Comprehensive Plan Trends Report

TRENDS REPORT

Comprehensive Plan

Hempfield Township

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

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GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS

Since 2010, the Township’s population has declined slightly. In 2010, the population was 43,241 residents, and by 2021 the population dropped to 41,466 residents, resulting in a decrease of about 4.1%.

QUICK FACTS

By comparison, Westmoreland County has seen a slight decrease in its population from 2010 to 2020, from 365,169 people to 354,663 people.

AGE

The median age for Hempfield Township residents in 2019 was 49.5 years, which is higher than the median age for Westmoreland County (47 years) and for Pennsylvania (40.9 years) at large. The greatest percent of the population in the Township included those between the ages of 60 and 69, who represented 18% of the total population. The smallest percentage of the Township population were those aged 0 to 9 and 80+, both representing 8% of the total population each. As compared to bordering Townships, Hempfield’s median age was the third highest, following South Huntingdon (51.4 years) and Salem (49.9 years).

Source:

HOUSEHOLDS

According to the US Census, there were 18,345 households in Hempfield Township in 2010. Over the last few decades, the number of households has increased slightly. The 2021 ESRI Housing Profile found Hempfield Township to have 17,508 housing units. By 2026, the estimated number of households in the Township will be 17,293 households, resulting in a 1.6% decrease since 2010. Of the 17,508 total housing units, 1,064 are vacant, or 7% of all houses. In comparison, Westmoreland County has 9% vacancy rate, and the State of Pennsylvania has an 11% vacancy overall.

Source:

ESRI BUSINESS TAPESTRY SEGMENTS

Tapestry segmentation from ESRI provides a detailed description of America's neighborhoods and divides residential areas into 67 distinctive segments based on their socioeconomic and demographic composition. These segments are then further classified into LifeMode and Urbanization Groups. Tapestry segments are updated annually by ESRI.

The 67 distinct markets of Tapestry detail the diversity of the American population. Grouping the segments can simplify these differences by summarizing markets that share similar traits. There are 14 LifeMode groups and six (6) Urbanization groups. The top 3 groups for Hempfield are Comfortable Empty Nesters (5A), Green Acres (6A), and Midlife Constants (5E) and are detailed below.

Comfortable Empty Nesters (5A)

Residents in this large, growing segment are older, with nearly half of all householders aged 55 or older and many still live in the suburbs where they grew up. Most are professionals working in government, health care, or manufacturing. These Baby Boomers are earning a comfortable living and benefitting from years of prudent investing and saving. Their net worth is well above average (Index 314). In addition, many are enjoying the transition from child rearing to retirement. They value their health and financial well-being.

Green Acres (6A)

The Green Acres lifestyle features country living and self-reliance. Avid do-it-yourselfers, they maintain and remodel their homes, with all the necessary power tools to accomplish the jobs. Gardening, especially growing vegetables, is a priority, again with the right tools, tillers, tractors, and riding mowers. Outdoor living features a variety of sports: hunting and fishing, motorcycling, hiking and camping, and even golf.

Midlife Constants (5E)

Midlife Constants residents are seniors, at or approaching retirement, with below average labor force participation and above average net worth. Although located in predominantly metropolitan areas, they live outside the central cities, in smaller communities. Their lifestyle is more country than urban. They are generous, but not spendthrifts.

EDUCATION

Of the population in Hempfield Township that is 25 years of age or older, 34.7% had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2021. In addition, 11.8% had a graduate or professional degree while 95% had received at least a high school degree/equivalent or higher. These numbers are roughly on-par with the entirety of Westmoreland County, and slightly higher than Pennsylvania at large.

TRANSPORTATION

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TRANSPORTATION & COMMUTING

The mean travel time to work for Hempfield residents was 24 minutes in 2019, which is slightly shorter than the average for Westmoreland County. The following graph (on the bottom right of this page) breaks down the various mean travel times to work for working residents in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, and the State.

24 Minutes

Hempfield's working population has an average commute of 24 minutes. By comparison, County and State residents was 28 minutes and 27.8 minutes in 2019, respectively.

