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staffAbout usThe staff of the Chester County PlanningCommission are employees of Chester Countywho are assigned to provide all professionaland support services to the PlanningCommission and its programs. The staff worksin partnership with municipal governments,neighboring counties, state and federalagencies, non-profit organizations, and otherentities and companies to maintain ChesterCounty’s quality of life and economic vitality.The staff also supports the Chester CountyAgricultural Development Council.ExecutiveDirectorAdministrative& rdinatorStaff erUser ialistStaff SupportSpecialistPlanning Aide Administration Services Technical iveSupportSpecialists Planning ServicesRonald T. Bailey, AICPThomas P. WestCarol J. Stauffer, AICPExecutive DirectorTechnical Services DirectorPlanning Services DirectorDavid D. Ward, AICPCatherine Sbarbaro, GIS Program ManagerKeary Larson, Computer User LiaisonSteven Cummings, GIS AnalystCarolyn Oakley, Web SpecialistHeather Ruh, Planning Aide*Glenn Bentley, Plan ReviewerWes Bruckno, AICP, Plan ReviewerPaul Farkas, Plan ReviewerJenn Kolvereid, Land Development AnalystDanielle Dickens, Land Development Analyst*Diana Gent, Graphics SupervisorChristopher Bittle, Graphics SpecialistPolly Chalfant, Graphics SpecialistElizabeth Kolb, Graphics SpecialistSusan Elks, AICP, Community PlannerMark Gallant, Community PlannerKathy McCarthy, Community PlannerKevin Myers, Community PlannerJeannine Speirs, Community PlannerCarolyn Conwell, Environmental/Open Space PlannerJake Michael, Environmental/Open Space PlannerYvonne Guthrie, Administrative SupportAssistant DirectorBeth A. Cunliffe, Administrative &Personnel ManagerKaren Peed, Administrative CoordinatorMarie Celii, Information Specialist Transportation andInformation ServicesNatasha Manbeck, AICP, PETransportation Services DirectorMatthew Anderson, Transportation Planner*William Deguffroy, Transportation PlannerJustin Smiley, Urban PlannerRobert Walker, County PlannerRandy Waltermyer, AICP, Transportation PlannerPatti Strauber, Administrative Support Agricultural DevelopmentHillary Krummrich, Esq.Agricultural Development Director* No longer with the Planning Commission6www.Landscapes2.org

About usbudgetBalancing work programs withresourcesThe Planning Commission faced another challenging yearbalancing the work program with an overall decrease in resources.This challenge was met by identifying new funding opportunitiesand managing expenditures. The Planning Commission securedadditional revenue through grants to supplement our programsin the amount of 111,578, thereby offsetting potential cuts toservices. In addition, the Planning Commission worked diligently toidentify opportunities to decrease expenditures. As a result, the netamount expended in 2011 was 2,557,848, nearly a three percentdecrease from the 2010 budget.Budget20102011Budgeted 2,992,147 3,019,721Expended 2,910,689 2,997,693Revenues 287,234 439,845 2,623,455 2,557,84820102011 178,904 297,773 24,414 10,563 1,972 2,802 81,944 125,525 287,234 429,372Net expendedRevenuesFederal & StateLocalPublicationsSubdivision feesTotal revenuewww.Landscapes2.org7

