MCPC News

November

Congratulations to Our 2023 Montgomery Award Winners!

Five outstanding projects and a lifelong open space preservation advocate received 2023 Montgomery Awards at the annual November awards celebration. These awards recognize the best in planning and design in Montgomery County and acknowledge the high quality of work and commitment of communities, organizations, and professionals in contributing to these exceptional projects. Since its initiation in 1967, the Montgomery Awards program has presented 238 awards throughout Montgomery County.

2023 Award Recipients

The Reserve at Maybrook
Lower Merion Township

The Reserve at Maybrook, an exemplary preservation project, received a 2023 Montgomery Award for zoning innovation and planning process, historic preservation, and site-sensitive design. This successful infill transit-oriented mixed-use development, which involved a lengthy community planning process, resulted in the preservation of an historic mansion and other valuable historic resources set within over 20 acres of protected open space. Project Video

SORA West
Conshohocken Borough

SORA West, an ambitious mixed-use development, received a 2023 Montgomery Award for context-sensitive site design, adaptive reuse, and community impact. Anchored by a state-of-the-art LEED Silver certified global headquarters office building, the project, which created a new hotel, public square with community gathering space, and streetscape improvements and restored and creatively reused a historic firehouse, will serve as a borough destination for years to come. Project Video

PV Woods – Lenape Arboretum and Muhlenberg Woods
Perkiomen and Lower Frederick Townships

PV Woods, comprised of the Lenape Arboretum and Muhlenberg Woods, received a 2023 Montgomery Award for outstanding initiatives in environmental outdoor education, conservation and stewardship of open space, and cultural heritage and community connections. The project, implemented largely by student volunteers, creates a greater awareness and knowledge of environmental stewardship and of the cultural heritage of the Lenape native peoples. Project Video

Park to Perkiomen Trail Connector
Upper Salford Township

The Park to Perkiomen Trail Connector, an essential part of the township’s multiuse pathway network, received a 2023 Montgomery Award for the execution of a sustained vision for open space and natural resource preservation, site-sensitive trail design and construction, and community and agency partnerships and collaboration. This project connected a popular township park with a recreational destination and the Perkiomen Trail while preserving 42 acres of high conservation value woodlands. Project Video

Philip A. Smith
Planning Advocate Award

Philip A. Smith, an open space, trails, and historic preservation advocate, received a 2023 Planning Advocate Award for his lifelong dedication to open space preservation through civic leadership and personal generosity. Through his holistic approach to project planning, commitment to his community, exceptional collaboration skills, and extreme perseverance, he has advanced open space, historic preservation, and trail development in western Montgomery County. Award Video

Jacob Reiff Park Stream & Floodplain Restoration
Lower Salford Township

The Jacob Reiff Park Stream & Floodplain Restoration project received a 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award for its extensive stream and floodplain restoration efforts along the west branch of Skippack Creek. This project, involving strong interagency partnerships, volunteer efforts, and forward-thinking design elements, has resulted in a healthier ecosystem, improved flood attenuation and stormwater management in the floodplain corridor, and a unique natural destination for the community to enjoy. Project Video

Montgomery County Receives Award for Leadership in Environmental, Conservation, and Recreation Initiatives

Montgomery County recently received the 2023 Government Innovation and Sustainability Award from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) at its 53rd Environmental Partnership Dinner honoring environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment in southeast Pennsylvania. The county received the award for its longstanding regional leadership on environmental, conservation, and outdoor recreation initiatives. The award also recognizes Montco’s commitment to promoting equitable and inclusive open spaces. Mentioned as part of the award were the county’s 96 miles of trails; climate and clean energy efforts, such as the work being done on a county climate action plan; the exploration of hydro electrification of the Norristown Dam on the Schuylkill River to supply energy to the county’s campus in Norristown; Montco’s understanding of the value of partnerships; and the fostering of collaborations, such as the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership. An impressive video was created to highlight many of these award elements and some of the special places in the county. MCPC, which assisted with the development of the video (narrated by MCPC Board Vice Chair Dulcie Flaharty), has played an integral role in the success of these highlighted efforts. More Information | Video

MCPC Attends National Mpact Conference

For the second year, Matthew Popek, Transportation Planning Assistant Manager, was invited to join a delegation from Pottstown Borough, sponsored by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, to attend the national Mpact Transit + Community conference. This year’s conference took place in Phoenix, Arizona in early November. Delegation members included other regional partners working on housing and social issues in the Pottstown area. Attendees listened to sessions on transit-oriented development (TOD), community and stakeholder engagement, and the power of innovative approaches to housing and public spaces. The 2024 Mpact conference will be held in Philadelphia.

Montco Seeks Farmers to Preserve Their Farms for Future Generations

MCPC is accepting applications for the 2024 round of the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Program. This program, which has permanently preserved 186 farms (10,487 acres total) in Montgomery County, encourages farmers to learn about how they can apply for permanent agricultural preservation of their farm. Under this voluntary program, landowners may choose to preserve their agricultural land through the sale of land development rights, which places a conservation easement permanently on the property. After the easement is purchased, the owner keeps the land, which must remain in farming in perpetuity. Benefits of preserving a farm include direct financial help for the owners to support operations and the reduction of estate and inheritance taxes for those looking to pass on the farm to future generations. Preserved farmland is also more affordable for young farmers to purchase, guarantees a future food supply, and ensures a cherished way of life. Farms applying for preservation must meet minimum criteria to be eligible for the program. Applying doesn't guarantee preservation, but it's free and the first step toward making it happen. Interested farmers are encouraged to watch a webinar video providing an overview of the farmland preservation program and download the farmland preservation guidebook. Applications are due February 1, 2024. If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, please contact Stephen Zbyszinski, Senior Farmland Preservation Planner, at 610-278-5960.

MCPC Participates on Green Lane Park Master Plan Committees

The Montgomery County Parks Trails and Historic Sites (PTHS) department has embarked on a master plan for the county’s largest park—Green Lane Park. Pattie Guttenplan, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, and Ellen Miramontes, Senior Trails & Open Space Planner, are serving on both the executive committee and the larger steering committee to help guide the plan process. Located in the northwestern part of the county, the park offers a variety of year-round outdoor activities and programs. The Green Lane Park master plan is being developed through a 16-month process. Extensive public input has been solicited, including an online survey, Wikimap tools, and two public meetings. A third public meeting is scheduled for December 6.

MCPC Planners, Leaders in APAPA-SE, Will Participate in December 7 Annual Event

Several MCPC staff members are involved with professional planning at the regional level with the Southeast Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA SE). The section’s annual event will take place on December 7 in University City, Philadelphia, where members will celebrate their successes during 2023, including hosting the national planning conference in Center City along with summer happy hour events. The annual meeting will also feature a conversation with Anne Fadullon, who recently finished serving as Philadelphia’s Director of Planning and Development. In 2024, Pattie Guttenplan, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, and Matthew Edmond, Assistant Director of Transportation & Long-Range Planning, will serve on the executive board for the section while Matthew Popek, Transportation Planning Assistant Manager, will be a member-at-large.

Partners in Progress

MCPC participates on and engages with many boards, agencies, councils, and other stakeholders in our county and the region. This provides an excellent opportunity to share information, gain insight, and collaborate. Recent participation includes:

Montgomery County EMS Strategic Planning Project
Scott France, Executive Director, and Drew Shaw, Environmental Planning Manager, attended the first meeting of the Montgomery County EMS Strategic Planning Project on November 15. This project is being managed by the Montco Department of Public Safety to assess the state of emergency management services (EMS) in Montgomery County. MCPC is participating on the steering committee as part of the implementation of the county's hazard mitigation plan.

Annual Transportation Update to Horsham Township Council
Each November, Horsham Township Council schedules a large transportation update from municipal staff and MCPC at its monthly meeting. Matthew Edmond, Assistant Director of Transportation & Long-Range Planning, gave a presentation on major transportation projects and policy issues affecting the township and its surrounding communities.