Breaking down commute times further, 17.1% of Township residents had a commute to work that was less than 10 minutes in 2019. By comparison, 13.1% of Hempfield residents had a commute time of between 20-24 minutes while about 2.8% commuted to work for 45-59 minutes. The following chart breaks down the commute times to work for Hempfield residents for 2019.

The majority of Hempfield residents use a vehicle to get to work. Means of transportation to work for residents of the Township in 2019 included driving alone, carpooling, or taking public transit. Approximately 86% of residents drove alone to work in 2019 while another 8% carpooled. Only 1% used public transit to get to work. In addition, about 4% of residents worked from home. By comparison, 2% of Westmoreland County residents use public transit to get to work and 2% of County workers are able to walk to their place of employment. The following chart provides an overview of the means of transportation to work statistics for Hempfield, Westmoreland County, and the State.

TRAFFIC VOLUMES

Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) counts for 2019 are available through the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for certain roadways. It is not surprising that the highest traffic volumes are found on The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76), which travels through Hempfield Township. In 2018, approximately 27,479 vehicles traveled along Interstate 76 daily through the Township.

Another roadway in Hempfield that has steady traffic volumes is State Route 66, with traffic counts ranging from 12,800 to 22,200 vehicles per day. In addition, traffic counts U.S. 30 range from 13,400 to 20,500 vehicles per day, with the larger traffic volumes around the Greensburg City area. Other local roadways including PA Routes 136, 119, 819, and 130 experience a steady traffic flow on a daily basis. The following chart provides traffic counts or ranges of traffic counts for local roads within Hempfield.

ROAD MAINTENANCE & PAVING

Hempfield Township’s Public Works Department maintains approximately 300 miles of roadways within the Township. Maintenance and upkeep, including snow removal, traffic control and signs, road shoulder maintenance and mowing, and asphalt repairs and drainage are all duties of the Public Works Department. Two roads within the Township (Lowry Ave and US-22) are maintained by Westmoreland County, and several of the main arterial roads (i.e. PA State Routes 136, 819, and 130) are managed by PennDOT.

CAR OWNERSHIP

Of Township households, 32.9% have one car, 42.8% have two cars, 13.3% have three, and 5.3% have four or more cars. By comparison, 5.7% of households in Hempfield Township do not have access to a car.

There are several factors that can contribute to car ownership including, the number of residents per household, the number of residents that commute outside of the Township for work, and the limits to the current public transportation, to name a few.

PARKS & RECREATION

QUICK FACTS

1

TOWNSHIP PARK

8 ATHLETIC FIELDS AND COURTS

132 ACRES OF PARKLAND

Township is uneven, so that residents in some areas (for example, the southern part of the Township) have greater travel times to reach the park.

The Park Metrics also account for park amenities. Note that the NRPA metrics represent the average community’s existing facilities, which may or may not match the needs of Hempfield Township.

TOWNSHIP FACILITIES

The Township owns and manages 132 acres of parkland, 93 of which are located at the only park in the Township-- Hempfield Park. Park Metrics provided by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) compare a department’s recreation offerings to comparable communities across the United States. The average number of acres of parkland per 1,000 residents for comparable-sized communities in Pennsylvania is 9, but Hempfield has only 3.2 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. In addition, the distribution of parks across the

ACCESSIBILITY

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires playgrounds and facilities constructed or altered after March 15, 2012 to comply with ADA design standards. Accessible playgrounds create a sense of inclusivity for communities and schools, allowing all residents to partake in recreational activities. Inclusive playgrounds allow children of all abilities and developmental stages to play in the space. Playgrounds are required to have available, unobstructed routes to play equipment, at least one type of ground-level play component, existing or new ramps to have handrails on both sides, and to use specific safety surfacing that meets ADA criteria.

Hempfield Park is ADA accessible, including parking spaces and equipment needs.

