Welcome
Welcome to the Chester County Planning Commission’s new Landscapes2 website. On these pages you will find information about our work in updating the Chester County comprehensive policy plan. You will also find extensive information about Chester County that can be used to inform decisions about the County’s future.
The Chester County Planning Commission is our county’s planning organization. The Commission is composed of nine individuals from municipal government, farming, business, development and preservation interests—all of whom are dedicated to promoting coordinated growth and preservation planning for all of Chester County. We are supported by a professional staff employed by the County Commissioners and we partner with municipal governments, neighboring counties, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and other entities and companies to maintain Chester County’s quality of life and economic vitality.
We seek to unite the efforts of the public, private and corporate citizens of our County to find real solutions to the problems of sprawl, urban decay, traffic congestion, and environmental deterioration. At the same time we seek to find ways that will enable Chester County’s citizens to build a strong and efficient economy which respects the tradition of livable and distinct communities, surrounded by areas of productive farmland, rich natural areas, and scenic open space.
The fundamental instrument that we use to guide how growth and preservation occurs in Chester County is the comprehensive policy plan. Our comprehensive policy is called “Landscapes” and it was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 1996. We are now updating this plan in accordance with the requirements of Pennsylvania state law.
At Landscapes2.org you will find a wealth of information about the comprehensive plan and our work in updating this plan. Every month we will focus on a different element of the comprehensive plan. Information about each element will be posted on Landscapes2.org. In addition we will have online resources, information and links that you can use to learn even more about the topics. At Landscape2.org you will find:
- Information and resources about the issues and trends facing our county's future;
- Research into areas of special concern and ways that we can guide change;
- Discussions and opinion pieces on the range of local and regional policy options to our greatest challenges;
- Examples of other regional, state, and national efforts to manage growth in ways that balance development and preservation;
We hope that you will find Landscapes2.org to be useful and a great source of accurate and timely information.