Burton Township Land Use Plan - Public Infrastructure & Services

CHAPTER V

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES

Roads

The public road system includes township, county, and state routes. According to the county engineer's office, there are approximately 46.37 miles of public road right-of-way in the township. More specifically, the township is responsible for the maintenance of 21.36 miles of roadway. The county maintains eight roads representing 15.71 miles. There are 9.3 miles of state highways under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Transportation (see Map 14).

The state and county roads serve as the primary through traffic routes within the township. The township roads are ordinarily utilized for access to the local residential and agricultural properties. Figure 14 reflects Burton Township's position in relation to other communities in the county regarding total township road mileage.

Map 14
Burton Township
Road Classification

Traffic Volume

In selected years, traffic counts were taken by the County Engineer's Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation at various points throughout the township (see Maps 15 and 16). The figures shown on the maps represent the number of vehicles that passed the counting points within a 24-hour period.

A review of the traffic counts where comparisons can be made reveals that on the state routes traffic volume has remained somewhat stable. The majority of county roads reflect an increase in traffic flow based upon traffic counts taken in 1992/1993 and 1998/1999 (see Table 20).

Map 15
Burton Township
State Route Traffic Counts
 
  Map 16
Burton Township
County Road Traffic Counts

Future Road Improvements

The County Engineer's Office has scheduled the rehabilitation of the bridges on Hotchkiss Road (2002) and Hubbard Road (2004). Resurfacing projects include Rapids Road from the bridge to Pond Road (2003), Jug Street from Tavern Road to Main Market Road (2003), and Gingerich Road (2005). The township's capital five-year improvement plan includes the following:

Accident Data

Table 21 details the township accident and fatality data for 1995 through 2000 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The number of accidents in Burton during this period averaged almost 98 per year with a high of 113 in 2000. In a comparison of the accident totals over this time span (1995-2000) with the other townships, Burton is ranked twelfth overall (see Table 22 and Figure 15).

Transportation Services

The Geauga County Transit Program offers the only available public transportation system in the township. Their fleet consists of 16 vehicles (13 buses 1 mini-bus and 2 cars). Service is provided on a demand-responsive basis at a cost of $4.00 per trip (one way) anywhere in the county ($2.00 with a golden buckeye card). Service for senior citizens is offered for medical appointments outside of the county as well.

The nearest local airport open to the public is the Geauga County Airport located in Middlefield. Other airports in the region include Cuyahoga County, Burke Lakefront, and Hopkins International. There are no active railroad lines in the township. Consequently, all freight must be handled by truck.

Water and Sewage

Water for domestic and business use is generally obtained through private on-site wells. According to 1990 census data 866 water wells exist throughout the township. Expected ground water yields in the township are predominantly in the range of greater than 25 gallons per minute (see Map 41 at page VIII-27).

The majority of the sewage treatment needs are handled by individual on-site septic systems (700 systems exist per 1990 census data). These systems are privately maintained. Central sewage treatment facilities, that are owned and operated by the county, include: Broadwood Wastewater Treatment Facility at 13160 Longwood Avenue (.0275 mgd capacity), the Berkshire Wastewater Treatment Facility at 15000 Kinsman Road (.02 mgd capacity), and Burton Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility at 12606 Jackson Drive (.05 mgd capacity). The Burton Village Wastewater Treatment Facility (.27 capacity mgd) owned and operated by the municipality is located at 13850 Memorial Drive (see Table 23 and Map 17). The village plant serves several establishments that are outside of the municipal limits such as the branch of Kent State University and the county fairgrounds.

Map 17
Burton Township
Wastewater Treatment Facilities Location

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) was charged under Section 208 of the Federal Clean Water Act with the preparation of a regional water quality plan in conjunction with local officials known as Clean Water 2000. The plan addresses wastewater treatment issues and non-point source pollution management. As part of the Clean Water 2000 plan, a sewer service area has been designated in Burton (see Map 18). The plan was prepared by the County Water Resources Department based on input by Burton Township officials related to existing zoning land uses, sewer capacity, and documented health concerns. It was subsequently adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and provided to NOACA and the Ohio EPA for approval. Sanitary sewer service is restricted to the areas within the boundaries shown on the map. Areas with existing sewers include almost 376 acres of land within the township and an additional 122 acres of land may be sewered (see Table 24). All areas outside the service plan boundaries must be served by on-site treatment facilities, unless a documented health issue is found.