HEMPFIELD PARK

As the only full park in Hempfield Township, Hempfield Park offers several facilities for various purposes. Walking trails, playgrounds, pavilions, sports fields and courts, an amphitheater, and an indoor athletics complex are provided for public enjoyment. The indoor athletic complex, pavilions, amphitheater, and outdoor sports fields and courts are available for use and may be rented.

In 2014, the Township began putting together the Hempfield Park Rehabilitation Plan, a comprehensive overhaul of the facilities, fields, and amenities at the park. The project started with a staff evaluation of the existing facilities and amenities at Hempfield Park. After numerous designs, the final master site plan was developed as a road map for future growth. The current rehabilitation of Hempfield Park includes:

Construct a new amphitheater capable of hosting local and regional performing acts of all varieties

Rehabilitation of the five (5) existing pavilions, including adding restrooms, and updating the kitchens

Renovate the upper and lower baseball fields making a premier baseball and softball facility

Construct a new pavilion with kitchen and restrooms

Replace the aging playgrounds with unique, inclusive play equipment for all ages

Improve parking, walkways, and accessibility for all patrons

Renovate the park restroom buildings, making them accessible and modern

Add sports field lighting to the upper baseball field and soccer fields

Construct a user-friendly, accessible dog park

Improve landscaping, infrastructure, and modernize the overall park facilities

Make the park safer and more secure with modern security systems and adequate site lighting

The total park rehabilitation was estimated to cost over $10 million dollars in 2014. As of 2022, the Township has completed the installation of the Bill Mazeroski Baseball Field, Smail Auto Group Ampitheater, and pavilion and restroom upgrades. Some grants applications have been submitted for other projects and these applications are still pending.

ATHLETIC COMPLEX

The Hempfield Township Athletic Complex (HTAC) is an indoor sports facility located within Hempfield Park. The HTAC offers 3 multipurpose athletic courts, a 1/10 mile rubberized indoor walking track, as well as space and equipment rental opportunities. For Hempfield residents, membership to use the HTAC is free. For non-Township residents, the fee is $10 for an annual membership. Regardless of residency, the annual fee for use of the HTAC for anyone 55 years old and over is $5.

LAND DEDICATION & FEE-IN-LIEU

The process whereby developers dedicate land to the Township for recreation, or pay a fee in lieu of land dedication, was reviewed in 2019. In light of lack of green space in the Township, as well as the Parks and Recreation Department’s proactive efforts to raise the standard of excellence for community facilities, this is an

issue of utmost importance as well as general fiscal responsibility and accountability. Land dedication, and the Township’s ability to charge a fee in its place, is an important way that municipalities can accommodate the impacts of increased development on recreation needs. It is authorized under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968). These funds are provided for by law because they are an important part of how municipalities sustain essential services. The MPC also governs how these funds are to be managed and utilized according to the municipality’s formally adopted Comprehensive Recreation Plan. In light of the strain placed on parks and outdoor community spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing proper funding is more important than ever.

Hempfield Township’s residential fee in lieu of land dedication was set at $950.00 per new residential dwelling unit. All fees must be deposited in an interest-bearing account, clearly identified as reserved for providing, acquiring, operating, or maintaining park or recreational facilities.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

HOUSEHOLDS

The Township has seen a slight decrease in the number of households with a projected 1.6% decrease from 2010 to 2026. In 2010, there were 18,345 households. The number of households in the Township in 2021 was 17,508 households. The number of households in Hempfield is projected to continue to decline slightly by 2026, to an estimated 17,293 households. To the right is a graph showing the change in households within the Township.

HOUSING UNITS

In 2019, there were 17,508 housing units within Hempfield Township, the highest among other surrounding municipalities. The following graph shows a comparison in the number of housing units for those municipalities.

Number of Housing Units

Of Hempfield’s total housing units in 2021, 76% were owneroccupied, 19% were renter-occupied, and 7% were vacant. Hempfield’s homeowner rates were higher than the ownership rates in the County and the State. The chart to the top right provides a comparison to Westmoreland County and Pennsylvania.