2023 Chester County Housing Forum
Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, County Planning Manager, and Kayleigh Silver, Administrator of the Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development, were invited to give a presentation at this annual event focused on current housing topics. They presented on Montgomery County’s messaging strategy to effectively communicate about housing affordability.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

December 15, 2023 Pre-Application Deadline | Green Light-Go Program
Municipalities can apply to PennDOT's Green Light-Go Program for Year 9 grants to upgrade their traffic signals. Pre-application scoping forms are due December 15, 2023. The full application period runs from February 1–29, 2024. More Information

December 29, 2023 Deadline | PHMC Certified Local Government (CLG) Project Grants
This program offered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) awards grants for studies, plans, programs, and tools that help a community build capacity, implement effective preservation programs, and meet the Ongoing Performance Standards of the CLG program. Examples of eligible projects include design guidelines, revitalization and preservation plans, comprehensive plan elements, historic resource surveys, National Register nominations, and educational or training programs. Contact your regional coordinator, Megan McNish, by December 29, 2023 if you plan to submit a CLG grant. More Information

January 2024 Open Application | FY2025 TCDI Program
DVRPC will be accepting applications to the Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) program starting in January 2024. The program is available to municipal and county governments, transit agencies, and Transportation Management Associations. Program guidelines will be published in January, but this is one of the few grants in the region that can be applied to planning work (as opposed to construction and other physical improvements). More Information

January 26, 2024 Deadline | National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
PennDOT will have an open round (Round 1A) from December 11, 2023 to January 26, 2024. This is largely funding for private businesses and property owners to install electric vehicle chargers in publicly accessible places. PennDOT has areas of priority within our region targeted for the grants. More Information

February 1, 2024 Deadline | League of American Bicyclists’ Community Spark Grants
Launched in 2022, the league’s Community Spark Grants support the growing number of local grassroots changemakers and organizations nationwide working to improve their communities through better bicycling with $1,500 mini-grants. In 2024, the league will award $1,500 Community Spark Grants to 15 organizations. More Information

March 1, 2024 Deadline | PHMC Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grants
This Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local governments for the planning and development of publicly accessible historic resources listed/eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The purpose of the grant is to support projects that identify, preserve, promote, and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for both the benefit of the public and the revitalization of communities. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2024. More Information

Staff News

Seven Staff Members Receive Service Pins

MCPC's highly educated and skilled professionals use their knowledge and experience to achieve great things for Montgomery County. Seven staff members recently received Montgomery County service pins, which represent outstanding commitment to serving the residents of the county to help make Montgomery County the best place to live, work, learn, visit, and invest. Congratulations to the following staff members for their dedicated years of service:

October

MCPC Board Tours Norristown

The MCPC Board annually tours parts of Montgomery County before its October meeting. It’s a great opportunity to see and hear about the popular destinations, redevelopment work, and planning in a specific part of the county. This year, the board hopped on a bus with county and local officials and staff and others to tour Norristown—the county seat. The tour began at Fluxspace, a part of Corbett Inc., a company that develops innovative educational programs and products. Other destinations on the tour included Lafayette Street, the county’s Trail Junction Center, the Arch Street Greenway, Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown State Hospital, Norristown Farm Park, and Centro de Cultura Arte Trabajo y Educacion (CCATE). The tour also included many sites throughout the borough that are under redevelopment, such as the Justice Center and the former Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School property. The tour ended back at Fluxspace, where the board conducted its October meeting.

MCPC Vice Chair Duclie Flaharty Receives Citizen Planner Award

Congratulations to Dulcie Flaharty, MCPC Board Vice Chair, who received a 2023 Award for Leaders - Citizen Planner from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association at its October conference. Dulcie, who has served on the MCPC Board since 1994, is a staunch advocate for open space protection and good planning. Her work in land conservation led her to the helm of the Montgomery County Lands Trust (MCLT), where she was Executive Director for two decades before merging operations with Natural Lands in 2012. Her efforts resulted in conservation easements on 47 properties, permanent protection of nearly 3,000 acres of land, and educational outreach to over 1,800 municipal leaders. She worked for years to initiate Montgomery County’s first open space program and ultimately spearheaded a strong MCLT effort in 2003, collaborating with the Partners for Land Preservation (an entity developed by MCLT), to focus a successful citizen outreach campaign, pivotal in passing the $150 million ballot question that funded open space preservation in the county for ten years. Another major planning effort for Dulcie was her participation on the steering committee for the Montco 2040 comprehensive plan. Now retired from her full-time role at Natural Lands, Dulcie is an in-demand and trusted expert. We are thrilled that Dulcie received this well-deserved award!

AVAILABLE! New TOD Self-Guided Walking Tour Brochures

MCPC continues to develop resources to communicate transit-oriented development (TOD) concepts and best practices highlighted in the TOD model ordinance and guidebook, which was released in 2021. The second in a series of self-guided walking tour brochures was recently completed highlighting the Conshohocken station area as an example of the guidebook’s Regional Mixed-Use Center station area typology. This brochure adds to the walking tour created to highlight the Lansdale station area as an example of a Town Center typology. Each brochure features a detailed map, photos, and information on land developments that exemplify TOD principles, as well as general information about best practices for each typology. We encourage you to take the walking tours to explore the variety of types of TOD in the county. Stay tuned for walking tour brochures of the other three station area typologies! Conshohocken Station Walking Tour Brochure and Lansdale Station Walking Tour Brochure are now available.

Over 50 People Attend Event on Supporting Municipal Land Stewardship

We had a great group of people turn out for our event on municipal land stewardship. The event focused on how to best manage municipal open spaces, such as parks, trails, and greenways, to enhance their ecological integrity while respecting the impact on municipal maintenance expenses and staff capacity. One of the features of the event was overview of the Montgomery County Multi-Regional Greenways and Stewardship Study, which was developed by MCPC in collaboration with Natural Lands. The goal of the study was to create an interconnected greenway system throughout the multi-regional area, focusing on land stewardship and supporting the area’s ecotourism strategy for economic development. The presentation stressed the necessity, value, and importance of interconnectedness, resiliency, and sustainability. An event highlight was the discussion about the varying degrees of land stewardship practices that municipalities can consider. A panel of land stewardship professionals shared their experiences in Montgomery County, lessons learned, and how each community can adapt or initiate their own practices.

Montco Breaks Ground for Section B of Ridge Pike Improvement Project

The county celebrated the start of work on Section B (Belvoir Road to Chemical Road in Plymouth Township) of the Ridge Pike Improvement Project with a groundbreaking ceremony on October 4. Section B will be a full-depth roadway reconstruction that improves safety and reduces congestion. This project will widen the roadway to create a center left-turn lane, add traffic signals at Industrial Way and Carland Road, reconfigure the I-476 interchange with signalized intersections, replace the westbound jughandle at Alan Wood Road with double left-turn lanes, and add much-needed stormwater management facilities. It will also improve pedestrian safety and transit accessibility by providing a continuous sidewalk along the south side of the road, consolidating SEPTA bus stops, and making them ADA compliant. Construction has begun with aboveground and underground utility work. Bridge replacements and road reconstruction will follow after utility work is complete.

SRPRA Comes to Pottstown

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) held its October meeting at the Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown. This was the first in a series of three planned “on location” meetings in the anchor station areas of Phoenixville, Pottstown, and Reading over the next year. In addition to its monthly business, borough officials presented their vision and planning work being done in anticipation of bringing passenger rail service back to Pottstown for the first time since 1981! Montgomery County Commissioner Chair Ken Lawrence, who serves on SRPRA, was also honored for his service to the authority with a plaque from Executive Director Tom Frawley. After the meeting, authority members and staff were treated to a trolley tour of downtown Pottstown and the prospective station area for future rail service.

Partners in Progress

Lower Gwynedd Township Comprehensive Plan Public Open House
MCPC staff participated in an open house for the township’s new comprehensive plan, which is being developed through collaboration with MCPC under a planning assistance contract. The open house was the first public outreach event for the plan. Attendees had an opportunity to participate in issue identification and visioning exercises.

Transit-Oriented Development in the Philadelphia Region
Marley Bice and Claire Warner attended a one-day workshop hosted by Mpact at the Delaware Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). The workshop convened a group of representatives from county and local governments, agencies, and organizations to discuss the intersection of transit, land use, and community development in the Philadelphia region. A panel discussion framed the conversation around the complexities of working with a legacy transportation system, planning for development around transit, and creating a more equitable future.

East Greenville Borough Main Street Design Guidelines
East Greenville Borough Council recently endorsed, by resolution, a streetscape plan and design guidelines for its Main Street, which were prepared as part of the MCPC’s community planning assistance contract program. The Main Street Design Guidelines are the result of roughly a year of meetings between the borough planning commission and MCPC and several site visits. East Greenville recently offered a public photo contest for the document cover to engage the community and publicize completion of the guidelines.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

November 10 Deadline. PECO Green Region Grant applications are due on November 10, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Green Region grants are available in amounts up to $10,000. Funding can be used to cover expenses such as creating an open space plan, trail implementation, enhancing tree cover, conversion to solar/LED lighting, energy-efficient facility upgrades, installation of electric vehicle charging stations, and other efforts to combat climate change. More Information
November 14 Deadline. Applications for the FY 24–25 PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund are due November 14, 2023. The funds provide financial assistance to municipalities, councils of governments, businesses, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, and ports and rail freight entities to improve transportation assets that enhance communities, pedestrian safety, and transit revitalization. More Information
November 30 Deadline. Applications for the Local Share Account are due on November 30, 2023. Grant funds are available through DCED and funded through gaming revenues to support projects that improve the quality of life in a community. There is a lot of opportunities for creative applications. More Information
Rolling Deadline. Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) applications are accepted on a rolling basis. MAP provides an excellent funding opportunity to assist local governments to plan for and efficiently implement a variety of services and improvements and to soundly manage development with an emphasis on intergovernmental approaches. Funding is available for two groups of activities—shared services and community planning. More Information

MCPC Staff News

Congratulations!

We are pleased to have planners who are dedicated to serving on professional planning boards and councils. The following MCPC staff members were elected to serve on the American Planning Association Pennsylvania Southeast Section Council (APAPASE):

Vice Chair: Pattie E. B. Guttenplan, RLA, AICP, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach (Pattie also serves as Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association).
Secretary: Matthew Edmond, AICP, Assistant Director of Transportation & Long-Range Planning
Member-at-Large: Matthew Popek, AICP, Assistant Transportation Manager

Join Us on October 30!

