Each year, the Chester County Planning Commission collects and reports data on housing prices, housing affordability, and new units constructed across Chester County as part of the ongoing implementation of Landscapes3, the county’s comprehensive plan.

The 2019 residential housing data, which was presented at the Planning Commission’s Board Meeting on August 11, was largely consistent with the data from 2018, however there were a few key differences to acknowledge.

In 2019, the median sale price for homes in Chester County was $355,000 – a 4.4% increase from 2018 which was $340,000. However for “new homes” sold, the median was nearly $100,000 higher.

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Overall, Chester County has a strong and diverse economy, with particular strengths in management of companies, finance, professional and technical services, and agriculture, and this strength will help the county economy come back from the COVID-19 pandemic impacts.

With the pandemic taking a toll of much of the nation’s economy, the Chester County Planning Commission, in partnership with the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), prepared an Economy Report for the Restore Chester County Initiative, which was created to focus on the reopening and restoration of Chester County post-COVID-19.

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In addition to the residential housing data collected each year, the Chester County Planning Commission tracks the non-residential construction across the county including total square footage, building type, and location.

In 2019, Chester County saw a total of 36 new non-residential construction projects across the county for a total of 975,849 square feet. While this number is much lower than the previous year’s total of 1,466,203, the average square feet per project went up significantly – from 13,707 to 31,603.

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Preserving Chester County’s robust agricultural communities is critical for implementing Landscapes3, and local municipalities can play a key role through growth management, land preservation, and zoning. Two land use tools in particular, growth boundaries and agricultural zoning, help do this.

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Each year, the Chester County Planning Commission tracks a number of metrics and successes across the county pertaining to the six goals found within Landscapes3, the county’s comprehensive plan.

By tracking these metrics and successes on an annual basis, the county is able to determine just how well the implementation of Landscapes3 is going by measuring how we: protect, preserve, appreciate, live, prosper, and connect.

In the coming months, we will be featuring a number of engaging stories highlighting the different achievements, accomplishments, successes, events, and other activities that occurred throughout Chester County in 2019. Continue Reading →

This past June, East Bradford Township, in partnership with PennDOT and local and state representatives, successfully completed the construction of the Route 322 (Downingtown Pike) Bridge Replacement Project!

What started as just a bridge replacement project quickly turned into a collaborative local-governmental effort, resulting in not just a successful bridge replacement, but a variety of public recreational benefits as well.

The new concrete bridge replaced the steel-beam bridge that was originally constructed in 1929 and no longer in good condition. “We were eager to complete the replacement of this poor condition structure on U.S. 322 (Downingtown Pike), so it could continue to provide motorists with a safe and secure crossing over the east branch of Brandywine Creek for many years to come,” said PennDOT District Executive, Kenneth M. McClain.

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What planning projects are ready to advance in your community? The second round of the Vision Partnership Program (VPP), Chester County’s municipal planning grant program, is now open.  The deadline for applications is September 25, 2020 at 4 pm. Eligible projects include individual and multi-municipal comprehensive plans, as well as ordinances, official maps, and a variety of studies. Efforts such as village master plans, trail feasibility studies, revitalization plans, historic preservation planning, stewardship plans, transportation studies, and sustainability/resilience plans are eligible project types.

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On August 3, U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham released a statement regarding an update on the 2020 Census.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in order to ensure a complete and accurate 2020 Census Count by the statutory deadline of December 31, 2020, the deadline for field data entry collection has been moved up one month earlier than previously announced. The new deadline is September 30, 2020. Self-response options will also close on that day in order for data processing to begin.

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On Monday, August 3, the Brandywine Conservancy, in partnership with the Chester County Planning Commission, announced the completion of the Brandywine Creek Water Trail Feasibility Study!

As a part of the Brandywine Creek Greenway initiative, the study outlines recommendations for a formalized route along the Brandywine Creek for recreational use and enhanced trail connections. Recommendations focus on improving safe public access by providing proper amenities for kayakers and canoers, directing use to specific access points through unified wayfinding signage and a water trail map, and establishing an online presence to provide information on creek conditions as well as proper safety and stewardship practices.

The Planning Commission partnered with the Brandywine Conservancy on this project in an advisory capacity and contributed conceptual designs for the proposed launch facilities and proposed wayfinding system.

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