The chart below compares housing tenure and occupancy rates for Hempfield Township and the surrounding municipalities. In terms of household ownership type, Hempfield is most similar to Unity Township. The surrounding municipality with the highest owneroccupancy rate was North Huntingdon at 84%. North Huntingdon is tied with Penn Township for the lowest vacancy rate in the area at 5%.

The median value of owner-occupied units in Hempfield Township was $172,800 in 2019, which is higher than the average of the County and Pennsylvania. The Township also has the highest percentage of households under $200,000 out of the three comparison groups. The largest percentage of houses in Hempfield is between $100,000 and $200,000 value at 43%.

AFFORDABILITY

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) affordability index measures whether or not a typical family could qualify for a mortgage loan on a typical home. A typical home is defined as the national median-priced, existing single-family home as calculated by NAR. The typical family is defined 0as one earning the median family income as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The prevailing mortgage interest rate is the effective rate on loans closed on existing homes from the Federal Housing Finance Board.

Source:

Most of the population moved into their current home either before 1990 (23%) or in the 2000s (27%). Only 5% have moved to their current home since 2017. The below graph provides a summary of Hempfield Township's Housing Tenure.

A value of 100 in the NAR housing affordability index (HAI) means that a family with the median income has exactly enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home. An index above 100 signifies that family earning the median income has more than enough income to qualify for a mortgage loan on a median-priced home, assuming a 20 percent down payment. For example, a composite HAI of 120.0 means a family earning the median family income has 120% of the income necessary to qualify for a conventional loan covering 80 percent of a median-priced existing single-family home. An increase in the HAI, then, shows that this family is more able to afford the median priced home.

Based on the affordability index values reported in the ESRI Business Analyst Reports, the Township is a very affordable place to purchase and own a home. The Housing Affordability Index for Hempfield Township in 2020 was 159, meaning a family earning the median family income has 159% of the income necessary to qualify for a conventional loan.

The wealth index is a composite measure of a household's cumulative living standard. The wealth index is calculated using easy-to-collect data on a household’s ownership of selected assets, such as televisions and bicycles, materials used for housing construction, and types of water access and sanitation facilities. Generated with a statistical procedure known as principal components analysis, the wealth index places individual households on a continuous scale of relative wealth. The wealth index for Hempfield was 97 in 2021.

ECONOMY & DEVELOPMENT

QUICK FACTS

$65,132 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

8% IN POVERTY

40% PROJECTED SERVICER SECTOR GROWTH

WESTMORELAND COUNTY OVERVIEW

As of the 2017 U.S. Economic Census, the top revenue-generating industries in Westmoreland County were Wholesale Trade, Manufacturing, and Retail Trade. This closely follows the state industry totals, where Wholesale, Retail, and Manufacturing are the top three industries, respectively.

The more well-paying jobs an industry provides, the greater its potential on the local economy. In the following tables, 2017 data is shown for purposes of comparison with the most recent revenue

data available. Totals for employment may not match the 2020 employment data provided in the Demographics section of this report due to differing data sources and years.

In Westmoreland County, the mean annual wages paid in 2019 were $44,445. The top employing industry, Wholesale, paid a slightly higher average wage. The next two largest employers, Manufacturing and Retail Trade, paid about $51,000 and $25,800, respectively. The impact of industries on employment and income should be considered when planning for new development or redevelopment. Consider whether new jobs pay enough for employees to afford the cost of living in Hempfield.

SOURCE: 2017 U.S. Economic Census, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/data/tables.html

ABOUT THE DATA:

Businesses are grouped into industries using the two-digit designation assigned by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The category “other services,” designated NAICS 81, includes repair and maintenance; personal care and laundry services; religious, grantmaking, civic, and professional organizations.

Banking & insurance, telecommunications, information, construction, resource extraction industries, and utilities industry data were not available; the information is withheld by the U.S. Census Bureau to avoid disclosing data for individual Westmoreland County companies. The construction and resource extraction industries in particular are notable employers in Hempfield Township.

