Chester County’s landscape is defined by rolling green hills and picturesque woodland views which help to define our unique sense of place. One of the ways to help maintain this sense of place is by preserving our steep slopes and woodlands.

By limiting the disturbance of steep slopes, municipalities can greatly reduce soil erosion, stormwater runoff, and stream sedimentation. In addition to protecting water quality, wildlife habitats and scenic views are preserved.

While 2020 presented countless challenges for communities across the globe, Chester County continued to implement Landscapes3, the county’s comprehensive plan, through a variety of ways. These efforts (and more) can be identified through the Chester County Planning Commission’s recently released 2020 Metrics and Success Stories!

The 2020 metrics and success stories were presented at the Planning Commission’s April Board Meeting, and serve to support the six goals and vision of Landscapes3.

“Our 2020 metrics and successes show that our Chester County communities continue to remain resilient,” commented Planning Commission Executive Director, Brian O’Leary. “While some industries were more affected than others this past year, we see more positives than negatives which proves that even during a global pandemic, our efforts to continue implementing Landscapes3 are strong.”

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline, along with leaders of Chester County”s Planning Commission and Parks + Preservation, are hosting the annual Open Space Summit on Thursday, April 29, 2021.  The Summit includes a report on Chester County’s 2020 open space preservation achievements and ongoing commitment to the program, and will take place via Zoom from 6:30pm – 8:00pm.

Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz said, “Throughout this pandemic, Chester County’s protected open spaces have been a haven for thousands of people to safely visit and enjoy, and have helped to not only improve our physical health, but provide a remedy for our emotional and mental well-being too.”

“Anyone who wants to find out more about the true value of preserving open space in Chester County, and how their own local community can contribute, should ‘attend’ the summit.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on many communities and businesses in 2020 (and into 2021), the City of Coatesville’s downtown revitalization efforts have continued to thrive and grow despite these many challenges!

One project that’s been highlighted on various occasions throughout the year is the two-acre property which was the former site of Lukens Steel’s marketing and sales office. The soon to be 30,000-square-foot building will serve as a start-up hub, and is located at 190 West Lincoln Highway in Coatesville.

When envisioning Chester County, some of the main sights that come to mind are our waterways and greenways. Whether you’re traveling by car, bike, foot, or some other form of transportation – these assets are enjoyed by many and provide numerous benefits to our region.

Greenways are corridors of undeveloped land that offer various advantages to their surrounding area. Often located along streams, greenways support wildlife, provide recreation and environmental benefits, and increase the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Trail and recreation corridors are often located within greenways, which can help to attract businesses and support economic development within the area. Rail trails such as the Chester Valley Trail are some of the most common forms of greenways in our region, as well as the Brandywine Creek Greenway (a regional planning initiative), which recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary.

Our spring 2021 Chester County planners’ forum via Zoom on March 30 is rapidly approaching. We’ve got an exciting lineup of speakers for the event and will provide plenty of time to chat with your fellow planners during the first half an hour, from 8 am to 8:30 am, where people joining the meeting will be put into breakout rooms to chat with other planners.  After the presentations conclude at 9:30, there will be an opportunity to stay on the call and connect with anyone else who is participating. So far, we have nearly 70 planners signed up but more are always welcome.

The Chester County Planning Commission and Chester County Environmental and Energy Advisory Board (EEAB) held a virtual public meeting on Thursday, March 4, to present the county’s proposed Climate Action Plan. The meeting was attended by more than 150 individuals who tuned in to listen and provide feedback on the county’s efforts towards climate action planning.

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline provided a warm welcome and opening remarks about the county’s proposed plan.

“County wide surveys regularly show that people place great importance on Chester County’s natural environment, open space and trail networks – all of which are key elements of climate action planning,” commented Commissioner Moskowitz. “The county’s long term commitment to resource protection and climate action planning can help to ensure a bright and sustainable future for our 525,000-plus residents and 15,000-plus businesses. This is what we all want for our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come.”

The Chester County Planning Commission’s long-time Information Specialist, Marie Celii, will be retiring as of Friday, March 12, 2021. After 18 years with the Planning Commission, we thank Marie for her dedication and time spent to planning and the future of Chester County. Her smiling face will surely be missed!

As part of the Office Administration and Communications team, some of Marie’s daily activities included assisting the public with information and answering questions, providing aerial photography, completing municipal information updates, creating various contact lists (which helped to streamline snail mail to electronic mail), and many other general office duties.