Supporting Municipal Land Stewardship

Join us for this interesting event focused on land stewardship and management. The event will take place on October 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Schwenksville Borough Hall. Over the past thirty years, Montgomery County municipalities have had tremendous success preserving open space to create parks, trails, and greenways. Recently, there has been an increased focus on how to best manage these lands to enhance their ecological integrity while respecting the impact on municipal maintenance expenses and staff capacity. To support this growing emphasis on land stewardship, from both a public and private land perspective, this event will reinforce the importance of open space interconnectedness and the environmental and social values it contributes to the overall landscape. From a practical perspective, there will be a discussion about the varying degrees of land stewardship practices that municipalities can consider. A panel of land stewardship professionals will share their experiences in Montgomery County, lessons learned, and how each community can adapt or initiate their own practices. More Information

Now Available!

MCPC compiles and continually updates data to assess various trends throughout Montgomery County. The four reports recently released are listed below:

Age-Restricted Housing
This current inventory lists 128 age-restricted developments with more than 20,200 independent living units across the county. Five new age-restricted developments began construction and started delivering units in 2022, in addition to new units that were added to existing developments or were newly inhabited.

Shopping Centers
This inventory shows a total of 151 shopping centers in Montgomery County as of the end of 2022. The total amount of gross floor area for shopping centers in this inventory is 30,888,174 square feet, an increase of over 5.7 million square feet in the last 16 years.

Multifamily and Attached Housing
The multifamily and attached housing inventory indicates the housing preferences of the county’s residents. In recent years, these housing types have made up more than 70 percent of housing construction in the county. This inventory covers over 110,000 attached and multifamily housing units.

Business Parks
The business park inventory sheds some light on the spatial impact that formal employment centers have on Montgomery County. This inventory includes traditional office buildings and industrial facilities as well as flex spaces. The business parks in the county contain over 47 million square feet of office and industrial space.

Ridge Pike Section B Groundbreaking

An official groundbreaking ceremony for Section B (Belvoir Road to Chemical Road in Plymouth Township) of the Ridge Pike Improvement Project will take place at 1:00 p.m. on October 4 at 1205 Ridge Pike (open lot next to Conicelli Auto Credit and across from Conicelli Honda). County and municipal officials, MCPC staff, and others will celebrate this important milestone of the Ridge Pike project, which will fully reconstruct Ridge Pike between Norristown and Philadelphia to lessen congestion, improve safety, improve stormwater management, provide safe areas for pedestrians, and help keep the adjacent communities economically competitive. Section B will be a full-depth roadway reconstruction that improves safety and reduces congestion. Improvements include widening the roadway to create a center left-turn lane, adding traffic signals at Industrial Way and Carland Road, reconfiguring the I-476 interchange with signalized intersections, replacing the westbound jughandle at Alan Wood Road with double left-turn lanes, and adding much-needed stormwater management facilities. Section B work will also improve pedestrian safety and transit accessibility by providing a continuous sidewalk along the south side of the road, consolidating SEPTA bus stops, and making them ADA compliant. More Information

SRPRA Board Will Meet in Pottstown

The next Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) Board meeting will take place on October 23 at 3:00 p.m. in North Hall of the Montgomery County Community College West Campus in Pottstown. The board meets regularly to discuss restoring passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia. Montgomery County Commissioner Chair Kenneth Lawrence and MCPC Executive Director Scott France are the appointed board members for Montgomery County. The public is invited to attend this meeting in Pottstown or virtually at www.gosrpra.com.

Register Today!

The Course in Zoning

MCPC is sponsoring this three-session course on October 12, 19, and 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Lansdale Borough Hall. This in-depth course emphasizes the fundamentals for developing a sound zoning ordinance using the authority granted in the MPC. Topics include the relationship of zoning to comprehensive plans, key terms used in zoning and how they are applied, critical issues in drafting a zoning ordinance and map, procedures for adopting and amending ordinances, and basic zoning administration. The course also explores techniques such as overlay districts, performance zoning, traditional neighborhood development, planned residential development, and options available through regional planning. Professional credits are offered through PMPEI. More Information

*Officials and staff from municipalities with a current Montgomery County Community Planning Assistance Contract are eligible for a discounted rate of $90.

MCPC Will Speak on ADUs at Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar Series

MCPC County Planning Manager Anne Leavitt-Gruberger and Tim Konetchy, Community Planner II, will present on the topic of accessory dwelling units (ADU) on October 18 at 12:00 p.m. as part of Penn State Extension’s Land Use Webinar Series. The presentation, “Accessory Dwelling Units: Removing Barriers and Encouraging Construction from the Ground Up,” will provide an overview of ADU policies and practices. It will highlight examples from communities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere that are rewriting their codes, overcoming political hurdles, and attracting a new wave of residents. There is a fee for this webinar. More Information

MCPC to Present on Multiple Topics at APA PA Annual Conference

MCPC will have a key role in presenting on a variety of topics at the 2023 annual conference of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA), which will take place October 15–17 in Scranton. Topics include strategies for managing density, a tool for planning and codifying active transportation, how to talk about affordable housing, county agency review letters, the evolution of open space preservation in three Southeastern Pennsylvania counties, and practical information for new planners. More Information

County Seeks Ideas, Interest, and Partners for Trail Junction Center!

The Trail Junction Center sits at the intersection of two regionally significant trails in Norristown—the Schuylkill River Trail and the Chester Valley Trail. Montgomery County owns the property and is developing architectural and landscape architectural plans for planned renovations to the building (a former railroad freight station) and site for adaptive reuse to provide amenities and services for trail users and flexible community space. MCPC has hosted several community outreach events at the site, including the recent Norristown Arts Hill Open House. Montco is interested in ideas from for-profit, nonprofit, and public entities that may want to partner with the county to use the facility for short-term, trial business, and programming activities and has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Bonfire. Interested parties may respond with short letters of interest by Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Based on the responses received, the county hopes to release a subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting interested parties to submit proposals, which may result in Activation Partnership Agreements with selected respondents.

Sharing Great Planning News!

MCPC received a $30,000 award from Pennsylvania’s DCED Municipal Assistance Program for additional funds to assist with outreach for the Montco 2050 comprehensive plan process. The award will help us diversify the ways we can reach out to a broad variety of stakeholders who can share feedback on how to plan for the county’s future. Potential use of the funds includes a consultant/online expansion of the platform for Montco 2050. We’re grateful for this award from the Commonwealth and look forward to producing Montco’s most important comprehensive plan with extended outreach and engagement.

Partners in Progress

Regional Climate Action Plan
MCPC is partnering with DVRPC as part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area to develop a regional climate action plan under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program. This is an unprecedented opportunity to develop and implement strong, local, greenhouse gas reduction strategies that will advance environmental justice, increase energy security, and improve air quality throughout the region. By preparing a climate action plan for the MSA, local and county governments will be eligible to apply for the $4.6 billion dollars in competitive implementation grants scheduled to launch in late 2023.

West Norriton Township Comprehensive Plan Open House
West Norriton hosted a public open house with MCPC to gather feedback on the township’s developing comprehensive plan. The event, attended by over 50 people, offered opportunities to visit individual topic tables (transportation, trails and open space, housing, and economic development) to share information, leave comments on interactive posters, and ask questions. A visioning board was also available.

Narberth Borough Commerce Department Consultation
Staff from the Montgomery County Commerce Department and MCPC visited Narberth Borough for a consultation with elected and appointed officials and borough staff on the state of their Main Street business district. The event included a walk of the business district on Haverford Avenue and neighboring streets followed by a meeting in the borough offices.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

October 9 Deadline. The application period for America Walks Community Change Grants is open until October 9, 2023. The grants fund (up to $1,500) projects “related to creating healthy, active, and engaged places to live, work and play.” More Information
October 17 Deadline. The application period for Health Spark Foundation’s Safety Net Initiative is open until October 17, 2023. The initiative is open to 501(c)(3) organizations that are advancing the county’s safety net of social services. More Information
November 10 Deadline. The PECO Green Region Open Space Program awards grants for southeastern Pennsylvania municipal and nonprofit (within the City of Philadelphia) efforts to preserve, protect, and improve open spaces. More Information
November 13 Deadline. PennDOT FY 2024–25 Multimodal Transportation Fund is open until November 13, 2023. More Information
End of November Deadline. Local Share Account is open to new applications until the end of November 2023. Eligible uses of funds include acquisition, construction (including rehabilitation), infrastructure (including sidewalks), as well as planning and design costs and is open to municipalities, municipal authorities, other economic development agencies, and land banks. More Information
Rolling Deadline. T-Mobile's Hometown Grant Program funds projects that foster local connections (i.e., technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, arts, and community centers). Elected officials, town managers/employees, tribal leaders, and nonprofit community leaders from small towns with a population less than 50,000 can apply. T-Mobile awards up to $50,000 for shovel-ready projects. More Information

MCPC's Certified PMPEI Instructors

We are proud to announce our new certified instructors for The Course in Community Planning. MCPC Board Chair Steven Kline; Matthew Edmond, Assistant Director of Transportation & Long-Range Planning; and Pattie Guttenplan, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, attended three full days of training to become certified to teach the course, which was developed by the Pennsylvania Planning Association (PPA) and Penn State Extension Service through their training agency, the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI). The three taught at the community planning course we sponsored in September. Well done everyone!