SOURCE: ESRI Business Analyst 2020

EMPLOYMENT IN HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP

The top industries employing Township residents in 2020 were Educational Services, Health Care, and Social Assistance (42,899). The highest employment growth in the next two decades in Hempfield Township is predicted by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to be in the service sector, which is projected to grow nearly 40% by 2045, followed by retail. While manufacturing and other employment types are expected to fall, total employment is expected to continue an upward trend with an increase of more than 30%.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON EMPLOYMENT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, national unemployment rates rose to levels not seen since the 1930s. The 2020 unemployment rate in Westmoreland County was significantly higher than previous years because of lay-offs and business closures, both temporary and permanent. Low-wage jobs and minority employees were disproportionately impacted by the mix of layoffs and temporary and permanent business caused by the pandemic (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, June 16, 2021).

RETAIL MARKET POTENTIAL

The 2021 Esri Retail Market Potential Report analyzed particular market sectors and the consumer behaviors for Hempfield Township. Sectors such as Apparel, Automobiles, Electronics, Entertainment, Financials, and more were scored using the Market Potential Index (MPI). The MPI measures the relative likelihood of the adults or households in the specified trade area to exhibit certain consumer behavior or purchasing patterns compared to the U.S. An MPI of 100 represents the U.S. average.

The Report organizes the MPI scores by category (i.e. Restaurants or Travel) and subcategory (i.e. went to a fast food restaurant in the last 6 months or took an international trip in the last 6 months). Below are the average scores for selected categories analyzed in the Retail Market Report.

Across Pennsylvania, 30.9% of employers offered increased opportunities to work from home during the pandemic. Job loss in occupations that offered the ability to work from home was considerably smaller than other occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic, September 2020).

Generally, Hempfield Township performs just slightly above the national average for market potential, with a total mean MPI of 101. In all but three of the selected categories, Hempfield performs above the national average, with Computers (97), Entertainment (97), and Travel (95) performing just a few points under the national average. This could be due, in part, to the mean age of the population.

EXISTING LAND USE & ZONING

Hempfield Township has historically been a rural community, with early development influenced by agriculture and coal mining. Today, the influence of this heritage can still be seen. In more recent years, residential and commercial developments have been expanding. This is especially true of the areas surrounding the City of Greensburg and the Boroughs of Southwest Greensburg and South Greensburg. Some of this development can also be seen at the northwest border of the Township, near the City of Jeanette.

The Township’s current zoning map provides for all land uses through the following zoning district designations: For

Despite more recent development, the Township remains primarily agricultural in character. Almost half of the Township’s acreage is accounted for by large, contiguous areas of agricultural and open space uses. These uses are primarily located in the northeast and southwest portions of the Township, with some areas along the southeast border, outside the Boroughs of New Stanton and Youngwood. The agricultural uses generally include dairy farms, vegetable growers, and grain farms. This zoning classification also allows for some commercial, and recreation and natural resource uses, like farm markets, greenhouses, recreation, and mineral extraction, which can be seen dotting the landscape. Compatible, low-density residential uses can also be found in these areas.

Some of the farmland in the Township is protected as an Agricultural Security Area (ASA). This is a designation made by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture which protects these areas from nonagricultural uses by protecting them from local ordinance and nuisance lawsuits that may be a risk to the use and character of the land. A combined minimum of 250 acres is required to establish an ASA.

Residential

Residential land use in the Township consists predominantly of low-density, single-family housing units, with significant housing subdivision development surrounding the more developed cities and boroughs, the City of Greensburg, and Boroughs of South Greensburg, and Southwest Greensburg. Although, housing throughout the less developed areas of the Township also tends to be single-family units.

Corridor Residential

While much of the housing in the Township is single-family, the Corridor Residential District is meant to allow for and encourage multi-family residential developments. These areas are intended to be located near major streets, with existing water and sewer service, and access to shopping and essential services. This particular zoning district can be found in small areas throughout the Township. One example is Oak Ridge Estates, a townhouse rental community located south of the Walmart Supercenter and associated development along Route 30, between The City of Jeannette and the City of Greensburg.