the strategic planStrategic business planRefining the planStrategic business plan — managing for resultsIn order to enhance accountability, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a strategic business plan. The plan,entitled Chester County’s Strategic Planning Managing for Results, won a 2011 Governor’s Award for Local GovernmentExcellence in the category Fiscal Accountability and Best Management Practices.ossible for Chester CountyManaging for Results (MFR) makes it possiblelity to taxpayers.departments to demonstrate accountabilityerMFR provides a common framework underManaging for ResultsChester Countywhich strategic planning, budgeting andStrategic PlanEvaluatingandperformance measurements are alignedPlanning for ResultsImprovingDepartmentalin a unified process, with six modules thattResultsStrategic Planssupport the process:The Planning Commission’s businessStrategicplan was approved in 2011 and is closelyPlanningaligned to the county’s strategic plan.Strategic BusinessAnalyzing andProcessAlignment—ReportingThe business plan establishes fourEmployee PerformanceResultsactivities for which resources and staffManagementare assigned.The plan is aligned with the county’sDeliveringBudgeting forgstrategic plan, and based on the followingResultsResultsmmissioners:priorities established by the Board of Commissioners:1. Promote and protect the public health environment ofthe community.2. Ensure safe and secure communities.3. Support the growth and development of a strong and vibrant economy for all residents.4. Enhance access to, and use of transportation systems to reduce traffic congestion.5. Continue to exercise smart financial management and maintain the county’s financial strength while minimizing theproperty tax burden.6. Manage growth and land use to preserve and optimize the quality of life in the community.The department strategic business plan includes performance and evaluation measurements. The department’s activitywill be monitored and evaluated against its performance and evaluation criteria.Annual report organizationThis annual report is structured to present the results in each of the department’s activity areas: Landscapes2 Plan Services Community Planning Services Planning information Services Transportation Planning and Programming ServicesIn addition to these four activities, the department also supports the Agricultural Development Council.8www.Landscapes2.org

landscapes2Landscapes2 plan activityLandscapes2 Plan ActivityProvide an update to, and outreach and implementation of the county’s policy plan, Landscapes2 to theBoard of Commissioners and their constituents so they can adopt and use a relevant set of policies forbalancing growth and preservation.Implementing the long-range planThe adoption of Landscapes2 established a series of actions needed to realize the vision ofbringing growth and preservation together in Chester County. Many of the recommendationspromote sustainable practices which use resources more wisely and manage growth in a moreefficient way. To best communicate these recommendations and to provide municipalities andstakeholders with tools, a series of initiatives were unveiled.Implementing Landscapes2A web site, entitled Discover the Future, www.ChescoPAgreen.org was launched in April of 2011.The site is dedicated to the implementation of Landscapes2. It serves as a portal for promotingsustainable practices within the county by: Collaborating with partnering agencies and organizations committed to improving ChesterCounty through sustainable practices. Sharing information and techniques that promote a more efficient use of our resources. Celebrating successes in county and local government, as well as institutions, businesses andhomes where sustainable practices have made a difference.Recognizing that Chester County is a very diverse community, the county has chosen to planaccording to four landscape types. Tools are presented on the website tailored to these landscapetypes. Rural and urban landscape pages were added to Discover the Future in 2011. Suburbanresources are scheduled for loading in early 2012. Each of these pages includes an animatedintroduction to the landscape and a list of tools that relate to preserving and promoting thecharacteristics of the rural and urban landscapes (i.e., smart growth, transportation, historicpreservation, open space and recreation, natural features, housing, agriculture and utilities).The website also includes sections on the practical implementation of sustainable activities,and includes articles tailored for homeowners, businesses, municipal officials and students.By the end of 2011, a total of 40 articles were posted that relate to a wide range of sustainablepractices, including examples of successful public and private sector sustainable achievements,smart growth principles, natural resource conservation, energy reduction, transportation, andagriculture.www.Landscapes2.org9