September

New Study! Enhancing PART Bus Stops in the Pottstown Area

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) recently partnered with the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC), with assistance from MCPC, to conduct a two-year study to identify and prioritize bus stop and access improvements for the local transit service—Pottstown Area Rapid Transit (PART). The study, Enhancing PART Bus Stops in the Pottstown Area, will serve as a guide to help PART apply best practices in bus stop design and access across the system to increase efficiency and better connect riders to regional destinations. In addition, municipalities within the PART service area will be able to consider the recommendations of this study in future ordinance amendments and land development reviews, with the goal of increasing ridership and producing a more cohesive bus system for the Pottstown region overall.

MCPC Offers Ridge Pike Section B Open House

Stop by our free public open house for Section B (Belvoir Road to Chemical Road) of the Ridge Pike Improvement Project on September 7, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Greater Plymouth Community Center at 2910 Jolly Road in Plymouth Township. Montgomery County owns this roadway, and MCPC is overseeing this important improvement project. The open house will offer an opportunity to learn about the construction phasing and ask the project team questions. Section B consists of a full-depth reconstruction of Ridge Pike, with a widening to five lanes that will include a center turn lane between Belvoir Road and Alan Wood Road. This project will also replace county bridge #257, which runs over the Norfolk Southern railroad, add new turning movements at the I-476 interchange, and remove the jug handle at Alan Wood Road. Additionally, the project will reconstruct the existing bridges over I-476 and Plymouth Creek along with improving sidewalks, bus stops, and stormwater management along the corridor. Montco is planning a groundbreaking ceremony for Section B on October 4. More Information

Next Montco Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The next county household hazardous waste collection is scheduled for Saturday, September 23, at the Spring-Ford 9th Grade Center, 400 South Lewis Road, Royersford. This event is open to residents of Montgomery County and the four Southeastern Pennsylvania County Region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia Counties) only and is not open to businesses, institutions, or industry. Registration is required. More Information

Montco Farmers Gather Together

About 70 farmers, farm owners, family members, and others enjoyed an evening of food, fun, networking, and community building at the 2023 Montco Farmers Gathering. This was the second year for the event, which shows an appreciation for farmers and provides a platform that can help sustain a strong and thriving farming community. If you are interested in preserving your farm, check out the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Program.

The Course in Community Planning

MCPC is sponsoring The Course in Community Planning on September 14, 21, and 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Lansdale Borough Hall. This three-session course is an excellent introduction to planning in Montgomery County for any local planning commission appointee or local elected official. It combines presentations and group exercises that explore the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), the function of a planning commission, comprehensive plans, zoning, subdivision and land development, capital budgeting, and official maps. Professional credits are offered through PMPEI. Certified instructors for the course are MCPC's Pattie Guttenplan, Matthew Edmond, and MCPC Board Chair Steven Kline—an all-star lineup! More Information

The Course in Zoning

*Municipalities with a current Community Planning Assistance Contract with MCPC

Supporting Municipal Land Stewardship

October 30, 2023 | 4:00PM – 6:00 PM | In-Person Event | Free
Join us for this free Planning Smarter Montco 2023 event focused on land stewardship and management. Over the past 30 years Montgomery County municipalities have had tremendous success preserving open space to create parks, trails, and greenways. Recently, there has been an increased focus on how to best manage these lands to enhance their ecological integrity while respecting the impact on municipal maintenance expenses and staff capacity. To support this growing emphasis on land stewardship, from both a public and private land perspective, this event will reinforce the importance of open space interconnectedness and the environmental and social values it contributes to the overall landscape. From a practical perspective, there will be a discussion about the varying degrees of land stewardship practices that municipalities can consider. A panel of land stewardship professionals will share their experiences in Montgomery County, lessons learned, and how each community can adapt or initiate their own practices. We are in the process of finalizing the event location and will provide information in the next week or so. More Information

Partners in Progress

Safe Routes to School Study - MCPC staff participated in a kickoff meeting for a regional safe routes to school study in the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC) region. The study will evaluate where sidewalk, trail, and roadway crossing improvements are needed to make safe connections and improve safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle access to public schools within the region.

Norristown, Bridgeport, and Horsham National Night Outs - We had a great time sharing information on the county’s comprehensive plan, Montco 2050: A Comprehensive Plan for a Changing World, which is in the planning and development phase, at the Norristown and Bridgeport National Night Outs. Table visitors had an opportunity to share their thoughts on a variety of planning topics by participating in interactive ways, asking questions, and chatting with MCPC staff members. Visit the Montco 2050 web page to learn about this important plan and to provide your thoughts and opinions. MCPC also participated in the Horsham National Night Out to share information on the township's comprehensive plan.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Webinar - MCPC presented “Planning for TOD – A Way to Transform your Community" as part of the lunchtime Webinar Wednesday series offered by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA). We would be happy to give a free presentation to your community or organization on how TOD as a planning concept can benefit and transform communities.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

PennDOT will begin accepting applications on September 25, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. for the next round of funding for grants under the Multimodal Transportation Fund. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on November 10, 2023. More Information
PA Humanities, with support from Spring Point Partners, has announced the launch of Wingspan, a new grant program to support BIPOC-led and serving organizations and rural organizations doing humanities work. PA Humanities will provide $100,000 in flexible funding over two years to eligible organizations doing equitable humanities work in collaboration with their communities. The application deadline is September 29 by 5:00 p.m. More Information
PA Grants are available for Philadelphia-area nonprofits for planning and programs related to the 2026 commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. More Information

MCPC Welcomes New Planner

Caleb Emblem has joined MCPC as a Community Planner II. He received his bachelor’s and Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Arlington, respectively. Caleb has a background in mapping and urban research from planning positions and internships with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, local North Texas municipalities, and the commercial real estate Location Intelligence department at CBRE. This experience gave him an enthusiasm for sustainable community development through innovative methods such as infill development and brownfield redevelopment.

Thanks Interns!

A special thank-you to our summer interns, Jake Gerardi and Austin Mosby, for all of the assistance they provided over the summer. Some of this assistance included working on Montco 2050, assisting with community contract planning work, researching and compiling hundreds of definitions for the new county model subdivision and land development ordinance, and executing outreach for Montco 2050 by creating an outreach activity for Norristown Night Out. Great job!

August

TOMORROW! Join Us for a Transit-Oriented Development Webinar

MCPC staff will present “Planning for TOD – A Way to Transform your Community" on August 2, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., as part of the lunchtime Webinar Wednesday series offered by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA). In addition to MCPC presenters, the audience will get to hear from a municipal zoning and planning professional on his experience advancing multimodal planning and transit-oriented development in his community. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about TOD as a planning concept that benefits communities. We will explore our model TOD ordinance and guidebook, which focuses on supporting thoughtfully designed, mixed-use development around the county’s 49 diverse transit stations and also provides helpful information for communities seeking to encourage walkable, mixed-use development outside of station areas. We will discuss five key design elements for successful TOD projects and related best practices using case study development. We will also highlight significant aspects of the model ordinance, including permitted uses; height bonus options; building, open space, and landscaping design standards; and parking management and design. The webinar is free to APA PA Chapter members and $20 for nonmembers and other state chapter members. We are always happy to come out to your community or organization to present on TOD at no charge. Details | Registration

Focus On Farming

Fresh vegetables, fruits, and other farm goods are among the pure pleasures of summer, especially when grown locally by the hard-working farmers in our county. Among the highlights in the summer issue of StalkTalk, Montco’s farmland preservation newsletter, is an upcoming farmers gathering and the opportunity to be included on an agritourism map, which is under development at MCPC. Below are details for these two topics:

Montco Farmers Gathering - For a second year, Montgomery County is inviting farmers, farm owners, and those interested in preserving their farm or becoming a farmer to come together and enjoy an evening of food, fun, networking, and community building. This free gathering will take place on Sunday, August 20, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the pavilion in Upper Salford Township Park, 559 Salford Station Road, Schwenksville, PA 19473. This event offers an opportunity to show appreciation for farmers and provides a platform that can help sustain a strong and thriving farming community. RSVP by August 11.

Montco Agritourism Map - MCPC is developing an interactive GIS map where businesses, such as farms offering agritourism activities (hayrides, corn maze, etc.), farms with on-site stores or farm stands, nurseries and tree farms, specialty stores that sell local goods, and farmers’ markets are publicized. When the map is clicked on, information, such as location, hours of operation, website, contact information, activities offered, etc., will pop up. Users can filter and sort the information to find what they are seeking in just a few clicks. If you are a farmer in Montco or sell value-added farm products grown in the county and would like to be added to this map or have any questions, please contact Stephen Zbyszinski, Senior Farmland Preservation Planner, at 610-278-5960.