Suburban Residential

Suburban Residential Districts are meant to provide areas of singlefamily housing, with some multi-family uses permitted. These areas generally have smaller lot sizes and higher density than rural residential areas. These zoning districts can be found primarily around areas of greater development and make up a significant amount of the land bordering the City of Jeanette, Borough of Adamsburg, the City of Greensburg, and the Boroughs of Southwest and South Greensburg.

Rural Residential

The Rural Residential District classification is meant to encourage residential development that is compatible with the rural character of much of the Township. These areas are lower density and have larger lot sizes, and strive to maintain the natural character and geographic features of the area. These neighborhoods can be seen as you move further away from the areas of greater development.

Village Residential

The Village Residential District captures the smaller towns that predate Hempfield Township’s more recent growth and development. These areas are often referred to as “coal patch towns,” and include areas like Luxor, Bovard, Carbon, Darragh, Hannastown, and Armbrust. This zoning district creates lot sizes, setbacks, and other requirements that are generally consistent with the character of these villages. These village residential areas are generally laid out in a small grid pattern and have an older housing stock.

Commercial

Commercial development in the Township is generally focused in and around the City of Greensburg and more specifically along the Route 30 Corridor. Commercial uses along Route 30 include large strip shopping centers, big box retail, office park developments, and the Westmoreland Mall. In addition to these larger commercial developments, the Township has several neighborhood commercial areas, with smaller retail and service-oriented businesses to provide for area residents.

Neighborhood Commercial

The Neighborhood Commercial District zoning classification is meant to create neighborhood shopping and service centers that are accessible to residential areas. These districts are meant to include small-to-medium grocery stores, restaurants and retail under 10,000 square feet, and strip shopping developments. Professional offices are also a permitted use. These districts are generally found near existing residential development. An example of this type of land use would be the area along West Newton Road, southwest of the Greensburg area. This area has a mix of small retail, including a Dollar General, two florists, several salons, a convenience store, an ice cream stand, as well as other more specialized retail uses, institutional uses, and professional/ medical offices.

Local Commercial

The Local Commercial District zoning classification is meant to promote and sustain smaller, local businesses, along transportation corridors. These businesses serve the surrounding community, but

produce less traffic than larger, national retailers. These uses may be made up of standalone businesses, or strip shopping development. Local Commercial Districts can generally be found situated within areas of larger commercial or residential development.. One example of this would be the Greensburg Commerce Park, located along Route 30 along the southeast border of Southwest Greensburg. This development contains a mix of small retail and restaurants, a Hampton Inn, and a few medical offices.

Regional Commercial

The Regional Commercial District zoning classification is intended to allow for larger-scale commercial land uses along major transportation corridors. Suitable uses include mid-size (10,000 to 75,000 square feet) and large (75,000 or more square feet) retail, like planned shopping centers, gas stations, hotels, motels, and restaurants. Multi-family residential is also allowed. These uses are meant to serve populations from a large geographical area, within and outside the Township. This type of development can be seen mostly along Route 30. A prime example would be the development surrounding the Westmoreland Mall.

Industrial

While only a small amount of land is dedicated to industrial uses, Hempfield Township is still home to several industrial areas and parks.

Light Industrial

The Light Industrial district is meant to allow for light manufacturing, research, testing labs, technological industries, and similar businesses. These uses generally do not have a high demand for utilities or pose a significant demand/threat to the surrounding area’s resources. These uses can generally be found adjacent to areas with more development. One example is at the eastern edge of the Township, north of Route 30, where a small industrial park is located. This area includes uses like the Westmoreland Conservation District, Coca-Cola Vending, and Owens & Minor, a healthcare solutions company.

Heavy Industrial

The Heavy Industry District is meant to designate areas for operations that may have a significant impact on the surrounding area or may have a significant need for utilities and transportation. These areas are also established near existing development. One example would be the Buckeye Terminals site located off West Newton Road, which houses petroleum storage. Institutional Institutional land uses (and zoning classifications) capture the areas occupied by colleges and universities. The Township contains several higher-education campuses, which would be located in these areas.

