THE PLAN FOR CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
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"The
people have a right to clean air, pure water and to the preservation of
the natural, scenic, historic and
aesthetic values of the environment.
Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all
the people, including generations yet to come.
As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and
maintain them for the benefit of all the people."
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GOAL: Make
sure that development fully respects the natural features of each site, with
special attention upon avoiding sinkholes.
GOAL: Preserve lands along the Lehigh River, Bushkill Creek, Schoeneck Creek and other environmentally sensitive areas in permanent open space.
A description of the important natural features in the Township is included in the Appendix. The Natural Features map illustrates some of the most important features in the Township, including steep slopes, wetlands, forested areas and flood-prone areas. The Ridgelines and Drainage Patterns Map shows drainage patterns and the boundaries of watersheds.
Different sites are suitable for different levels of development. The slope of land, the tendency of the soils to erode, the depth to the water table and the vulnerability to flooding all should influence how a site is allowed to develop.
As part of the Natural Features Background Study to this Plan, the natural limitations of different areas of Palmer were studied and mapped. Palmer is fortunate that most of its land is excellent for development. Under this Comprehensive Plan, development that is more intensive will be directed towards lands with the best natural characteristics. Areas that have the most severe limitations should be kept in open space. This allows us to work with Nature, instead of against her.
The Palmer Comprehensive Plan recommends that special attention be paid to the special natural features of Palmer, especially steep sloped areas, wooded areas, creeks and streams, natural drainage channels, groundwater and agricultural areas.
This Plan supports the efforts of farmers who wish to continue farming. Residential development is discouraged throughout northern Palmer to avoid future nuisance complaints against farmers.
Large areas of central and northern Palmer will continue to allow business and light industrial development in order to attract jobs and tax revenue. However, any decision to sell their farms for development will remain the choice of the property owner. This Comprehensive Plan strongly encourages farmers who wish to continue farming to do so with the support of the Township. Certain areas in north, northeastern and northwestern Palmer are designated as “Rural”. In the future, if lands currently designated for development become substantially developed, then more intensive uses will be allowed in the areas presently designated as Rural. Again, efforts will be made to ensure that any farmer wishing to continue to farm will be able to continue successfully.
This
Plan will help preserve farmland throughout the region by avoiding sprawled
development in
Development should be steered away from areas that have a shallow depth of soil to the water table. This can help avoid severe construction problems and flooded basements.
"Best
Management Practices (BMPs)" are measures that
should be used to avoid pollution of creeks and groundwater from stormwater
runoff and to promote recharge of groundwater supplies. These methods should be required wherever
practical. A wide variety of
alternative measures are described in detail in the handbook "Best
Management Practices for Developing Areas in
The groundwater supply of Palmer must be protected to ensure safe drinking water for those homes with private wells and to protect the water quality of all of the creeks in the area. Impervious surfaces should be minimized to allow stormwater to naturally recharge groundwater supplies and to prevent problems with stormwater runoff. Where practical considering the vulnerability to sinkholes, measures should be required to promote recharge of stormwater runoff into the ground. Efforts should be made to prevent road salts, petroleum products, pesticides and other chemicals from polluting groundwaters and surface waters.
Surface waters, including creeks and natural drainage channels, are important to preserve for four major reasons:
· They affect the quantity of water resources. Increased runoff and sedimentation can cause irregular flow in streams and choke connections with groundwater resources.
· They affect the quality of water resources as a source of groundwater recharge and stream flow.
· They are the major corridors for transporting nutrients in the environment and provide habitats for wildlife.
· They are a scenic asset.
To preserve the quantity and quality of water resources and to maintain the general health of its environment, the Township must continue to plan and regulate development to control the amount and rate of runoff, erosion and sedimentation and chemical and biological pollution. Township regulations should strongly discourage development within natural drainage swales. Swales should remain in open space. If swales are to be built upon, suitable storm drainage structures of adequate capacity must continue to be required.
This
Plan seeks to protect the water quality and aquatic life along the
Treelines and areas of woodlands in Palmer, especially
along the
Almost all of Palmer’s land is generally level, which avoids severe problems with steep slopes. The few steeped sloped areas (over 15 percent) should be kept in open space with intact natural vegetation. Areas with slopes over 15 percent should be limited to low density residential uses. This will help minimize problems with soil erosion, water runoff, road construction and utilities.
Issues involving trails, parks and open space preservation are discussed in the Community Facilities section of this Plan.
Most
of
Stormwater runoff has a major role in the creation of sinkholes and other subsidence. The most important issue is usually to carefully design stormwater facilities and to use great care near isolated low spots in the ground, which are known as topical depressions. Water line breaks also often result in very severe sinkholes.
The Township is preparing new development regulations to address this issue. A study by a specialist in this type of geology should be required before any significant development is approved. This type of study may require soil borings. This study should consider the most vulnerable locations for sinkholes and state what types of measures should be carried out during development to reduce the threat of sinkholes. This study should then be reviewed by a second expert selected by the Township but funded by the developer.
Detention basins should be required to have a clay or synthetic liner. Where development is proposed near a sinkhole, the sinkhole should be required to be remediated. This often involves excavating the area and filling it with concrete or other approved material. Sinkholes should be repaired as soon as possible before they expand in an uncontrolled manner. Stormwater should not be directed towards a sinkhole that has not been remediated.
The
Nazareth Municipal Authority has acquired 80 acres of land south of