Historic Preservation Webinar

MCPC had over 130 registrants for its July 26 Planning Smarter lunchtime webinar. If you were unable to attend, you can view the webinar video and a list of follow-up questions and answers. The webinar provided guidance on historic preservation options available to communities in Pennsylvania, including types of ordinances to consider and inspirational local examples. Participants had an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how to use these available tools to pursue the type of preservation framework that is most appropriate for a particular place. View Webinar

UPCOMING PLANNING COURSES

The Course in Community Planning

September 14, 21, 28, 2023 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Cost: $110*
Lansdale Borough Hall (Council Chambers),
One Vine Street, Lansdale, PA 19446

MCPC is sponsoring this popular community planning course, which is an excellent introduction to planning in Montgomery County for any local planning commission appointee or local elected official. This three-session course combines presentations and group exercises that explore the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), the function of a planning commission, comprehensive plans, zoning, subdivision and land development, capital budgeting, and official maps. Professional credits are offered through PMPEI. More Information

The Course in Zoning

October 12, 19, 26, 2023 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Cost: $110*
Lansdale Borough Hall (Council Chambers),
One Vine Street, Lansdale, PA 19446

This three-session course emphasizes the fundamentals for developing a sound zoning ordinance using the authority granted in the MPC. Topics include the relationship of zoning to comprehensive plans, key terms used in zoning and how they are applied, critical issues in drafting a zoning ordinance and map, procedures for adopting and amending ordinances, and basic zoning administration. The course also explores techniques such as overlay districts, performance zoning, traditional neighborhood development, and planned residential development and options available through regional planning. Professional credits are offered through PMPEI. More Information

*Municipalities with a current Community Planning Assistance Contract with MCPC are eligible for a discounted rate of $90.

Partners in Progress

Return on Environment Study Presentation - MCPC gave a presentation on its publication, RETURN ON ENVIRONMENT: The Economic Impact of Protected Open Space in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to the Whitemarsh Township Open Space Committee on July 26. We welcome opportunities to share this important study that demonstrates how protected open space—public parks and trails, preserved farmland, and private conserved lands—provides tremendous economic value in terms of savings, earnings, and avoided costs.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

DCED Keystone Communities Program - The Keystone Communities Program (KCP) is designed to encourage the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that jointly support local initiatives such as the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and secure quality of life. If your community is interested in designation as a Keystone Main Street or Elm Street, this is the starting point. Designation applications are accepted at all times. Competitive funding applications are accepted July 1 through August 31. More information available at https://dced.pa.gov/programs/keystone-communities-program-kcp/
Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program - The Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program provides funding as a reimbursement grant to eligible applicants seeking to improve urban agriculture infrastructure in Pennsylvania. The application period is open now through September 1^st at 5 pm. Microgrants for small projects, as well as funds for larger initiatives, are available. More information is available here: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Urban-Ag-Grant.aspx

Erin Feehily, Design Planning Assistant Manager, has experience in creating resilient, inclusive community spaces through collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams and public engagement. She enjoys urban design projects that incorporate multimodal transportation, nature-based solutions, and strategic open space design. Erin is a licensed landscape architect and received her MLA from Cal Poly Pomona. She has worked as a designer, planner, and project manager on projects throughout California, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Prior to receiving her MLA, Erin’s career was in graphic and image production for the fashion retail industry. She continues to use her graphic design skills in developing document layouts, marketing collateral, digital illustrations, and project visualization graphics.

Timothy Staub, Senior Community Planner, is providing professional planning services to Lansdale, Narberth, and New Hanover under the Montgomery County Community Planning Assistance Contract Program. He received a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University with concentrations in development and housing. Prior to joining MCPC, he worked for the City of Key West on bicycle and pedestrian transportation planning as a Multimodal Transportation Coordinator. He has also worked with the City of Asbury Park, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, and the Regional Plan Association doing extensive research and work regarding land use and zoning.

July

NOW AVAILABLE!

Report on Housing Units Built

The 2022 Housing Units Built annual report tracks all housing units built (single-family detached, single-family attached, multifamily, mobile Homes), their location, and characteristics (square footage and lot size) of new detached homes in terms of square footage and lot size. The 2022 report indicates that despite increased construction costs, Montgomery County experienced a rebound in housing units built this past year. Over 2,700 new units were added to the county’s housing stock in 2022—just above the average number of homes built annually in the county over the last five years. View the Report.

Report on Nonresidential Construction

The 2022 Nonresidential Construction annual report tracks the location and type of new nonresidential construction (commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal, office, recreation, transportation, and utilities) in Montgomery County. The 2022 report shows that nonresidential construction increased in square footage by nearly 27 percent to over 2.85 million square feet in 2022. The industrial sector accounted for over 42 percent of all nonresidential construction in 2022. View the Report.

JOIN US ON JULY 26!

Hot Topics Lunchtime Webinar: Historic Preservation

Historic preservation can benefit community character, economic development, quality of life, environmental sustainability, housing affordability, and more. This free webinar, part of Planning Smarter Montco 2023, will provide guidance on historic preservation options available to communities in Pennsylvania, including types of ordinances to consider and inspirational local examples. Participants will learn common misconceptions about preservation and gain a deeper understanding of how to use the tools available in Pennsylvania to pursue the type of preservation framework that is most appropriate for a particular place.

Ridge Pike Improvement Project Section A (Open House Overview) 6-26 2023 and add Section B Contract Award

MCPC staff, along with the Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. consultant team, conducted a public open house for the Ridge Pike Improvement Project Section A on June 26. Section A involves the replacement of two structurally deficient Ridge Pike bridges near the PA Turnpike’s planned Lafayette Street interchange. Participants had an opportunity to see the final design and ask questions. In other project news, the Montgomery County Commissioners awarded a $39.2 million construction contract for Section B (Belvoir Road to Chemical Road). The project is being funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), PennDOT, and Plymouth Township.

Meeting the Challenge of Affordable Housing in the North Penn Region

As municipalities in the North Penn region are confronted with the challenge of rising housing costs, they and others in the county are seeking ways to collaborate and find solutions to the housing instability and homelessness that affects a growing number of residents. North Penn leaders and municipal staff came together, along with staff from MCPC, to attend a summit on the topic. Kayleigh Silver, Administrator of the county’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and Emma Hertz, President and CEO of the HealthSpark Foundation, gave presentations that focused on some new ideas on how to effectively communicate with local residents and elected officials on the complex issues of housing affordability and new home construction. We’re looking forward to continuing this conversation on a local level in the North Penn region.

Partners in Progress

City Avenue Landscape Master Plan (CALM) - The City Avenue Special Service District (CASSD) recently had its kickoff meeting for the CALM Working Group. Pattie E. B. Guttenplan, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, is participating on this working group, which will help develop recommendations for new and potentially innovate ideas that will continue City Avenue’s transformation from an auto-oriented corridor to a pedestrian-friendly, successful, and vibrant, mixed-use community.
DVRPC Regional Sidewalk Development Program - Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, County Planning Manager, was a speaker at DVRPC’s recent Regional Sidewalk Development Program meeting. Planning partners from across the region met virtually to hear what has been piloted through this initiative and to provide feedback on future sidewalk planning activities. Anne discussed the collaboration that MCPC piloted with DVRPC to create a mapping tool to help municipalities find high-priority sidewalk projects that would make good applications for the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant program. The two agencies ultimately partnered to provide feedback on several municipal project ideas. Explore the sidewalk mapping tool!
SRPRA - Amtrak and Fetterman Staff - MCPC continues to work with Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) to restore passenger rail along the Schuylkill River corridor. SRPRA Board Member Scott France recently traveled to Washington DC with SRPRA Director Tom Frawley and several other board members to meet with executives at AMTRAK. Meanwhile, Matt Edmond joined Tom and several Chester County board members to meet with staff members of U.S. Senator John Fetterman and discuss ways to support this important regional initiative.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

July 17 – Deadline for required draft application for the PennDOT TA Set-Aside Program.
July 28 – Deadline for County Transportation Program (CTP) applications.
July 28 – Deadline for applications for the recently announced community capacity-building funding to support the WalkWorks Program for select communities across the state.
July 31 – Deadline for the DCED Multimodal Transportation Fund.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, in partnership with DCNR, has announced a new mini-grant program for water trails. Grants are available, up to $2,000, for projects that can quickly and efficiently address an urgent issue on a designated Pennsylvania Water Trail. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through December 31, 2024 or until available funds are awarded, whichever occurs first.

MCPC Interns

We are happy to announce our summer interns, who have an opportunity to gain practical planning experience at MCPC, and are grateful for their assistance. Jake Gerardi is a graduate student in City and Regional Planning at Temple University and looks to work in environmental and sustainability planning. Austin Mosby is pursuing his master’s degree in urban and regional planning at the University of Central Florida with the goal of working as a transportation planner.

June

Fifteen Projects Awarded Montco 2040 Implementation Grants

Fifteen municipal projects in Montgomery County received grant awards in under the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program. The grant awards total nearly $2,500,000 across these 15 municipalities. The grant program assists municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of the plan and the plan’s themes of Connected Communities, Sustainable Places, and Vibrant Economy. A total of 127 grants, accounting for over $15.2 million, have been awarded to 53 municipalities since the grant program was initiated in 2016. More Information

County Transportation (CTP) Application Period Opens June 1

Municipalities are invited to apply for a 2023 CTP grant starting on June 1, 2023. The deadline for applications is July 28, 2023. The CTP assists municipalities with funding for local transportation needs. Projects will be considered for funding based on their benefits to the overall public, consistency with local and county comprehensive plans, and project readiness. A brief webinar, earlier offered to municipal managers and engineers, focuses on changes to the program, especially in regard to eligible project types. Over the last five years 42 projects have been funded in a total of 28 municipalities throughout Montgomery County. This $5 million in CTP grant funding leverages an estimated total of $18,817,088.50 in transportation project costs. More Information

MCPC 2022 Annual Report

The Montgomery County Planning Commission 2022 Annual Report gives an overview of planning progress and achievements throughout 2022. It demonstrates our continued efforts to advance the objectives and goals of the county’s comprehensive plan, Montco 2040: A Shared Vision, while also officially initiating the county’s next comprehensive plan, Montco 2050: A Comprehensive Plan for a Changing World. The annual report highlights the development and advancement of several plans, studies, projects, and initiatives completed by our commission.

