Fall 2009 Newsletter (PDF)
• CCPC accepted Landscapes2 draft plan
• Unionville area
• White Clay Creek trail
• Transportation priorities
• Alternative energy
Previous issues: Summer 2008 Spring 2008 Spring 2009
Landscapes Progress Report, 2009 (PDF)This report presents the latest values for the indicators the Chester County Planning Commission uses to measure the progress of Landscapes.
Transportation Improvements Inventory, 2009 (PDF)The TII is a comprehensive record of transportation needs and projects within Chester County. It is updated biennially.
Public Transportation Serving Chester County (PDF)Septa Route 314 bus changes have been added to the online version of this map. Service includes Bradford Plaza, the West Chester Area Senior Center, and Community Volunteers in Medicine.
This publication lists core data for all subdivision and land development plans submitted to the Planning Commission in 2008. Municipal ordinance reviews for 2008 are tallied and recent development trends in Chester County are presented graphically.
Previous issues: 2007 2006 2005 2004
This is intended to promote and support Landscapes by providing municipalities with the means to improve cluster design in their communities and achieve the attractive neighborhoods they desire.
Publication series that identifies various community characteristics and provided guidance on how to preserve or enhance them through the local planning process.
This profile displays housing data on three aggregate levels— County, subcounty regions, and municipalities. It is based on information from Chester County assessment office records.
The Transportation Improvements Inventory (TII) is a comprehensive record of known transportation needs and projects within Chester County. The TII is updated biennially and contains projects that have been recommended to the Planning Commission by municipalities and other stakeholders over time. It includes 450 proposed roadway, bridge, bicycle and pedestrian, freight, and transit projects with a total estimated cost of $5.4 billion.
Use the PennDOT Project ID (MPMS #) listed in the TII to gather up-to-date information for specific projects from the following websites: PennDOT Project ID (MPMS #) Search and DVRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Search and Online Mapping.
As input for the development of the 2011 Transportation Program, representatives from various Chester County organizations presented this list of the County’s transportation priority projects to the State Transportation Commission (STC) in September 2009. The list was supported by the Chester County Commissioners, State Legislative Delegation, and Planning Commission.
The Circulation Handbook is a tool that can be used to create a balance between accommodating transportation needs and protecting and preserving the environment in Chester County. It is a resource about the design and review of land developments plans for municipalities, planners, designers, and developers. The Handbook identifies commonly accepted design standards and provides policy recommendations for municipal ordinances and transportation studies.
Shows public transportation within Chester County and to surrounding areas, including Philadelphia.
Includes profiles and illustrations of each of Chester County's 12 active rail stations, and includes recommendations for improvements to individual stations and to the system of stations as a whole.
Based on the number of potential rail projects under consideration and the challenges facing each of them, CCPC adopted a set of priorities for these passenger rail options.
Defines road functional classification and provides a basis for the integration of land us and transportation through road design, access design, and all relevant land use ordinances.
Compilation of traffic volume estimates for 2007 on major roads in Chester County.
Population pyramids of the 1990 and 2000 Chester County five-year age/sex cohorts available from the U.S. Census.
Presents information on the numbers and types of households in Chester County based on the results for Census 2000.
Presents information from the Census on travel patterns to work, including data for Chester County residents and workers coming into the County.
Summarizes the housing characteristics of Chester County as reported in the U.S. Census 2000.
Describes the two forms of the Census questionnaire, the subjects of the questions, and how the data will be released.
Presents the population figures for Chester County and its seventy-three municipalities. Shows the changes in population since 1990, both in numeric change and percentage change.
The Census 2000 Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) provides population totals for all levels of Census geography. This shows population figures and trends for Chester County and other counties in the area as provided in the redistricting data.
Presents race and Hispanic/Latino origin population data for Chester County and its 73 municipalities.
Presents the total number of housing units in Chester County and its 73 municipalities. Includes the number of housing units in 1980 and 1990 to show trends over the past two decades.
Presents the average household size in Chester County and its 73 municipalities. Includes the same data for 1980 and 1990 to show trends over the past two decades.
Discusses densely settled concentrations of population and housing that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated places.
Presents information on the numbers and types of households in Chester County based on the results for Census 2000.
Migration is a critical factor for an area's growth or decline. CCPC estimates that slightly over half of the population growth of Chester County from 1990-2000 resulted from migration.
