Landscapes2 - Plan Update News
The Landscapes2 website has been updated to highlight the next topic in the Plan, Agriculture. The Agriculture section includes a summary of agriculture issues facing Chester County. An Agricultural presentation was given to the Landscapes2 Steering Committee on September 20th that summarized the agriculture issues facing Chester County.
Other Agricultural related references
Agricultural Development Council and the Agricultural Land Preservation Board If you are not already familiar with the many products and services provided through County Departments, plan to visit their website. On the site you can learn about available programs, examine maps/charts and promotional material such as the recently updated Farm Market Guide.
Buy Fresh, Buy Local Use this on-line directory to find southeastern Pennsylvania family farms, farmers' markets, Community Supported Agriculture farms (CSA's), u-pick farms, restaurants, grocers, caterers and bakers, bed & breakfasts, and other businesses that sell locally grown farm products.
AgMap, Pennsylvania ’s Online Agricultural Directory, is a project that allows agricultural producers to add their business operation online with detailed GIS location and attribute information about their business. Consumers can then search this database to find the product they need.
FarmMap provides a place to advertise available farmland in Pennsylvania so landowners and farmers can find land to buy, sell or lease and keep valuable farmland in production.
Agribusiness Planning, Providing Direction for Agricultural Firms – On-line publication that discusses the importance of business planning for agricultural firms—from input suppliers to producers to processors—and describes the steps required to prepare a thorough business plan.
Planning related news and references
The Long Road to Yes: Problems with the Permitting Process and the Need for Specific Plans in Pennsylvania
This new report, authored by our very own Director, Ronald Bailey, documents how the frequent lack of local government capacity and the enactment of other state and federal laws since 1968 has resulted in an increasingly complex and uncoordinated process. The Report sponsored by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College provides an investigation of how the permitting process for subdivisions or land developments has evolved in Pennsylvania . The report also contains information and discusses opportunities afforded by new regulations such as those that address use of multi-municipal comprehensive plans.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has unveiled their new website that contains a wealth of information and resources on our communities. Plan to visit their website to see for yourself.
The largest solar power facility in Eastern U.S. will be built in Bucks County.
A web page has been established to publicize the Lukens Historic District in the City of Coatesville and the future home of the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum.
Walkscore is a very effective interactive website at that shows how walkable your community is based on the location of your residence.
A new report by the DEP Secretary speaking in Chester County says energy independence fund will deliver economic growth for clean energy industry.
Upcoming events
Chester County School of Government
Learn how your County government operates by taking the free 6 week course.
2007 Pennsylvania Planning Association (PPA) Annual Conference
Planning on the Urban Fringe October 28-30, 2007 at the Wyndham Gettysburg.
Master Planner training available in October
Chester County 2020, the Chester County Planning Commission, and West Chester University's School of Business & Public Affairs and Department of Geography & Planning will offer a Master Planner course focused on Community Planning in October 2007. This 3-night course is being made available to all municipal planning commission members.
Census Bureau LUCA Program
The Census Bureau has scheduled a Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Technical Training session on Tuesday, October 30th, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, in the Chester County Government Services Center, Room 149, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester. The LUCA program provides local governments with the opportunity to review and update the Census Bureau’s address list, which will be used for the 2010 Decennial Census. If you did not receive this information or have questions about the program, please contact the Census Bureau’s Philadelphia Regional Office at 1-866-511-5822 or the Chester County Planning Commission at 610-344-6285.
5th Annual Design on the Delaware
October 8th & 9th, 2007 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Design on the Delaware is a two day conference and trade show that brings together design and building professionals, business and public leaders, product and service providers for two days of professional education, trade show, and networking.
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
93rd Annual Conference Building Bridges to Better Communities October 7–10, 2007
Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Urban Anchors in the 21st Century: A Commitment to Place, Growth, and Community, co-sponsored by the Lincoln Institute, the Penn Institute for Urban Research, the Rockefeller Foundation, CEOs for Cities, the Great Cities Institute, and Bank of America, will be held October 8-9 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
New Housing Issues document on Landscapes2 website - In 2004, the Chester County Department of Community Development conducted a series of public participation events as part of developing the County's 5-year Consolidated Plan. Several of the focus group sessions addressed housing issues, and offer some valuable insights for Landscapes2.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will be holding a free seminar of maintaining and installing street trees and shade trees in Coatesville in October.