Partners in Progress

Affordable Housing Summit - Executive Director Scott France, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach Pattie Guttenplan, and Senior Community Planner Chloe Mohr participated in the May 9 Affordable Housing Summit in Harrisburg and the PHFA offices. The summit was cosponsored by 10,000 Friends and the PA APA Legislative Committee. Topics included zoning reform, land availability, financing, and grant opportunities, among other items. The summit was the first of several scheduled workshops that will focus on solutions to the important topic of affordable housing.
Upper Salford Trail Summit - Representatives from Upper Salford Township and seven surrounding Montgomery County municipalities gathered with planners from MCPC to discuss the future of the local and regional trail network. Representatives from DVRPC, PA DCNR, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Bike North Penn, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy were also present to envision a local, county, and regional trail network that will connect communities and provide transportation and recreation options to residents. Participants worked to collaboratively identify routes and locations for trails that would cross municipal boundaries, connect to community assets, and tie into the larger planned Circuit Trails and County Trail systems.
Green Lane Park Master Plan - Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites is conducting a master plan for the 3,400-acre Green Lane Park, which will span over a 16-month-long period. Pattie Guttenplan, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, and Ellen Miramontes, Senior Trails & Open Space Planner, are representing the MCPC at the Executive Committee and Steering Committee meetings. Area residents are encouraged to attend a series of meetings to discuss potential improvements to the public space and also to provide feedback online. More Information

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

June 12 Deadline - Bloomberg Philosophies’ Asphalt Art Grant Program is accepting applications, perhaps a best fit for local roads, with funds for visual art on roadways, pedestrian spaces, and public infrastructure in cities. More Information
July 17 Deadline - A new round of the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) program opens is available. These federal funds can be used for pedestrian, bicycling, trail, and other projects. Please consider meeting with MCPC staff before submitting an application (email Andrew Turner, Transportation Planner, for more information). You’ll also need to set up a meeting with DVRPC staff. More Information).
July 28 Deadline - The County Transportation Program (CTP) is accepting applications from municipalities for funding to assist with local transportation needs. Projects will be considered for funding based on their benefits to the overall public, consistency with local and county comprehensive plans, and project readiness. More Information

May

White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu and Representative Madeleine Dean Tour County

MCPC joined Montgomery County Commissioner Chair Ken Lawrence and others on a tour with White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu and Representative Madeleine Dean. The tour focused on funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make meaningful and necessary improvements to our county transportation infrastructure. The group toured the county-owned Woodmont Road bridge in West Conshohocken to see its impact up close, in addition to upcoming transit station improvements on the Conshohocken side. Everyone sat down for a roundtable discussion afterward to discuss other pressing infrastructure needs in the county, including passenger rail, regional trails, and roadway projects.

MCPC Contributes to Success of NPC23

MCPC Staff was involved in the planning and success of the NPC23, the national planning conference for the American Planning Association, which took place in Philadelphia and the region April 1–4 and online April 26–28. Many of our staff members were involved in several sessions. The following sessions and mobile workshops promoted county and MCPC initiatives:

Tod: A Way to Transform Your Community/Exploring Suburban Riverfront Transit-Oriented Development. - An educational session and mobile workshop promoting MCPC’s Transit-Oriented Development Model Ordinance.
Transformative Public Engagement with ARPA in Montgomery County - An educational session to showcase our recovery process.
Destination Reading: The Restoration of Passenger Rail to Reading - A mobile workshop promoting the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA).
Seeking Trail Equity and Diversity: Engaging Underserved Communities. - A session sharing information from our Montgomery County Trail Access, Diversity, & Awareness Plan.

AVAILABLE! Multi-Regional Greenway and Stewardship Study

MCPC, in collaboration with Natural Lands, recently completed the Multi-regional Greenway and Stewardship Study for the county’s four regional planning organizations—Central Perkiomen Valley, Indian Valley, Pottstown Metropolitan Area, and Upper Perkiomen Valley. The goal of the study was to create an interconnected greenway system throughout the multi-regional area, focusing on land stewardship and supporting the area’s ecotourism strategy for economic development. Additionally, audits were conducted for the Main Streets within the region’s thirteen boroughs and villages to identify opportunities for making them more walkable, greener, and sustainable. As part of the study, Natural Lands completed stewardship assessments for 38 municipal parks totaling 1,500 acres. These assessments provide land management recommendations for each park and serve as a template for strategies that can be used in the remaining public parks and open spaces within the multi-regional area.

Volunteer to Help Montco Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!

The Road to 2026—the United States’ semiquincentennial—is officially open. Montgomery County is setting up its own committee to celebrate the momentous 250th anniversary of our nation. There will be many ways to celebrate through arts and culture, education, commerce, nature, tourism, environment, and more and we could use your enthusiasm and help as a volunteer! Please reach out to Dave Zellers, Director of Commerce, at david.zellers@montgomerycountypa.gov if you would like to participate. The next full meeting of the committee will take place in autumn 2023. More Information

2023 County Transportation Program (CTP)

The sixth year of the County Transportation Program (CTP) was recently announced by the Montgomery County Commissioners. The program assists municipalities with funding for local transportation needs and is open to all county municipalities for funding of projects that are eligible for Liquid Fuels funding. Projects will be considered for funding based on their benefits to the overall public, consistency with local and county comprehensive plans, and project readiness. In April, MCPC invited municipal managers and engineers to attend a brief webinar focused on the program’s changes, especially in regard to eligible project types. Participants had an opportunity to ask questions of staff managing the program in advance of the application period, which is scheduled to open on June 1. Municipalities also are invited to look over the 2023 CTP guidebook. More Information

Register for The Course Zoning Administration

MCPC is offering The Course in Zoning Administration on three consecutive Thursdays, May 11, 18, 25, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Towamencin Township building. This three-session course informs zoning hearing board members, zoning officials, and elected officials—regardless of experience—on the basic principles, procedures, and information needed to effectively carry out their functions in the administration of municipal zoning. Professional credits offered through PMPEI. More Information & Online Registration

Nominate a Potential 2023 Montgomery Award Winner!

MCPC invites to you to submit a nomination for a 2023 Montgomery Award! This annual program promotes outstanding design, innovative planning, environmental stewardship, and reognizes leadership and advocacy in Montgomery County. We are looking for the best of the best! Nominate a land development project for a Montgomery Award or a person or organization with significant contributions to advancing planning in Montgomery County for a Planning Advocate Award. We are again partnering with the Montgomery County Conservation District to offer an Environmental Stewardship Award as part of the Montgomery Awards Program. Nominate a project, completed in the past three years, that exemplifies the practices of environmental stewardship and conservation for water and soil quality. The deadline for nominations is the end of day on May 8, 2023. More Information

Register for the May 8 Bus Revolution Webinar

SEPTA is offering a webinar on May 8, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to present an update on plans to revolutionize its bus system with a comprehensive bus network redesign that will work better for more members of the public. The webinar, one in a series, will discuss the updated draft network, with a focus on bus routes in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties. SEPTA will highlight the key proposed changes for bus service in these counties and respond to questions submitted in writing during the meeting.

Partners in Progress

Representative Nelson’s Third Annual Environmental Conference - Representative Nelson invited MCPC to this conference, which was attended by Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, County Planning Manager. MCPC partnered with the Montco Office of Housing and Community Development to talk about housing, resiliency, and climate change.

Thriving Communities Program: Pottstown - MCPC, along with Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation (PAHWF), will serve as implementation partners for Pottstown Borough in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program. Pottstown was selected as one of only two communities in Pennsylvania for the program, which provides technical assistance to disadvantaged and under-resourced communities to advance a pipeline of transportation infrastructure projects that will increase mobility, reduce pollution, and expand affordable transportation options. MZC Foundation, Inc. will serve as the capacity builder team for the next two years.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

Application Deadline – May 19 - The Farm to School Grant Program provides schools with funding to improve access to healthy, local foods and increase agriculture education opportunities for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

Application Deadline – May 26 - WalkWorks grant funding continues to be available for facilitating the development of active transportation plans and other policies to encourage walkability.
Application Deadline – May 31 - DCED Greenways Trails and Recreation Program funds projects that involve development, rehabilitation and improvements to public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails, and river conservation.
Application Deadline – June 23 - The 2023 Growing Greener Plus Grants Program is encouraging applications for county Stormwater Management Planning (Act 167) grants.
Application Deadline – July 31 - DCED Multimodal Transportation Funds may be used for the development, rehabilitation and enhancement of transportation assets to existing communities, streetscape, lighting, sidewalk enhancement, pedestrian safety, connectivity of transportation assets and transit-oriented development.

TRAIL NEWS

Chester Valley Trail Extension Officially Opens!

