Landscapes3, Commercial Landscapes, and Current Transportation - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Landscapes3, Commercial Landscapes, and Current Transportation Projects

Chester County Engineers October 19, 2017

Landscapes3

Landscapes3 Public Process

Public Meeting – October 26

Opportunities for Municipal Input

Fall, 2016 – Spring, 2017 Municipal representatives appointed to expert Stakeholder Committees May, 2017 General Survey Fall, 2017 Municipal representatives appointed to Steering Committee Fall, 2017 – Spring, 2018 Municipal input on draft vision, goals, and landscapes map Spring, 2018 Steering Committee meetings around County Spring, 2018 – Fall, 2018 Proposed policies and draft plan shared with municipalities

Purpose of County Comprehensive Plan

Guide Growth and Preservation

Purpose of County Comprehensive Plan

• Vision Partnership Program
• Open Space Program
• Urban Centers Assistance
• Trails
• Advocacy

Guide County Actions

• Traffic
• Public Transportation
• Environment
• Trails
• Housing Needs
• Economic Development

Address Issues going beyond Local Boundaries

Purpose of County Comprehensive Plan

Landscapes and Landscapes2 Accomplishments

1996 2016

Sprawl has been limited

• Municipalities have been

instrumental in limiting sprawl

• The County’s Vision Partnership

Program has supported local municipalities

• 10,000 fewer acres of land have

been developed than expected

• 40,000 more people than

forecasted moved into the county

Valuable open space has been protected

• 92,000 additional acres of open

space have been preserved

• Protected open space has

increased from 8% of the county to nearly 27%

• The county’s open space

preservation program has been a crucial part of this preservation effort

Downtown urban centers have reenergized

• Many downtowns have revitalized

with new food, entertainment, and shopping choices

• The county’s urban communities

have added over 10,000 residents

• The county’s Community

Revitalization Program has been a key factor in improving infrastructure

Trails have become a key part of resident’s lives

• Over half a million trips are taken
• n the county’s trails every year
• More than 25 miles of new multi-

use trails have been built

• The county has taken the lead on

building the Schuylkill River Trail and the Chester Valley Trail

The transportation system has worked well

• New road capacity has been

added by major projects like the Route 202 widening, Exton By- Pass connection, Route 29 Turnpike Interchange, and the Route 100 widening

• The Paoli-Thorndale SEPTA line

has experienced significant increased use

• Over $1.267 billion of state and

federal money has been allocated to Chester County over the past 20 years

Trends impacting Chester County

• 146,000 more people expected by 2045
• Those 65 and older are expected to

increase from 13% to 20% of the county (65,000 to 129,000 residents)

• People living alone could become the

largest household type

Changing Demographics

• The way people work, shop, and

interact is changing with digital communication

• Autonomous vehicles and ride-hailing

services could significantly change transportation and land use

Technological Transformation

Trends impacting Chester County

• 55,000 new homes may be built by 2045
• With a median price of over $316,500,

homes are not affordable to many people

Housing Growth

Trends impacting Chester County

• Preservation of open space, farmland,

historic properties, and natural areas remains a priority for many

• Stewardship of preserved places is

becoming more important over time

Importance of Preservation

Trends impacting Chester County

• Driving remains the primary way of

getting around (80% of commuters drive alone)

• There are too many barriers to walking,

biking, and taking transit

• Interest in trails continues to grow
• Chronic health issues related to lack of

exercise are increasing

Limited Transportation Alternatives

Trends impacting Chester County

• Office buildings and office parks need

to provide more amenities to remain competitive

• With online sales, retailing is changing

significantly

• More local farmers are taking advantage
• f interest in local food

New Development & Economic Trends

Trends impacting Chester County

Questions on Landscapes3?

