Following Up: Fall 2021 Planners' Forum
Posted October 13, 2021
The Chester County Planning Commission hosted the Fall Planners' Forum on Wednesday, October 6, at the East Bradford Township Building and via Zoom. The forum was attended by local planners, developers, county officials, and many others from around the region, and started off with a networking session from 8:00-8:30am.
Following the networking session, updates were provided by three Chester County municipalities on successfully using planning to reach a community's goals. The forum also highlighted the 25th anniversary of the county's Vision Partnership Program (VPP).
Mandie Cantin, East Bradford Township Manager, kicked off the presentations with an overview of East Bradford's open space program and how it came to be what it is today. She touched on various area projects spanning from the early 2000s — such as their Harmony Hill Nature Area (2005) and Mt. Bradford Preserve (2008) — to more recent projects such as their Strodes Barn (2015 & 2018), and the Star Farm (2010 & 2020).
Tony Scheivert, Upper Uwchlan Township Manager, next provided an update on the hub of Upper Uwchlan's retail and cultural activity — Eagle Village/Byers Village — as well as their "Village Concept Plan" and some of its successes and challenges.
Following, Matt Fetick, Mayor of Kennett Square and Doug Doerfler, Council Member, shared information on Kennett Square's Municipal Relations Committee/ Five Development Priorities, which help determine priorities and other important factors during the early stages of a project. They also covered loans and funding sources, as well as some of their recent community programs.
"We're always happy to see planners coming together to share stories about successful planning projects" noted Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director, Brian O'Leary. "The Planners' Forums provide a great opportunity to hear about local planning initiatives, ask questions, and catch up with old friends twice per year!"
The 2021 Fall Planners' Forum was the Chester County Planning Commission's twelfth semiannual Planners' Forum. View the PowerPoint.
Stay tuned for information on our next Planners' Forum in the spring of 2022!