Map 18
Burton Township
Sewer Service Area Plan

Other Utilities

Burton residents and businesses receive electrical power through lines maintained by the First Energy Company. The community will have a choice concerning electrical suppliers in the future as a result of utility aggregation. Dominion East Ohio provides natural gas along with other suppliers. The Ameritech and Alltel Telephone Companies furnish hardwire telephone service and cable television is offered by Adelphia and Classic Communications. Private haulers handle the solid waste disposal for the township.

Emergency Services

The Burton Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection and 12 hour EMS service for the township on a contractual basis with the Board of Trustees. Mutual aid is furnished through the Middlefield Fire Department. The service contract for 2002 totaled $86,000 with an additional $15,000 provided for equipment upgrades and repairs. The Burton Fire Department's 2002 budget totaled $235,000. Membership includes 39 fire persons, 11 of whom are registered emergency medical technicians (EMT's) as well as six paramedics. The fire station stores all of the equipment and is located at 13828 Spring Street within Burton Village (see Map 19). The department's equipment inventory includes two engines, one tanker, one grass fire unit, and two emergency vehicles. The cost of fire protection may rise significantly in the foreseeable future. As a result the township is pursuing the option of a regional study exploring issues such as consolidation with other local fire departments (to form a fire district) and 24 hour EMS service.

Police protection is the joint responsibility of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Geauga County Sheriff's Department. The highway patrol is primarily concerned with traffic safety on the state routes. The sheriff's department is responsible for law enforcement throughout the township. The sheriff's operations include two structures located at 13349 Kinsman Road, known as post 2. Vehicles are maintained and repaired at this facility (5,860 sq. feet). It includes offices and a classroom as well. The other structure at the post 2 site is used primarily for storage (6,680 sq. feet).

Township Property

The township owns eight parcels of land, including four cemeteries (see Table 25 and Map 19). Memorial is the oldest cemetery and is inactive. Williams cemetery is also at capacity. Pleasant Hill cemetery is nearing capacity with plots limited to those that have been previously sold and Slitor cemetery has approximately 90 plots available.

The township maintains three structures: the town hall (2,160 sq. ft.), a pole barn (1,196 sq. ft.), and a picnic shelter (1,104 sq. ft.). All of these structures are situated on a 20.5 acre parcel (Burton Memorial Forest) located at 14821 Rapids Road in Burton Village.

The Burton Memorial Forest Property was donated to the township as a tribute to war veterans. The township has formed a committee to examine its management. The township is pursuing the purchase of additional adjacent land to enhance the affected area and to ensure the preservation of sensitive natural features.

Map 19
Burton Township
Governmental & Other Public Facilities

Recreation and Open Space Sites

Public recreation, private recreation, and open space sites within the community include the following (see Map 20).

Public recreation areas:

	Burton Township Memorial Forest, 20.5 acres
	County Fairgrounds, 155 acres

Private Recreation areas:

	Pleasant Hill Golf Course (27 holes), 180 acres (170 acres within Burton Township)
	Wicked Woods Golf Course (18 holes), 215 acres (117 acres within Burton Township)
	Grandview Golf Club (18 holes), 256.3 acres (66 acres within Burton Township)
	Camp Wise Halle Park, 302 acres (25 acres within Burton Township)
	Camp Burton, 128.94 acres (15.76 acres within Burton Township)

Open space sites:

	Geauga Park District, 240 acres
	Nature Conservancy, 375 acres
	Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 14.6 acres
	City of Akron Land, 3,473.37 acres

Recreation and Open Space Acquisition Programs/Organizations

Clean Ohio Fund

As part of the Clean Ohio Fund, administered by the state, financial assistance is available to protect high quality streams and restore diminished water resources. This program provides grants for the purchase of permanent conservation easements and/or fee simple acquisition of riparian lands to protect and restore streams and forested riparian corridors. Funding is available for the acquisition of easements and fee simple title to property for recreational trails and corridors. In addition, grants are available to all political subdivisions for green space preservation such as the acquisition of land for parks and natural areas, as well as the development of these areas.

Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF)

The WPCLF offers financial as well as technical assistance to both public and private entities in order to improve the overall quality of rivers, streams, lakes and other water resources. Loans at below market interest rates are offered to finance water pollution control activities. Eligible activities include construction of wastewater treatment plants and sewers, as well as activities associated with non-point source water pollution, such as agricultural runoff control, landfill closures, contaminated industrial property remediation, stream bank restoration, and wellhead protection.
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

The WRP is a national program that provides individual landowners, on a voluntary basis, an opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The Natural Resource Conservation District manages the program and provides technical and financial support to the landowners that participate in the program. Land eligible for this program includes:

	Wetlands farmed under natural conditions, farmed wetlands, and/or prior converted wetlands.
	Existing or restorable riparian habitat corridors that connect protected wetlands.
	Drained wooded wetlands where hydrology will be fully restorable.
	Lands adjacent to restorable wetlands.
	Wetlands restored under State and Federal programs.
	Lands substantially altered by flooding where there is likelihood of successful wetland restoration at a reasonable cost.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a private, nonprofit conservation organization. Its mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities by protecting the lands and waters that they need to proliferate. The Conservancy protects land through acquisition, gifts, exchanges, conservation easements, and management agreements. Land acquisition often involves cooperative ventures with other conservation organizations, and/or federal and state agencies.