Montgomery County’s premier trail network just got even better with the official opening of the 3.8-mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail on March 13. The extension, passing through Upper Merion, Bridgeport, and Norristown, links the existing 14.5-mile portion of the Chester Valley Trail, which currently runs from Exton to King of Prussia, to the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. The new 10- to 12-foot-wide, paved, multiuse path is part of the regional Circuit Trails network. In addition to increasing the ability to recreate and commute between Chester County and points throughout Montco, trail users can now ride and walk as far north as Green Lane Park and as far east as Philadelphia. Even though the trail just opened, it is already being recognized and appreciated. On March 30, Jamila H. Winder, Vice Chair of the Montgomery Commissioners, accepted a Transportation Award from the King of Prussia Business Improvement District at its Report to the Community Luncheon. Learn More

Cross County Trail Groundbreaking

Montco had a groundbreaking celebration on March 24 for the middle section, located in Upper Dublin Township, of the Fort Washington Cross County Trail & Road Diet project. This project will include full road reconstruction, a road diet, and construction of the adjacent portion of the Cross County Trail, a significant county arterial trail. Montco committed $500,000 from our County Transportation Program toward the funding of this important project. When fully built-out, the Cross County Trail will extend approximately 19 miles from its current intersection with the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken to its connection with the Pennypack Trail in Bryn Athyn. Although only about 40 percent of the trail exists today, the entirety of the trail’s remaining unbuilt portions is either under study, in design, or in construction.

Submit a Nomination for a 2023 Montgomery Award!

We're looking for the best in planning, design, environmental stewardship, and advocacy in Montgomery County. Nominate a land development project for a Montgomery Award or a person or organization with significant contributions to advancing planning in Montgomery County for a Planning Advocate Award. We also partner with the Montgomery County Conservation District to offer an Environmental Stewardship Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the practices of environmental stewardship and conservation for water and soil quality. Eligibility criteria, nomination requirements, and online entry forms are available at www.montgomerycountypa.gov/MontgomeryAwards. Nominations will be accepted through May 8, 2023.

Join Us at a Planning Smarter Montco 2023 Event

Our Planning Smarter Montco 2023 series kicks off with the first session of The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review on April 4. We will also be sponsoring courses in community planning, zoning, and zoning administration in 2023. New this year, we are offering a “Hot Topics” summer lunchtime webinar series! The series will explore current issues that are very relevant to our communities, including short-term rental regulation, office center reimagining, and historic preservation. In the fall, we will offer an event focused on land stewardship and management. It will acknowledging the importance of open space interconnectedness and the environmental and social value that open space contributes to the overall landscape and how to best manage these lands to enhance their ecological integrity while respecting the impact on municipal maintenance expenses and staff capacity. The 2023 Montgomery Awards celebration will cap off the Planning Smarter series in November. We hope you register to join us for this exciting planning series!

NOW AVAILABLE!

2022 Median Prices for Housing Report

This annual report shows trends for the median sales prices for both new and existing housing units on an annual basis. Differences in median sales price are also tracked by type of unit and include prices for single-family detached, single-family attached, and multifamily units. The number of transactions in 2022 decreased to 11,975—just under 1,000 less than the previous year (12,870). In addition, the median price for housing in the county rose 8.1 percent from 2021 to 2022, and all housing types saw increases in their median sale prices. Learn More

2022 Annual Summary of the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Program

This annual summary presents an overview of 2022 efforts and accomplishments under the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Program as well as goals for 2023. In addition to the report, an ESRI story map, illustrating the farms preserved in 2022, examples of supportive publications, and photos from 2022 farm events, is available. Last year was a big year for the program as it received 18 applications—the most in over 20 years! The program purchases agricultural easements on productive farms in Montgomery County. When the easement is purchased, the owner keeps the land but it must remain in farming in perpetuity. Learn More

April 4, 11, 18

The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review

MCPC is sponsoring The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review on three consecutive Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Towamencin Township building. This three-session course reviews the subdivision and land development process from pre-application meetings through the completion of a project. Professional credits offered through PMPEI. More Information & Online Registration

May 11, 18, 25

The Course Zoning Administration

Partners in Progress

Representative Napoleon Nelson’s Third Annual Environmental Conference - Representative Nelson invited MCPC to this conference, which was attended by Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, County Planning Manager. MCPC partnered with the Montco Office of Housing and Community Development to talk about housing, resiliency, and climate change.
Thriving Communities Program: Pottstown - MCPC, along with Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation (PAHWF), will serve as implementation partners for Pottstown Borough in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program. Pottstown was selected as one of only two communities in Pennsylvania for the program, which provides technical assistance to disadvantaged and under-resourced communities to advance a pipeline of transportation infrastructure projects that will increase mobility, reduce pollution, and expand affordable transportation options. MZC Foundation, Inc. will serve as the capacity builder team for the next two years. The borough has identified several projects this program may help regarding equitable access to economic development activities, which may include stormwater and bridge infrastructure projects, the restoration of passenger rail from Pottstown to Philadelphia and Reading, and projects related to the Keystone Economic and Employment Plan project and Keim Street Gateway Plan.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if written support is required for a grant application.

PA WalkWorks - Applications for WalkWorks funding for municipalities, counties, and RPOs/MPOs seeking funds for the development of active transportation plans is open. The application deadline is May 26, but now is the time to line up formal resolutions and letters of support to accompany submissions. An informational webinar is being offered on Thursday, April 6, at noon. More Information
Schuylkill Highlands Mini-grant Program - Mini-grants are available in the amount of $1,000 to $15,000 for projects that connect residents and visitors to the outdoors, encourage sustainable regional development, protect natural and cultural resources, and inspire people to care for, enjoy, and explore the Schuylkill Highlands. More Information
Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) - Applications will be accepted by 4:00 p.m. on April 5. C2P2 grants provide funds for the planning, acquisition, and development of public parks, recreation areas, motorized and non-motorized trails, river conservation and access, and the conservation of open space. More Information
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Grants Program - PennDOT’s funding for the federal fiscal years 2022/2023 PA NEVI competitive grant program to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment sites across PA is open for applications on. More information
Act 13 Programs – Marcellus Legacy Fund - The Marcellus Legacy Fund was created by Act 13 of 2012 to provide for the distribution of unconventional gas well impact fees to counties, municipalities, and commonwealth agencies through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. Funds are available for flood mitigation, trails and recreation, watershed restoration, and other environmental programs. Applications will be accepted until May 31. More Information
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program - This new DOT Federal Highway Administration competitive grant program provides funds to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities. Eligible applicants include units of local government, metropolitan planning organizations, and more. Additional Information

February

AVAILABLE! 2022 Annual Summary of Subdivision, Land Development, and Zoning Activity

The 2022 Annual Summary of Subdivision, Land Development, and Zoning Activity features statistics and trends of all proposed subdivisions, land developments, and zoning amendments in the county reviewed by MCPC in 2022. While total submissions and residential units proposed were down from the previous year, they still came in around the average annual rate over the last ten years. Nonresidential activity was much higher, and we saw the largest amount of square footage proposed (5,251,580 square feet) since 2007! Industrial speculation, often in the warehousing and distribution formats, again led the nonresidential sectors for the fourth year in a row. For more statistics and trend analysis view the view the annual summary.

Registration Open for 2023 Montco Household Hazardous Waste Collections

Registration is now available for the county’s 2023 household hazardous waste events. These collections are for residents only (no businesses or contractors). Visit www.montcoparecycles.org for all dates and locations, a list of acceptable and unacceptable household hazardous waste items, and online registration. We also provide information on what to expect at household hazardous waste events and tips for safely transporting chemicals to a collection. In addition to listing our county events, we also list household hazardous waste events throughout Southeastern PA. While visiting our recycling site, check out our county recycling programs; information on how to recycle at home, work, and school; and our A–Z recycling guide. 2023 Montco Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events Flyer

MCPC Participating at APA National Conference

The American Planning Association (APA) national conference (NPC23) is happening April 1–4, 2023 in Philadelphia. Eleven MCPC planners are involved in 12 educational sessions and mobile workshops that cover many focus areas. More than 10 of the over 60 mobile workshops, which extend as far as Reading, the Lehigh Valley, New Jersey, and Delaware, showcase communities in Montgomery County. Early bird discounted registration ends today (March 1). Standard registration fees will start tomorrow. Registration

MARCH 8

Public Open House on Cross County Trail West Feasibility Study Progress

MCPC, in partnership with its consultant team led by NV5, has been studying the feasibility of completing the Cross County Trail in Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships and is offering a public open house to update community members on study progress. The open house will take place on March 8, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Miles Park Building, 4021 Joshua Road, Lafayette Hill, PA. Attendees can arrive anytime during the event to view a set of preliminary trail route alternatives that will close the Cross County Trail gaps between Germantown Pike and Erdenheim Farms and between Fort Washington State Park and the SEPTA Fort Washington Regional Rail Station. They will also have an opportunity to ask questions and participate in a mapping exercise and survey on the presented alternatives. The open house materials and online participation will be provided here between March 8 and March 31, 2023. Public feedback will assist the planning team in determining the final preferred trail alternative and will set the course for future design and construction of the remainder of the Cross County Trail. Once completed, the 17.5-mile trail is planned to stretch from Conshohocken to the Pennypack Trail and will connect the Schuylkill River, Wissahickon Creek, Cresheim, and Power Line Trails. The planning study for this western portion of the trail is anticipated to be completed in summer 2023. Project Information