FUTURE LAND USE

Hempfield Township currently provides for a variety of land uses through its various zoning districts. As part of the comprehensive planning process, the existing zoning districts, including the overlay districts not discussed here, will be evaluated. These will then be used to create a future land use map that will meet the current and future needs and land use goals of the Township.

When considering future land use, it is important to consider the limitations and values of the region. With additional residential development already being proposed for the Township, it is important to remember the historically rural character of the area and the goal to preserve agricultural lands. With future development it is also important to consider limitations, like the availability and ability to provide municipal services, like water and sewer, which may limit growth in some areas.

PUBLIC FACILITIES & AMENITIES

UTILITIES

To meet the needs of the citizens, Hempfield Township is served by a variety of utility providers. Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and West Penn Power provide services in the area. Sewage and water are provided by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (M.A.W.C.).

Comcast and Citizens Fiber offer internet services in the Township. Both provide up to 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps) download/ upload speed.

WASTE & RECYCLING

As of January 2021, County Hauling provides Hempfield Township with trash and single-stream recycling collection services. Trash pickup and recycling are mandatory for all residential and commercial properties in the Township. A fee of $55.50 per quarter ($220 annually) is billed to every unit in the Township. There is a scheduled increase of 2% in every year of the contract.

Residential trash and recycling pickup occurs weekly. Curbside recycling is single stream, meaning there is no sorting required. Leaves and yard waste are collected 12 times per year, on regular collection days announced by County Hauling. One bulk-item may be included for disposal each week. For no additional charge, residents may also register to include household hazardous waste and e-waste items in their weekly pickup as part of the On-Call Door-to-Door Collection Program.

In addition to County Hauling’s curbside services, residents have access to the Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center. Difficult to dispose of items, like lead acid batteries, TVs, freon appliances, and many others may be disposed of here for a small fee. Standard recyclables, like glass, paper, carboard, and much more are accepted free of charge. The Recycling Center is a non-profit formed to protect, restore, and maintain the environmental quality of Westmoreland County. It is funded by County Commissioners, member fees, private donations, sponsorships, and grants.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

As of 2003, Hempfield Township is required to have a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP’s) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit program for storm water discharges from storm sewer systems. Since then, the Township has implemented several actions to ensure the proper handing of stormwater discharge through its MS4 system. To date, the Township has passed ordinances prohibiting illicit discharges or connections of non-stormwater discharge, as well as regulating stormwater management of land disturbance activities and the handling of post-construction stormwater runoff. The Township has distributed educational materials concerning stormwater runoff through various outlets to residents, businesses, contractors, and developers. Through its Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination program, the Township has developed a Townshipwide MS4 outfall map to help identify and take action to prevent nonstormwater discharge. Additionally, the Township is continuously maintaining and tracking its MS4 system through cleaning, repairing, and improving the system to ensure that it is functioning correctly.

SCHOOLS

Public School

The Township is served by the Hempfield Area School District, the largest school district in Westmoreland County, comprised of Hempfield Township and the Boroughs of Adamsburg, Hunker, Manor, New Stanton, and Youngwood. The school system includes five elementary buildings (K-5), three middle schools (6-8), and a high school (9-12). The Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center (CWCTC) serves Hempfield students in grades 9-12. Launched in the 2020-2021 school year, the District also includes the Hempfield Area Cyber Academy, which provide synchronous and asynchronous learning taught by District teachers for grades 6-12.

Fort Allen Elementary School

Maxwell Elementary School

West Hempfield Elementary School

Standwood Elementary School

West Point Elementary School

Harrold Middle School

West Hempfield Middle School

Wendover Middle School

Hempfield Area Senior High School

Central Westmoreland Career & Technical Center (9-12)

Hempfield Area Cyber Academy (6-12)

The District’s strategic plan for 2019 to 2022 established the following district level goals:

1. Implement a system that provides all students the knowledge, skills, and understandings to be literate citizens.

2. Implement a system that provides all students the knowledge, skills, and competencies to be numerate citizens.

3. Implement a system that provides all students with the skills necessary to be independent, college and career-ready citizens.