Trust for Public Land (TPL)

TPL is a national nonprofit land conservation organization founded to acquire land for public use. They have experts in law, finance, real estate, fundraising, and public relations work nationwide to assist government agencies identify lands they seek to protect and help the accomplish their land preservation goals. "Greenprinting" is TPL's proactive approach to conservation and includes the following measures:

	Assist in the identification of lands a community seeks to protect.
	Develop an acquisition strategy for prescribed lands.
	Identify sources of public and private funding for conservation purposes.
	Independently acquire land from private owners for later purchase by public agencies.
	Mobilize public support for land protection.

Map 20
Burton Township
Public/Private Open Space, & Recreation Sites

Public Education

Burton Township, Burton Village, Troy Township, and a portion of Claridon Township form the Berkshire School District. There are four schools that serve the entire district. The Berkshire High School serves grades 7-12 for the entire district and grades 1 - 6 are served by their respective elementary school. The students (K - 6) from Burton Township and Village attend Berkshire Elementary School. All kindergarten age children in the district attend Berkshire Elementary School.

Berkshire High School at 14510 Main Street in Burton Village had an enrollment for the 2001/2002 school year of 685 students. The staff for the high school totals 34 teachers, one assistant principal, and one principal.

Berkshire Elementary School at 13724 Carlton Street serves grades K - 6. There are 412 students enrolled for the 2001/2002 school year. The staff at the elementary school includes 38 teachers and one principal.

Claridon Elementary at 14818 Mayfield Road serves students in grades 1-6 who reside in Claridon Township. There are 153 students enrolled for the 2001/2002 school year. The staff at the school includes 17 teachers and one principal.

Troy Elementary at 17791 Claridon-Troy Road serves students in grades 1-6 who reside in Troy Township. There are 148 students enrolled for the 2001/2002 school year. The staff at the school includes 23 teachers and one principal.

Specialized personnel are provided throughout the various schools in the fields of learning disability, special education, speech and hearing therapy, library science, and computers. A psychologist and registered nurse are available to the students as well as tutors.

The Berkshire Board of Education, as part of its strategic plan, has developed a conceptual proposal that includes the construction of a new high school (grades 9-12). The 60-acre site (already owned by the Board of Education) is located on the west side of Claridon-Troy Road at the Burton Township/Burton Village boundary line. The proposed school building is projected to be approximately 80,000 square feet in size. The preliminary plans also include the construction of a 25,000 square foot community center. Implementation of these plans is dependent on the passage of a school levy.

Many of the Amish children in the community are educated through eighth grade by private schools. There are two Amish schools located in the township: "Meadowglow" and the "Georgia Road" school.

The Geauga Branch of Kent State University is situated in the township at 14111 Claridon-Troy Road (see Map 19). This facility (31,456 sq. ft.) was built in 1975 and is situated on 84 acres. Enrollment has gradually increased over the last several years and the school officials expect this trend to continue. The spring semester enrollment for 2002 was 676 students. The faculty at the university consists of 11 full time and 40 adjunct professors. The school curriculum offers the first two years of general requirements towards a four-year degree, an associates degree in business administration, technical studies, computer technology, accounting technology, and horticulture, as well as course work towards a bachelor's degree in business administration, general studies, and technical services.

The nearest public library is located on the square in Burton Village at 1458 West Park Street (see Map 19). This structure was built in 1885 (11,772 sq. ft.) and first used as a high school. In 1910 the "Civic Improvement Society" established the library and moved into the present site in 1940. Today, the library offers books, various forms of multi media materials, and a unique art collection. Various children and adult education programs are provided as well.

Educational Level

Figure 16 represents an analysis of the educational level of Burton residents 25 years and older from the 1980, 1990, and 2000 Census. In 1980, 67% of the township's residents had a high school diploma, in 1990 this figure increased to 77%, and according to the 2000 Census data this figure rose to almost 80%. According to the 2000 Census, 17.6% of the township residents have a college degree.

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