About Us
Mission Statement
The mission of the Chester County Planning Commission is to provide future growth and preservation plans to citizens, so that they can enjoy a Chester County that is historic, green, mobile and prosperous.
Planning Commission
The Chester County Planning Commission is a nine-member advisory board appointed by the County Commissioners. Learn more about the Planning Commission Board.
Initially the work of the Planning Commission involved inventorying and mapping the County's features and resources. Over time, the Planning Commission has evolved into a modern, professionally staffed, planning organization that uses specialized knowledge and training, along with the latest techniques and technology, to plan for the future of Chester County. The Planning Commission's activities are enabled, and in some matters mandated, by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
Partnerships
The Planning Commission and its staff work in partnership with federal, state, and regional agencies and municipal governments to fulfill the mission that is devoted to preserving and improving the quality of life for all Chester County residents. The Planning Commission focuses its activities on Landscapes3, Chester County's comprehensive plan, which seeks to balance preservation and growth across the county's landscapes through six goal areas: Preserve, Protect, Appreciate, Live, Prosper, and Connect. Learn more about Landscapes3.
Work Program
The primary goal of the Planning Commission is to implement the department's strategic business plan. This will be accomplished by carrying out the recommendations of Landscapes3, the county's comprehensive policy plan.
To achieve the goals of both plans, the Planning Commission will continue partnering with municipalities and other stakeholders. The department is focused on quality customer service and is organized into the following service areas: Community Planning, Multimodal Transportation Planning, Sustainability, Design and Technology, and Agricultural Development.
The work program for 2026 focuses on significant Landscapes3 implementation efforts, including early efforts to update Landscapes3 and develop a new plan (initial background data, research, and societal planning trends), as well as the six goal areas of Landscapes3: Preserve, Protect, Appreciate, Live, Prosper, and Connect. Major initiatives in the 2026 work program include:
- Open Space Accelerator Mini-grant Program
- Climate Action Plan Update
- Data Center Planning Tools
- Sustainability at the Pocopson Complex
- Countywide Tree Canopy Plan
- Chester County's 250th Anniversary Support
- Addressing Local Housing Barriers
- Land Bank Implementation and Administration
- Housing Capacity and Needs Study
- Imagining Transit Oriented Communities
- Chester County On-Road Bike Plan
- Circuit Trails Extension Projects
- Municipal Connector Trail Project
- Low-Cost Roadway and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Guide
Ongoing Landscapes3 initiatives include advocacy for good planning with our partners, offering Community Planning Assistance, and continuing the Act 247 review process for subdivisions, land developments, ordinances, and plans.
Annual Report
This document is the official report to the Chester County Board of Commissioners by the Planning Commission providing a summary of the activities of the Planning Commission during 2025.