4. Implement a system that provides all students with an opportunity to cultivate self-awareness and selfmanagement, establish and maintain relationships, and practice social problem solving.

Private School

In addition to the Hempfield Area School District, the Township is also served by two private institutions.

Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School enrolls approximately 400 students, grades 7-12 in a collegepreparatory curriculum.

Clelian Heights is a Catholic educational facility serving students with developmental disabilities. Students 5 to 21 years old are accepted into the school program, and adults 18 years and older may be part of the adult programs.

College Campuses

The Township is also home to a number of higher-education campuses, which serve as important community partners, developing close relationships with local municipalities, and supporting community programs and facilities.

The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg enrolls almost 1,600 full and part-time students and has 251 employees. The campus covers 219 acres of the Township, and houses 650 students.

Westmoreland County Community College has several locations throughout Westmoreland, Fayette, and Indiana counties, serving more than 1,100 students.

Carlow University Greensburg Education Center (GEC) was opened in 1992 and is a regional leader in adult education, offering students access to all of Carlow University’s resources, with small class sizes and accelerated evening classes.

FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES

The Fire & Emergency Services Department coordinates work in all areas of public safety, including the fire departments, state police, traffic safety, fire codes, and safety related to workers’ compensation.

Fire Department

In 2007, Hempfield Township received a fire service operational assessment through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) completed by Michael J. McCafferty, Fire Peer Consultant. This assessment recommended several changes to the delivery of fire service and identified a trend in the reduced number of fire department members, both in the Commonwealth and locally. In 2016, the Township Board of Supervisors agreed to create the Bureau of Fire, resulting in the ability to align procedures, training opportunities, and purchases across the Township fire departments. In January 2018, the Township Board of Supervisors decided to re-examine the fire service delivery, including the Bureau of Fire concept. In 2019, the Board of Supervisors took steps to improve fire protection within the Township by initiating the Hempfield Fire Department and using the 2007 DCED report and a 2018 Gap Analysis as a guide, hired a full-time Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and Fire Inspector. The Hempfield Fire Department includes 11 stations reporting under one National Fire Incident Reporting System number. Each station operates under a signed service agreement which includes a Standard Operating Platform and a quarterly financial allotment check.

On November 15, 2021, the North Hempfield Volunteer Fire Department and Hempfield Township appeared at the Westmoreland County Courthouse to allow for the transfer of North Hempfield Volunteer Fire Department’s assets to become the first station under the complete control of the Township.

As of March 2022, Hempfield Township’s Insurance Service Office’s (ISO) grade improved from a classification 6 to an ISO Class 4. The progression in training, response, equipment, and recordkeeping allowed the Township to drastically improve its previously published ISO grade.

Significant capital investments were also made by the Township for fire apparatus. In November 2019, two 75 ft aerial apparatuses were purchased, placing one at the Bovard station and the other at the Adamsburg station. In October 2020, Hempfield took delivery of a pumper truck, placing it into service at Hempfield #2 and in May 2022, a 2,500-gallon tanker was delivered to the North Hempfield Station. Currently, construction is underway for a headquarters facility on Woodward Drive and a major renovation to the North Hempfield facility to accommodate staffing capabilities.

In 2022, Hempfield Township instituted a staffing incentive program to improve response. After the adoption of the 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) in March, the Fire Department also re-instituted a commercial fire inspection program.

Police Department

The Township does not have its own municipal police department. Instead, the area is served by Pennsylvania State Police Troop A. In addition to providing conventional safety services, Troop A also has a Community Service Unit, with Community Services Officers and Public Information Officers available to make public presentations and help inform the public about crime awareness and increase public safety.

Emergency Medical Services

Ambulance services in the Township are provided by three Ambulance service is provided by Mutual Aid EMS with units stationed strategically throughout the Township. In 2021, Mutual Aid EMS added a station on Edna Road in the western section and Route 66 at North Hempfield Fire Station in the northern section of the Township to improve EMS coverage.

Emergency Management

Hempfield Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) supports Fire, Police, and EMS by providing emergency planning, specialized resource acquisition, and Emergency Management training.