Tom West, Technical Services Director of the Chester County Planning Commission staff, will be leaving his post after thirty years of dedicated service.  Over his tenure at the Commission, Tom has held a position in nearly every division; from subdivision review to developing products using Geographic Information System software.  He has seen the evolution of technology from typewriters to computer networks. He became fluent in both planning jargon and technical language and could bridge planning issues with technical solutions. Continue Reading →

The Chester County Planning Commission is pleased to announce the Board of County Commissioners’ appointment of Molly Morrison to the Planning Commission.  Molly brings a balanced perspective of growth and preservation to the Commission.  Continue Reading →

We are pleased to share the spring dates for the Master Planner Courses in Community Planning, Zoning, and Zoning Administration taking place at the West Chester University Graduate Center. These courses are designed to help municipal officials and land use professionals navigate the rules that govern land use in Pennsylvania. There are no pre-requisites to take the courses and any citizen who is interested in land use is welcome to enroll. Classes begin at 6:30 pm and are accredited for continuing education for attorneys, engineers, realtors, appraisers and licensed landscape architects. Continue Reading →

The Chester County Planning Commission accomplished many goals in 2016.  The staff continued to create excellent, highly-professional products that set the standard for planning work in the region.  Here is a brief recap of 2016’s accomplishments and how they helped implement Landscapes2 and smart growth.  Continue Reading →

The Planning Commission recognized Nancy Mohr for dedicated public service to her county for over a quarter of a century at their October 12^th public meeting. Nancy served on the Chester County Planning Commission from 1998-2016 where she helped develop and promote Landscapes2, the County’s comprehensive plan, and sat on the Vision Partnership Program sub-committee where she evaluated municipal requests for planning services which implements Landscapes at the local municipal level.  Continue Reading →

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission recently released population projections for 2020-2045. The new 2045 projections for Chester County and its 73 municipalities are now available.  View details.

According to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), by 2020 the population for Chester County is projected to reach Continue Reading →

The thunderstorms on Thursday did not dampen the spirit of those who attended the historic Hibernia Park Tour. A guided tour of the furnished mansion and self-guided walking tour of the ironworks site featured the property’s transformation from a modest Quaker weaver’s shop and farm, to a thriving 19th century iron plantation, and then a 20th century country manor, to its present-day use as a County Park and interpretive site. Continue Reading →

In 1791 when Joanna Furnace was founded by Samuel Potts, Thomas Rutter III, Thomas May and Thomas Bull, Berks County was part of Chester County.  Hay Creek Valley Historical Association Executive Director Mark Zerr and over 25 living history volunteers brought the village to life for Town Tours in this wonderful testament to imagination and hard work in the 1800’s and today.  This remarkably restored iron village was buried in the woods and weeds after the furnace blew out in 1898 until work began in 1979 to restore the village.  Volunteers recreated this 19th Century iron making community through research, archaeology, restoration, early American crafts, engine technology and just plain hard work!! I sincerely hope all the Chester County residents who wanted to make the trip but felt it was too far will return for the Hay Creek Apple Festival at Joanna Furnace on October 8 & 9 when over 10,000 visitors will enjoy “all things apples” for two wonderful days of family fun.  For more information about this festival and Joanna Furnace visit www.haycreek.org/index.htm.