March 13

Chester Valley Trail Extension Ribbon-Cutting

Join Montco at this celebration of the opening of the Chester Valley Trail Extension from King of Prussia to Norristown! The ribbon-cutting will take place on March 13, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at 167 King of Prussia Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406 (behind the KOP Park and Ride and PennDOT driver's license center). This newly completed trail extension links the existing 14.5-mile portion of the Chester Valley Trail, which currently runs from Exton to King of Prussia, to the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Registration

March 29 & April 12

Bringing Green Parking Lots to Your Community: The Benefits and Challenges

Join us for a two-part webinar to hear about the benefits of green parking lots and to explore successful case studies. Pattie E. B. Guttenplan, RLA, AICP, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, Montgomery County Planning Commission and Vincent Cotrone, Urban Forester and Natural Resource Extension Educator, Penn State University, will be leading this webinar, which is sponsored by the Pennsylvania organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). The first session of the webinar will take place on March 29, 2023 and will focus on the benefit green parking has on heat island effect, water quality, and stormwater management. The second session, which will focus on successful case studies and examples where green parking has been addressed in subdivision and land development codes, will occur on April 12. Both sessions take place on a Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Both webinar sessions are free, but registration for each must be completed separately. Part 1 Registration | Part 2 Registration

April 4, 11, 18

The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review

MCPC is sponsoring The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review on three consecutive Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Towamencin Township building meeting hall, 1090 Troxel Road, Lansdale PA, 19446. This three-session course reviews the subdivision and land development process from pre-application meetings through the completion of a project. It focuses on the principles of subdivision and land development, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) requirements, effective plan management procedures, and design and technical standards for subdivisions and land developments. Preregistration is required. The registration fee is $110, and payment is due at the first session. Officials and staff from municipalities with a current community planning assistance contract with MCPC are eligible for a discounted rate of $90. Professional credits offered through PMPEI. More Information & Online Registration

Partners in Progress

Bill Hartman, Trails & Open Space Planning Manager, and Matthew Popek, Transportation Planning Assistant Manager, attended the February 9 North Gulph Road Trail Coordination meeting. This coalition of public interests, including the KOP District, Valley Forge National Historical Park, DVRPC, Upper Merion Township, the Valley Forge Park Alliance, and MCPC, meets regularly to pursue a new trail to connect the Schuylkill River Trail with the Village at Valley Forge.
Executive Director Scott France and Matthew Edmond, Assistant Director of Transportation & Long-Range Planning, attended the February 10 SEPTA City-County Meeting. SEPTA staff provided an update on ridership trends and discussed regional transportation funding with directors from all five counties in the region.
Pattie Guttenplan, Assistant Director of Design & Outreach, and Matthew Popek, Transportation Planning Assistant Manager, attended the American Planning Association Pennsylvania Chapter – Southeast Section’s “mentoring mixer” event on February 23 at the Temple University Center City campus in Philadelphia. Thirty graduate students from local planning programs heard from professional mentors in the planning field about career progress and ways to prepare for post-graduate life.

Grant Opportunities

Please use the MCPC Consistency Letter Request if seeking written support for a grant application.

2023 AARP Community Challenge (expanded guidelines this year) – Applications due by 5 p.m. on March 15, 2023
Small Business Advantage Grant Funding – March 24, 2023 application deadline
DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) – Closes April 5, 2023
The Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development is accepting online applications through April 10, 2023 for a variety of community development, affordable housing development, and non-profits and homeless services projects under several grant programs. More Information
Farm Vitality Planning Grant – Rolling deadline (farm transition planning)

Apply for a Montco 2040 Implementation Grant

MCPC is accepting applications from municipalities and their partners for the 2023 cycle of the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program, which assists municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of the county’s Montco 2040 comprehensive plan and its themes of Connected Communities, Sustainable Places, and Vibrant Economy. This cycle has a funding allotment of $2.5 million. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2023. See Program Overview, Guidebook, and Application.

What Is Your Future Vision for Montco?

MCPC has started work on Montco 2050, the next comprehensive plan for Montgomery County. This plan will guide overall growth and future development and will help the county in making planning decisions with an outlook to 2050. It will focus on broad issues that affect everyone’s quality of life. Public opinion is important as the plan will ultimately reflect the needs of county residents, and Montco would like to hear from as many voices as possible! Visit www.montgomerycountypa.gov/4213/Montco-2050 for an online survey and to share ideas and comments on the Montco 2050 Padlet. You‘ll also find a toolkit to help spread the word through your social media and other communications platforms as part of an inclusive, collaborative planning approach. Learn about Montco 2050.

Opportunity to Comment on Draft County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

The public is invited to comment on the proposed draft revision to the Montgomery County 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The update, required by FEMA and scheduled to be completed in 2023, will continue to reduce the county’s vulnerability to weather-related, geologic, human-caused, technological, and other natural hazards that could threaten the county. The draft was compiled with input from municipalities, county departments, and state agencies. A steering committee, comprised of county, municipal, and community representatives, advised the process. Several public meetings offered the public an opportunity to review significant plan sections during the process. The completed draft plan is now ready for review by community leaders and the public to review and comment. Comments will be accepted through February 10, 2023. The draft plan is available online and at local libraries. Comments can be submitted online or by mail. The draft plan and online comment form are available at www.montgomerycountypa.gov/HazardMitigationPlanning.

Partners in Progress

Our planners participate on and engage with many boards, agencies, councils, and other stakeholders in our county and the region. This provides an excellent opportunity to share information, gain insight, and collaborate. Recent participation:

Matthew Edmond, Assistant Director of Transportation & Long-Range Planning, gave an update on the Pennsylvania Turnpike corridor reinvestment study’s implementation and its plans for the Valley Forge interchange at the January 24 King of Prussia District Transportation Committee Meeting.
Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, County Planning Manager, attended a January 25 Advocates Against Hunger meeting and provided an update to the stakeholders on plans for the county's food policy council work.
Executive Director Scott France will present an overview on current and upcoming 2023 MCPC initiatives at the February 2 meeting of the Montgomery County Consortium of Communities (MCCC).

MCPC Staff Highlights

Congratulations to Andrew Turner, Transportation Planner, who earned AICP certification! The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is the American Planning Association’s professional institute. This certification recognizes planners for their education, experience, knowledge, ethical practice, and commitment to the planning profession.
Congratulations to Simon Bernnard, County Planner II, who received a certificate from the National Walking College for successfully completing all requirements of the 2022 National Walking College fellowship. The goal of the college is to build the capacity of local advocates to advance policy, systems, and environment change to create healthier, more walkable communities. This six-month fellowship provides training in best practices in design, policy, and organizing; a network of peers and mentors; and individual coaching in developing a community-specific action plan.

MCPC News

November

Congratulations to Our 2023 Montgomery Award Winners!

2023 Award Recipients

Montgomery County Receives Award for Leadership in Environmental, Conservation, and Recreation Initiatives

MCPC Attends National Mpact Conference

Montco Seeks Farmers to Preserve Their Farms for Future Generations

MCPC Participates on Green Lane Park Master Plan Committees

MCPC Planners, Leaders in APAPA-SE, Will Participate in December 7 Annual Event

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

Staff News

Seven Staff Members Receive Service Pins

October

MCPC Board Tours Norristown

Daniel A. Nemiroff Joins MCPC Board

MCPC Vice Chair Duclie Flaharty Receives Citizen Planner Award

AVAILABLE! New TOD Self-Guided Walking Tour Brochures

Over 50 People Attend Event on Supporting Municipal Land Stewardship

Montco Breaks Ground for Section B of Ridge Pike Improvement Project

SRPRA Comes to Pottstown

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

MCPC Staff News

Congratulations!

Join Us on October 30!

Supporting Municipal Land Stewardship

Now Available!

Ridge Pike Section B Groundbreaking

SRPRA Board Will Meet in Pottstown

Register Today!

The Course in Zoning

MCPC Will Speak on ADUs at Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar Series

MCPC to Present on Multiple Topics at APA PA Annual Conference

County Seeks Ideas, Interest, and Partners for Trail Junction Center!

Leave Your Vehicle at Home...

Sharing Great Planning News!

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

MCPC's Certified PMPEI Instructors

September

New Study! Enhancing PART Bus Stops in the Pottstown Area

MCPC Offers Ridge Pike Section B Open House

Next Montco Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Montco Farmers Gather Together

Upcoming Planning Courses

The Course in Community Planning

The Course in Zoning

Supporting Municipal Land Stewardship

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

Staff News

MCPC Welcomes New Planner

Thanks Interns!

August

TOMORROW! Join Us for a ﻿Transit-Oriented Development Webinar

Focus On Farming

Historic Preservation Webinar

UPCOMING PLANNING COURSES

The Course in Community Planning

The Course in Zoning

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

Staff News

July

NOW AVAILABLE!

Report on Housing Units Built

Report on Nonresidential Construction

JOIN US ON JULY 26!

Hot Topics Lunchtime Webinar: Historic Preservation

Ridge Pike Improvement Project Section A (Open House Overview) 6-26 2023 and add Section B Contract Award

Meeting the Challenge of Affordable Housing in the North Penn Region

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

Staff News

Leadership Main Line

Regional Technical Committee Vice Chair

MCPC Interns

June

Fifteen Projects Awarded Montco 2040 Implementation Grants

TOMORROW! Join Us for a Transit-Oriented Development Webinar

Nominate a Potential 2023 Montgomery Award Winner!