Planning excellence for Chester County.

Events:

Course in Zoning
$160 ($110 is for PMPEI Costs and $50 for Programming)
1/15/26, 1/22/26, and 1/29/26
6:00-9:30 PM Arrive at 5:45 for the first week.
Food will be provided
West Chester University Graduate Center, Room 306
1160 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA

This course addresses the fascinating, complex, and contentious topic of zoning. We will examine how zoning evolved in the United States and how this history continues to shape the way zoning is practiced in 21st century Pennsylvania. The course begins with a review of the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) authority for zoning and presents “nuts and bolts” fundamentals for drafting zoning ordinances and amendments. Included in the course are advanced techniques such as overlay and performance zoning, planned residential development, and traditional neighborhood development. The relationship of zoning to comprehensive planning and the need for them to be consistent is emphasized. The course includes mapping exercises and analyses of zoning ordinance provisions. Problem situations and ethical dilemmas in zoning are discussed. The role of the planning commission with other individuals and local agencies in zoning administration, as well as procedures for enacting zoning ordinances and guidelines for rezoning, are discussed in detail.

Course in Zoning Administration
$160 ($110 is for PMPEI Costs and $50 for Programming)
2/12/26, 2/19/26 and 2/26/26
6:00-9:30 PM Arrive at 5:45 for the first week.
Food will be provided
West Chester University Graduate Center, Room 306
1160 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA

In this course zoning hearing board members, zoning officials, and elected officials—regardless of experience—learn the basic principles, procedures, and information needed to effectively carry out their functions in the administration of municipal zoning. The course covers the technical aspects of zoning and how to build effective relationships with the public. Hands-on experiences and practice exercises are built into each session. Participants learn how to conduct effective and fair zoning hearings in a mock zoning hearing session. Course topics include the principles of zoning, key zoning terms, the zoning administration team, zoning officer duties, enforcement notices, and zoning hearing procedures, variances, special exceptions/conditional uses, and nonconformities.