The Community Profiles are a series of six books presenting information for specific communities within Chester County. The information is presented in seven topical sections: population, housing, land use and development, transportation, economic development, government, and community facilities.
Formerly "new residential units," this edition shows the number of new housing units that were added in 2007 and 2008 and totals from 2004 to 2008 by municipality in four categories of housing types.
Population estimates prepared for all municipalities in Chester County.
Presents a summary of statistics about agriculture in Chester County based on the 2002 Census of Agriculture.
Discusses responsibilities of on-lot sewage management. Homeowners and municipalities alike need to remember that failing systems affect the health and well-being of ourselves and the surrounding environment.
Discusses the identification, importance, functions, and misconceptions of wetlands. Recommends ways to protect and rehabilitate wetlands.
Created as a resource for municipal officials, planners, local developers, landscape architects, other landscape or horticulture professionals, and any other concerned party who are interested in preserving species of woody plants inherent to Chester County.
The graphics available below were prepared for publication in the 100-year anniversary issue of the Chester County Association of Township Officials Directory. The poster highlights a sampling of interesting events that transpired in Chester County during the Association's first 100 years.
Preserving Our Places, Historic Preservation Planning Manual
This planning manual promotes the implementation of Landscapes historic preservation goals and objectives. It does this by providing general information about historic preservation for Chester County municipalities, and also by discussing historic preservation planning specifically for Chester County's Urban, Suburban, and Rural landscapes. The list below provides the entire document as well as its separate chapters/appendices.
This planning guide provides technical advice and practical guidance to elected officials, trail planners, and appointed members of municipal planning commissions or recreation boards. The focus of this document is to help municipal officials update planning ordinances to promote the establishment of trails as part of a local or regional network.
This guidebook presents ways that municipalities can address trail and path planning in their comprehensive plan, official map, zoning ordinance and subdivision and land development ordinance.
Summarizes the basic principles of planning a municipal network of trails and paths as presented in detail in the Trail & Path Planning guidebook.
This planning guide provides advice and guidance to elected officials and appointed members of municipal open space and recreation boards. It can be used by local planners in their efforts to include planning for open space, natural resources, cultural resources and recreation facilities in the comprehensive planning process.
This provides landowners with various options for protecting their property from future development, or developing their property in a limited way that will protect the majority of it from further development.
Provides step-by-step instructions on the creation and adoption of the official map as well as sample ordinances. It discusses in greater detail how the official map can be used to further the planning goals of a municipality.
Identifies several tips for making the municipal-consultant relationship work efficiently.
Vision Partnership ProgramThe VPP grant program provides funding opportunities to member municipalities to update their local plans and ordinances. The purpose of the grant program is to achieve consistency between municipal plans and ordinances and the policies established within LANDSCAPES. For more information please visit the Vision Partnership Program section of the web site.
• Grant Manual (entire document)
• Table of Contents
• Grant Process Chart
• Grant Manual
• Appendix A: Grant Application Form (fill-in)
• Appendix B: Request for Reimbursement Form (fill-in)
• Appendix C: Municipal Comprehensive Plans Minimum Requirements
• Appendix D: Urban Center Revitalization Plans Minimum Requirements
• Appendix E: Community Centers Development Plans Minimum Requirements
• Appendix F: Municipal Transportation Improvement Plans Minimum Requirements
• Appendix G: Sample Consultant Evaluation Matrix
On November 9th, the Chester County Board of Commissioners adopted Landscapes2 as the official long range policy plan for Chester County. The public hearing was held at the Penn State Great Valley campus. The plan updates and replaces Landscapes, originally adopted in 1996. Please visit www.landscapes2.org for more information.
On February 26, 2002, the Chester County Board of Commissioners adopted Linking Landscapes: A Plan for the Protected Open Space Network in Chester County, PA as the open space element of the Chester County comprehensive plan. In October, 2002, the Pennsylvania Planning Association awarded the plan with its 2002 Outstanding Planning Award for a Special Community Initiative. Printed copies of the entire document are available at the CCPC office.
On February 4th, 2003, the Chester County Board of Commissioners released Watersheds for public distribution. It serves as the water resources element of the County's comprehensive plan, Landscapes. Please visit the Water Resources Authority for more information.