Landscapes2 plan activityAsAssisting municipal officialsMaMany of the recommendationsfofoundin Landscapes2 involveppartnershipswith our localmmunicipalities.As part of theFederal Department of Energy’sEECBG award, the PlanningCommission prepared abrochure titled, Discoverthe Future — Creating aSustainable Future forChester County. Thebrochure serves as aresource for municipalofficials and planningcommissions, and directed themto the county’s sustainability website. The brochureincludes brief discussions about each of the four landscapetypes and provides discussions of smart growth principles andland use tools, transportation, sustainable agricultural activities,environmental preservation, as well as links for more information.The central portion of the brochure is a removable poster onsustainability practices that is designed for display at municipaloffices.Supplemental business cards showing the website address werealso prepared. Copies of the brochure (20 each) and the businesscard (50 each) are to be delivered to each county municipalityduring the first quarter of 2012.rDiscovteurethe furgAgreen.oChescoPCountyChesterture forinable fug a sustaCreatinwth principlesart Groiently byting Sm aged more efficse principle s ofbe manent canciples. Thesin termDevelopmart Growth” prin is sustainable ity of life.our qual moreent thatusing “Smbedevelopm economy andtheciples canimprovepromoteronment,these prin ient, and canour envi ent based onefficgymore ener ents.Developmctive andresidcost-effe of life for ouritythe qualPromocan dons withesnty begi l.nicipaliti for Chester Coul levemunicipa in a moreWhat musustainable futuregrowth at thegrowthegaageentto guidAchievin how we mandevelopm s,ortunitygthe oppentionalurcerethinkinon resolities have found in convdemands structure andthanMunicipareducedinframannerresult in land, energy,efficienttoThis candesigns. but not limitedstrongrequires ty andincluding ices.Countythe counChesterforials,public servreofficentmutuallyble futucel governm nerships cana sustainaand reduparteen locaBuildingity. Such municipalitieships betwcommunourpartnerslopment ient growth inthe deveeffics thateices.morl servortunitie gpromote on municipaand oppotinenof the toolsa means of promexploredthe burds someasfullye highlight l governments resources areChesterThis guidfuture forto locaThesebleent.lableainaa sustare avai ient developmreatingrg.more effic the Future–cAgreen.oin Discoverwww.ChescoPatracterCounty,nity chae up of many differentinesg commuis madguide outl definedHonorin that Chester Countys asristics, thischaracte landscape type es2:ingRecogniz with differentnty, Landscaprateter Coueachs,Chestheareaensive Plan scapes. A sepa . Theeach of nty Comprehrural landtools forscape type allter Courban, and to each landChesty’s oversubuthedn,byral, urbadedicate mary of the counagricultu in this guide issumoffers awithionnpageout portty’s visiothe coun areas ascenter fold- program.thachievebilitygrowainahelpedsustcane toolsin designatnting thesent withImpleme ble developmof sustaina Landscapes2.bydefinedprinGrowthciples:gnsing desipact buildcesing choie of houste a rangusesle landcompatibdshborhooplaceable neigsense ofte walka strong Creawithitieser communfarmland Fostspace andn choiceserve open Pressportatiolopmentty of traning devevarieaideto exist Provadjacentborationth in andder collagroweholct Direand stakmunityandictableurage comsions pred Encoent decie developm Makctivecost-effeSmartote com Prom Crea Mixgreen.orgChescoPA1Detail of the urban fly-through prepared for the Discover the Future website.10www.Landscapes2.orgDetail of the suburban fly-through prepared for the Discover the Future website.Illustrating the visionTo help illustrate the vision of Landscapes2, 3D models have beendeveloped for each landscape type, including rural, suburban andurban. These models depict the key characteristics each landscapetype portrays and sustainable practices that should be consideredto enhance these landscapes. 3D models can be viewed on www.chescopagreen.org.

Landscapes2 plan activityPOST, an online application, will allow efficient monitoring of protected open space .Protecting our open space resourcesProtected open space tracking systemLandscapes2 strives to bring a balance between growth andpreservation. A key result of the department’s strategic businessplan is the percentage of Chester County protected for open spaceannually. The Planning Commission has been charged the task oftracking protected open space in the county through government,land trust and private sector efforts.2011 marked the first year that protected open space in ChesterCounty was inventoried and mapped using the web-basedProtected Open Space Tracking (POST) system. POST is an onlineapplication that combines GIS mapping software with the samerecords used by Tax Assessment and other county departments.POST provides a tool through which information can be quicklygathered on all types of protected open space, from parksand wildlife preserves to protected farmland and home ownerassociation open spaces.POST will soon serve as an online resource that land trusts andmunicipalities can use to access protected open space information.To that end, Planning Commission staff conducted trainingsessions during the summer with the land trusts active in ChesterCounty. As a result of this coordination, several updates andrevisions will be implemented in 2012.www.Landscapes2.org11

