MCPC Monthly

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.montcopa.org/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

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

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:

Springfield Trails Public Meeting - Springfield Township had a great turnout for its public meeting on the township’s trails master plan. Those who attended had the opportunity to see a presentation on the plan, engage in small group discussions on proposed trail segments, and provide feedback. MCPC is working on the plan with Springfield Township through a planning assistance contract.
Penn State Extension Meeting - County staff from MCPC, commerce, and health and human services met with Penn State Extension staff to discuss collaboration opportunities. Although some of the extension’s staff members are based in Creamery, they can draw upon colleagues from around the state to support their work in nutrition education, stormwater management, farming, forestry, landscape management, and more. Drew Shaw, Environmental Planning Manager; Anne Leavitt-Gruberger, County Planning Manager; and Steve Zbyszinski, Senior Farmland Preservation Planner, spoke about the county’s farmland preservation and stormwater management work.
Cross County Trail West Feasibility Study Open House - MCPC and others from the project team invited the public to an open house on the Cross County Trail West Feasibility Study. Attendees could arrive anytime between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Miles Park Building in Lafayette Hill to hear about plan progress and share feedback. The project team presented the trail route alternatives being considered and informed residents on ways to take an active role in the study process. Attendees were also given the opportunity to ask questions and participate in a mapping exercise and survey.

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 at www.montcopa.org/CrossCountyTrailWest 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.montcopa.org/montco2050 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.montcopa.org/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 Monthly

April

TRAIL NEWS

Chester Valley Trail Extension Officially Opens!

Cross County Trail Groundbreaking

Submit a Nomination for a 2023 Montgomery Award!

Join Us at a Planning Smarter Montco 2023 Event

NOW AVAILABLE!

2022 Median Prices for Housing Report

2022 Annual Summary of the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Program

UPCOMING COURSES

April 4, 11, 18

The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review

May 11, 18, 25

The Course Zoning Administration

﻿ Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

Staff News

Interested in Serving Montco?

February

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

Registration Open for 2023 Montco Household Hazardous Waste Collections

MCPC Participating at APA National Conference

Upcoming Courses & Events

MARCH 8

Public Open House on Cross County Trail West Feasibility Study Progress

March 13

Chester Valley Trail Extension Ribbon-Cutting

March 29 & April 12

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

April 4, 11, 18

The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

MCPC Promotions!

January

Introducing MCPC Monthly!

Apply for a Montco 2040 Implementation Grant

What Is Your Future Vision for Montco?

NOW AVAILABLE! Montco 2040 Implementation Update

Latest Issue of the Quarterly Construction Report

Opportunity to Comment on Draft County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Partners in Progress

Grant Opportunities

Let’s Stay in Touch! New MCPC Email Addresses

MCPC Staff Highlights

Partners in Progress