Category: News and Updates
Chester County Historic Preservation Network Celebrates 30th Anniversary
May is Preservation Month, a great time to recognize the Chester County Historic Preservation Network (CCHPN), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Continue Reading →
Meet Planning Commission Board Vice Chairman Doug Fasick
Every month, the Planning Commission highlights one of its staff or board members. Doug Fasick is the board’s vice chairman and has served on the board since June 2010. Doug, an Oxford resident and chiropractor, discussed how he arrived at the Planning Commission and also shared information about his life philosophy, interests, and more.
Vision Partnership Program Relaunched!
We are pleased to relaunch the Vision Partnership Program! This planning grant program will be a critical tool in implementing Landscapes3 across Chester County’s municipalities. Multiple changes were made to the program to better implement Landscapes3, so we are requiring municipal attendance at one of two upcoming meetings at the Government Services Center for first cycle applicants: 1 p.m. May 15 and 10 a.m. May 30. Check out all the details. Please contact Community Planning Director and VPP Grant Administrator Susan Elks at 610-344-6285 or selks@chesco.org with questions. The deadline to apply is June 28, 2019.
Chester County Unveils Return on Environment Report during Open Space Summit
While surrounded by the rolling fields and wildlife at the ChesLen Preserve, Chester County officials – along with representatives from municipalities, land conservation organizations, and economic development agencies – celebrated the 30th anniversary of open space preservation and the economic benefits of these efforts during an Open Space Summit May 2.
As part of the summit, the Chester County Commissioners announced results of a study, Return on Environment: The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Chester County, and unveiled a video about the report. The video highlighted the valuable economic, environmental, and public health benefits that open space preservation has provided to Chester County for the past three decades.
Census Bureau Releases 2018 County Population Estimates
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released the 2018 official estimate of the county’s population. Chester County had 522,046 people in 2018, a 3,112 person increase from 2017. Chester County had the highest rate of growth in Southeastern Pennsylvania since 2010 and over the past year.
Forum Highlights Planning Issues in Chester County
Over 50 professional planners recently attended the Chester County Planning Commission’s seventh semi-annual Planners’ Forum to learn about topics ranging from revitalization efforts and affordable housing in Phoenixville to progress on the Schuylkill River Trail.
Stay Tuned for Details on Vision Partnership Program
The Chester County Planning Commission anticipates applications for the first round of Vision Partnership Program (VPP) cash grants for 2019 will be accepted from mid-May until the end of June. This program provides funds to municipalities for comprehensive plans, ordinance updates, or planning studies to implement Landscapes3, Chester County’s comprehensive plan.
Join us at Chester County Open Space Summit
Celebrate 30 years of open space preservation in Chester County! The inaugural Chester County Open Space Summit will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at the Lenfest Center at ChesLen Preserve, 1199 Cannery Road, Coatesville. The event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the county’s open space preservation program and recognize the economic benefits of these efforts. The results of a study, Return on Environment: The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Chester County, will be announced at the event. The report highlights the proven and substantial economic, environmental, and public health benefits of open space preservation to surrounding communities. Register online. Continue Reading →
Natural Lands President Oliver Bass Attends Planning Commission Board Meeting
Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands, highlighted his regional land conservation organization and its partnership with Chester County during a Chester County Planning Commission board meeting April 10th.
Bass said the 65-year-old nonprofit organization “saves open space, cares for nature, and connects people to the outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.” The organization has been around since the early 1950s thanks to Allston Jenkins, an accountant who took up birding as a hobby.
Brandywine Conservancy Director Ellen Ferretti Attends Planning Commission Board Meeting
Ellen Ferretti, director of the Brandywine Conservancy, highlighted her organization and its partnership with Chester County during a Chester County Planning Commission board meeting March 13th.
The Brandywine Conservancy was founded in 1967 as the Tri-County Conservancy serving Chester and Delaware counties and New Castle County, Delaware. It is based in Chadds Ford, Delaware County.