communityCommunity planning services activityCommunity Planning Services ActivityProvide professional planning services to municipalities, governmental and non-profit agencies, permitapplicants, and the public so they can: implement sound local planning consistent with Landscapes2;meet the requirements of the Municipalities Planning Code; have the information needed to protect,improve, and maintain open space and environmental resources; and continue to maintain theexceptional quality of life and healthy economy valued by Chester County residents and businesses.Providing planning assistance to municipalitiesThe Planning Services Division provides professional planning assistance in three primary areas: Community planning assistance provides planning consulting and technical assistance servicesdirectly to municipalities, regional groups, governmental and non-profit agencies, and the publicto assist them in the implementation of sound planning that is consistent with Landscapes2 andwith the Municipalities Planning Code. Vision Partnership Grant administration provides grant review, recommendations, andmonitoring services to Chester County and its municipalities so they have the funding andresources to develop plans and ordinances to implement Landscapes2. Environmental planning provides open space protection, environmental infrastructure, andnatural resources consultation services to individuals, permit applicants, and governmentaland non-governmental agencies so they have the information needed to protect, improve, andmaintain environmental resources and locate sewer and water infrastructure appropriately.Vision Partnership Program (VPP)The Planning Commission implements the principles of Landscapes2 through the provision ofassistance to municipalities in refining their local planning programs. This assistance is primarilyaccomplished through Vision Partnership Program (VPP) grants and community planning staffthat directly assists municipalities on planning projects. The VPP grant program strives to developplanning partnerships between local governments and the county to implement sound growthmanagement and coordinated planning programs.Through the Vision Partnership Program, municipalities receive professional planning servicesand financial assistance to help update their planning programs for consistency with Landscapes2as well as to achieve municipal planning goals. Municipalities may use VPP cash grants to retainthe services of a professional planning consultant. In-kind grants may be used to retain PlanningCommission staff for professional planning assistance.Following the adoption of Landscapes2 in November 2009, an extensive review and update ofthe VPP grant program was undertaken to better promote the implementation of both the goalsof Landscapes2 and the County Commissioner’s Strategic Plan. These changes to the programwere approved by the commissioners in 2010. The most significant change to the grant programwas that it became a competitive grant, rather than an open grant available on a rolling basis.Due to budget constraints, the grant program was on hold for approximately 18 months frommid–2009 through the end of 2010, but was reopened for one round of funding in 2011.12www.Landscapes2.org

Community planning services activityMunicipalityEast Pikeland Kennett aKennett Square London Grove Malvern New London Penn Phoenixville bUpper Uwchlan 2011 VPP Grant AwardsMunicipalityProjectAwardEast BrandywineTownshipGuthriesville Village Master PlanImplementation 30,062East PikelandTownshipComprehensive Plan updatefocusing on Open Space andEconomic Development 30,000Upper UwchlanTownshipComprehensive Plan update 20,880UwchlanTownshipZoning and Subdivision Ordinance Amendments 10,500West NantmealTownshipSubdivision and Land Development Ordinance update 9,960West PikelandTownshipSubdivision and Land Development Ordinance update 18,000Total 119,4020 a Uwchlan West NottinghamRegional comprehensive plan West PikelandComprehensive planWillistownSubdivision & landdevelopment ordinanceNorthCoventryRegional economicdevelopment studySouthCoventryWarwickHistoric resourcesurvey/planRegional recreationor trail/plan ntEast

Ryan Costello The Planning Commission has evolved into a modern, professionally staff ed, planning . Dr. Douglas Fasick Resident: East Nottingham Township Occupation: Chiropractor Affi liations: President, Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce; President, Delaware Chiropractic Services Network; Member,