Commercial Landscapes

Commercial Landscapes

• Brownfields
• Transit-Oriented Development
• Greyfields
• Office Parks

Commercial Landscapes - Brownfields

• 592 brownfield sites in Chester County
• Perception and market issues
• Often extra costs, cleanup, and time for

brownfield site development

• Act 2 Land Recycling Program from

state significantly reduced liabilities

Existing Conditions

Commercial Landscapes - Brownfields

• Understand process and hurdles
• Take advantage of grants and consider

tax relief, like LERTA

• Simplify zoning process and add

incentives, land uses, and flexibility

• Protect community character
• Allow pop-up uses
• Make sites greener

How to encourage redevelopment

Commercial Landscapes - Brownfields

Commercial Landscapes – Transit Oriented Development

• 12 train stations in county, 5 also serve Amtrak
• Often small sites or complex ownership issues
• Nearby resident concerns about density, height, change of character, and

traffic

Existing Conditions

Commercial Landscapes – Transit Oriented Development

• Vision and master plan for area are

important – walkability is key

• New zoning should allow higher density

and new uses by right

• Design standards needed for parking

location, building placement, and building design

• Physical improvements should include

sidewalks, streetscapes, and greening

How to encourage supportive development

Commercial Landscapes – Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

Commercial Landscapes - Greyfields

• 20.8 square feet per person of shopping

center space, versus 23 sf nationally

• A lot of retail is on perimeter of county
• Retail needs to reinvent itself

frequently, and on-line sales are changing retail dynamics

• A number of big name retailers are

retracting

Existing Conditions

Commercial Landscapes - Greyfields

• Conduct market analysis – experience

based retail important

• Bring business community together –

chambers, business improvement districts, working groups

• Allow alternative uses
• Greening, buffering, transportation, and

signing are key physical improvements

How to encourage new dynamism

Commercial Landscapes – Greyfields

Commercial Landscapes – Office Parks

• County has about 30,000,000 square

feet of office space

• Rents, around $25 a square foot, and

vacancy rate, around 12%, are good, not great

• Space per employee is going down –

was 250 s.f. and now below 200 s.f.

• Younger workers interested in company

culture and amenities

Existing Conditions

Commercial Landscapes – Office Parks

• Organize businesses and market

strengths of area

• Add amenities and uses – stores,

restaurants, apartments, trails, parks, entertainment, day care

• Consider more height, smaller setbacks,

and more impervious coverage

• Improve connections to public transit

and off-site amenities

How to reinvent office parks

Commercial Landscapes – Office Parks

Questions on Commercial Landscapes?

Transportation Projects

Public Transportation

Parkesburg Amtrak Station

Source: PennDOT / Michael Baker Corp. Source: PennDOT / Michael Baker Corp.

Coatesville Amtrak Station

Source: PennDOT / Plan the Keystone Source: PennDOT / Plan the Keystone

Downingtown SEPTA/Amtrak Station

Image Source: Pictometry

Existing Station Proposed New Station Location

Exton SEPTA/Amtrak Station

Source: DVRPC Source: DVRPC

Paoli Station Accessibility Improvements

Images Source: TMACC

Groundbreaking Ceremony February 28th, 2017

Highway

Darby Road Extension

Source: PennDOT / Michael Baker Corp. Source: PennDOT / Michael Baker Corp.

US 30 Bypass Reconstruction and Widening

US Route 1 - Reconstruction

US 202 Section 300 Widening

Bridges

US 202 over Amtrak

Image Source: Pictometry

Pocopson Bridge / PA 926

$5 Vehicle Registration Fee – County Bridge #297

Township Rd. over W Br Big Elk Creek in Lower Oxford

Image Source: Pictometry

$5 Vehicle Registration Fee – County Bridge #111

Allerton Rd. over EB Brandywine Ck. – East Bradford

Trails

Schuylkill River Trail - Phase 2

Chester Valley Trail - Phase 4a

Main Street @ Exton Oaklands Corporate Center

Proposed Bridge

Chester Valley Trail - Extension to Downingtown

Chester Valley Trail West

Questions on Transportation Projects?

Contact Information

Chester County Planning Commission boleary@chesco.org 610-642-8605

Brian O’Leary

“Beautiful Doe Run Valley” by Lee Schlingmann “Fall in Chester County” by Kathryn Mims “Bubbling Joy” by Carol Slocum