ADA Transition Plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 21, 2021, (Page 20), Appendix C was updated on July 20, 2021.

While a few programs specific to special needs are offered, there isn’t a comprehensive plan for programming. In the next five years, Lower Makefield Township plans to continue to expand this document to include programming.

Evidence of Compliance:

2023 Annual Review: