Chester County plans for its future growth

Comprehensive plan will involve a 2-year effort beginning with a series of stakeholder meetings in coming months

Officials have begun work on a new comprehensive plan and will seek public input at a series of meetings.

WEST CHESTER >> Chester County’s comprehensive municipal and countywide planning document, a mainstay of the effort to preserve open space and revitalize urban settings, will be updated over the next two years with public meetings and information session.

The Chester County commissioners announced the Landscapes3 kick-off last Tuesday at their monthly work session, with presentations about the work that has been done over the past 20 years since the adoption of the first landscape plan. Landscapes 3 will be developed to continue the focus on growth and preservation established by the original document and its successor, Landscapes2.

Landscapes3 will involve a two-year effort that begins with a series of stakeholder meetings this fall, to determine the issues and challenges facing the county over the next ten years, said county Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary.

“Twenty years ago, Chester County made a choice to redirect growth, to protect open space and to revitalize our towns and urban communities,” said commissioners’ Chairman Terence Farrell. “Landscapes and Landscapes2 have served us very well in doing that, but it is time to renew our vision and ensure that Chester County remains a highly attractive place to live, work and visit.”

Added commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Kathi Cozzone, “The success of Landscapes and Landscapes2 is evident, not just in the many awards that each plan has won, but also in the many accomplishments that we can attribute to the comprehensive plan. Now is the time to begin the groundwork to carry our vision on for another decade.”

The update will involve three phases: Understanding the Issues (#TellUsL3) will focus on stakeholder meetings to gather background data on issues and trends in specific topical subjects; Constructing the Vision (#GuideUsL3) will include regional meetings, a public opinion survey and the drafting, refining and adoption of the document; and Implementing the Plan (#WorkWithUsL3) will begin the implementation of the recommendations.

Landscape3 will also include an economic development segment meant to weave the county’s business community with its preservation and revitalization components. Other issues include agriculture, housing, transportation, infrastructure, and community health.

“Chester County’s comprehensive plan has been implemented through permanently protected open space, an additional 10,000 residents to urban communities and by guiding our current 10-year economic development strategy, VISTA 2025,” said Commissioner Michaelle Kichline. “Public participation has been a key to the success of our comprehensive plan, and we strongly encourage all Chester County residents to provide feedback for the development of Landscapes3.”

The public is invited to participate in the Landscapes3 update process through a series of activities including an upcoming public opinion survey, participating in on-line discussions and photo competitions, as well as through a series of town meetings to be held throughout the county.

The first two public meetings was held on Tuesdays, covering preservation an agricultural issues, respectively. The following five sessions will be held throughout the fall. All meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the county’s Public Safety Training Campus in South Coatesville.

A website has been dedicated to the plan in order to make the process inclusive and transparent. Interested citizens are encouraged to go to www.chescoplanning.org for updates on the development of the plan and how to participate.

For more information, contact Susan Elks, Director of Planning Services, Chester County Planning Commission at 610-3446285 or email selks@chesco. org with any questions or concerns.