Other Land Use Related References

PA Standards for Residential Site DevelopmentPennsylvania Standards for Residential Site Development, April 2007
 This document, prepared by the Pennsylvania Housing Research/ Resource Center, Pennsylvania State University, is designed to assist municipalities and other stakeholders by providing a set of model standards on which to base improvements to local ordinances. You can view the new publication online as well as catch a presentation on its contents.

DEP Secretary Says Energy Independence Fund Will Deliver Economic Growth; Applauds Regional Training for Clean Energy Industry
Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said that the growth southeastern Pennsylvania has experienced in the clean and alternative energy industries over the past three years shows the economic development potential the State can realize by investing in the future and committing to these proven technologies.

DVRPCNew Guide for Zoning for Smart Growth Available
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has released a new study, "Innovations in Zoning for Smart Growth," to assist municipalities and counties in understanding and implementing zoning to promote smart growth. Their website describes Smart Growth and the numerous programs within the region using the techniques to manage land use. The report has been distributed to all 353 municipalities in the region. To obtain a copy, please contact Gregory Heller, Planning and Design Analyst, at 215 238 2810 or gheller@dvrpc.org. (note – contains excerpts from DVRPC’s Focus Newsletter)

New Study on Transit-Oriented Development in the Delaware Valley
DVRPC has also been involved in planning for transit-oriented development (TOD) for the past decade through various studies and plans. Their recently study, "On Track: Progress Towards Transit-Oriented Development in the Delaware Valley," provides an evaluation of progress towards TOD at individual rail (and some bus) stations within the nine-county region, including locations such as Daylesford, Downingtown and Paoli in Chester County. For more information about this report, please contact Kelly Rossiter, Regional Planner, at krossiter@dvrpc.org or 215 238 2890. (note – contains excerpts from DVRPC’s Focus Newsletter)

Better Models for Development in PennsylvaniaBetter Models for Development in Pennsylvania
This document, prepared in 2005 by the Conservation Fund and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is intended to provide information on how development can occur without degrading local character. The scope of the document is on communities in Pennsylvania which makes it applicable to the conditions and issues facing Chester County.

Lincoln InstituteDensity and Land Use
The issue of density is intrinsically tied to any land use planning evaluation. It is the one of the primary variables that define our perceptions of urban places, conditions of sprawl and the ability to create effective communities. This website maintained by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy contains an impressive collections of resources (documents, visual tools and discussions) to help a visitor better understand density. The site does require a visitor to create an account but the contents are well worth the effort of registering to use the valuable resources.

10,000 FriendsSewage Facilities and Land Development Prepared by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, this study is an analysis of sewage facilities planning and permitting in relation to land use planning and development in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Planning Related News and References

Understanding the Transportation Improvement Project Process PennDOT has recently released a guide to provide a better understanding of the processes associated with a local transportation project. Publication 535, Overview of PennDOT Local Project Processes: A Guide to Getting Started on a Local Project with PennDOT, refers to general issues associated with programming, development, legal agreements and fiscal administration of projects. Topics discussed include types of transportation programs available for local projects, project reimbursement agreements, engineering, right-of-way, utilities and construction phases as well as the integration of a smart transportation approach.

Improved Housing Conditions for Migrant Farm Workers – In Adams County, PA, Rural Opportunities, Inc. developed new, affordable apartments for migrant farm workers. This project could be used as a model for farm worker housing in Chester County.

Governor Rendell has proposed the Energy Independence Fund, and $850M investment in Pennsylvania's future. The Governor's Energy Independence Strategy to help Pennsylvania expand energy production and energy technology; reduce reliance on foreign fuels and increase clean energy production capacity.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Chief Limits I-80 toll use for Highway Projects, Not Mass Transit.

Green HousingPittsburgh row house seen as a Model of Green Housing.

Bog Box EvaluatorDesigned to help communities and individuals make informed decisions based on a community's specific characteristics and values; Big Box Evaluator provides a customize report on how Big Box Retail impacts their individual community.

Economist Forecast Job Growth with the Possible Boom in "Green Energy".

USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil Information for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is now available through the Web Soil Survey.

Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership A resource for advancing the evolving stormwater management field and to support the development of public and private partnerships through research on innovative topics.

Governor Rendell Comments on the Federal Government's Final Mid-Atlantic Transmission Corridor Designation covering 52 Pennsylvania Counties.

New 45-Million-Gallon Biodeisel Plan opens in Erie Pennsylvania on former Brownfield sites.

LEED for Neighborhood Development - The LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design.

Landcover ChangesLandcover Changes in the Delaware Valley
Report published by American Forests that discusses how landcover has changed in the region, due to development and evolving land use patterns, and discusses the projected impacts on the ecosystem.

Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) is offering free Georgraphic Information Systems (GIS) books to Pennsylvania residents.

The Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance (DVSGA) is a new initiative of various government, private sector and non-profit organizations in the Greater Philadelphia tri-state region encompassing Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. The DVSGA promotes smart growth projects by recognizing proposed projects prior to development approval.

Upcoming Events

GVF Transportation's 11th Annual Regional Transportation Conference Transportation 2007: Going Green November 19th, 2007 from 7:30 AM to 2 PM; Crowne Plaza Hotel, King of Prussia, PA. For more information please call Zoe Robertson at 610 354 8899.

Homes Within ReachHomes within Reach Hosted by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, December 6-7, an inspiring training and networking event for people working for a home within reach of every Pennsylvanian. Hilton Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA, Contact: The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania 215 576 7044.

APA Pennsylvania Chapter Conference: Planning on the Urban Fringe, October 28-30. The conference will provide timely topics, interesting speakers, and tours of the Gettysburg area. Wyndham Hotel, Gettysburg, PA. Contact: Pennsylvania Planning Association 717 671 4510.

Schuylkill Action Network October 30, Annual Workshop. The theme for this year's workshop is "What's Working to Engage Local Governments?" Montgomery County College, Pottstown, PA. Contact: Schuylkill Action Network 215 814 2735.

Green PrinciplesRevitalizing Cities with Green Principles November 5. The University of Pennsylvania Department of City and Regional Planning hosts a lecture by Jonathon Rose, President and Founder, and Whitney Foutz, Project Manager, of Jonathon Rose Companies LLC., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Contact: University of Pennsylvania Department of City and Regional Planning 215 898 8329.

Land Use, Preservation, and Managing Growth in the Field, November 12. The University of Pennsylvania Department of City and Regional Planning hosts a lecture by environmental planning leaders Harvey C. Carter, Jr., Susan Craft, and Chris Miller. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Contact: University of Pennsylvania Department of City and Regional Planning 215 898 8329.

PA Outdoor Lighting CouncelThe Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council (POLC), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will be presenting an informative program for municipal officials, planners and others who are interested in learning about the importance of community and environmentally responsive outdoor lighting and how to create, enact and enforce an effective lighting ordinance to achieve it. The program will be held in the West Goshen Township Municipal Building, 1025 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA 19380, on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. For more details and/or to register, please email Jim McTish, PA DEP, at jmctish@state.pa.us .