1. Expand social, cultural, and retail offerings for residents while accommodating visitors and tourists
Bank and Zum Anker Before and After
Lititz is a real, functioning community and the Master Plan will sustain this by focusing on the needs of the residents, both present and future, first.
Currently, 18% of the available land in the borough is not taxable. The Borough is fortunate to have schools, churches, and civic enterprises to add to the richness of our town, but it is important to offset this situation by creating an increased tax base in order to continue to provide quality services to our residents.
Although the downtown core appears to be well-ordered and built-out, taking a step back in history brings the realization that downtown Lititz today is vastly different than 100, 75, 50, or even 25 years ago. In some cases, critical building mass has been lost and with it, the feel of a completely continuous streetscape and downtown experience. The planning process should look to our past to create a healthy and viable future. And in the case of physical development, that means filling in the holes and maximizing the use of our available space. With this reference point in mind, there is room to enhance and grow to meet the current and anticipated needs of the Lititz community, within the existing context of the downtown. It is the missed and under-utilized opportunities that are the focus of this Master Plan.
Master Plan recommendations:
- Establish a mixed use district for the entire study area
- Increase density of buildings and uses in the core district of the study area
- Redevelop underutilized facilities
- Reserve the 1st floor for retail uses
- Encourage in-fill
- Redevelop properties along Lititz Run and the rail line, including the Susquehanna Bank property and the Long and Bomberger property
- Remove parking from the flood way
- Look to our past and the commitment to preserve the buildings that give the community its character. Historic preservation is an important component of any effort to promote sustainable development. The conservation and improvement of our existing built resources - including adaptive re-use of historic and older buildings, greening the existing building stock, and reinvestment in our historic community - is crucial.
- Further from the core district, reduce density of buildings and intensity of use
- Capitalize on the existing street and alley patterns to strengthen circulation and massing of buildings
- Re-establish the alley network for service access and pedestrian travel
- Expand housing opportunities within the study area
- Add housing to upper floors throughout
- Provide a variety of housing types and living units
- Celebrate and integrate the arts within the fabric of the downtown: sculpture/art, music, and entertainment
The three over-arching goals of the master plan are:
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