Land Use and Zoning Implementation Strategies

All

Prepare and adopt an ordinance that defines “student housing facilities” and limits the number of such facilities per block.

High

Planning Commission, Consultant

Zoning Ordinance revisions

1

Amend NC-1 zoning for West Chester Country Club to require future site development to connect to the existing street grid. Change the current NC-1 block class to “C” for the Elks Club.

Medium

Planning Commission, Consultant

Zoning Ordinance revisions

1

Amend the NC-1 zoning to require at least a 50-foot setback on High Street and prohibit additional curb cuts on High Street in the Gateway Corridor.

Medium

Planning Commission, Consultant

Zoning Ordinance revisions

1

Apply for grant funding for and prepare a “Gay, Market, West Chestnut and Hannum Avenue Gateway Design Plan” for streetscape improvements in the Commercial Service zoning districts.  The plan should recommend zoning changes to require compliance with the Plan. 

Medium

Planning Commission, Consultant

Special study with design guidelines, Zoning Ordinance revisions, and grant funding.

2

Include the Agway property (currently in the TC zoning district) in the NC-2 (C) zoning district.

Medium

Planning Commission

Zoning Map Change

3

Include all or a portion of the properties on the south side of E. Barnard Street in the NC-2(C) zoning district.

Medium

Planning Commission

Zoning Map Change

3

Require parking access for new dwellings from an alley rather than curb cuts along E. Barnard Street.

Medium

Planning Commission

Zoning Ordinance revision

4

Include the property on the southwest corner of East Union Street and the SEPTA right-of-way in the new “Mixed Use” zoning district.

Medium

Planning Commission

Zoning Map Change

4

Expand the HARB to include properties along south Walnut Street and adjacent areas in the southeast area of the Borough.

Medium

HARB, Planning Commission

Zoning Map Change

6

Rex’s Bar, 344 W. Gay Street is a non-conforming use.  The Borough should encourage the owner to relocate the bar to Town Center. 

Low

Borough; Property Owner

7-A

The Borough should work with Goodwill Fire Company to locate a more suitable area for the station.

Medium

Borough; Fire Company

Special Study

7-A

Eliminate the “fee-in-lieu of” parking provision in the zoning ordinance; also eliminate the 1,250 s.f. per unit density requirement for residential units in the Town Center district.

High

Planning Commission

Zoning Ordinance Revisions

7-A

The height limit in the Historic District portion of the TC district should be lowered to respect the height of historic resources found there.

Medium

Planning Commission

Zoning Ordinance Revisions

7-B

Amend the zoning ordinance to provide relief from parking, impervious coverage and minimum green area requirements as specified in §112-32 for projects that restrict first floor use to “retail stores and shops” or “restaurants.”  Consider providing a first-floor retail overlay district to facilitate retail uses in this area.

High

Planning Commission; Consultant

Zoning Ordinance Revisions

7-B

Form a task force that includes representatives of the West Chester Business Improvement District Authority to pursue the recruitment or development of a grocery store in the Town Center or Commercial Service districts.

High

Task Force

Special Study

7-B

Direct HARB to prepare a development and renovation project guide for the Historic District that includes appropriate architectural design criteria.

Medium

Planning Commission

Design Guide

7-B

Amend Commercial Service district zoning regulations to require sidewalks, street trees and parking lot design standards. The Commercial Service District should provide areas for greater building heights.

Medium

Planning Commission; Consultant

Zoning Ordinance Revisions

8

Include all or a portion of all properties on the south side of East Barnard Street in the NC-2(C) zoning district. 

Medium

Planning Commission; Consultant

Zoning Map Change

8

The Industrial district should provide permit areas for greater building heights.

Medium

Planning Commission; Consultant

Zoning Ordinance Amendment

8

Create a Residential Mixed Use zoning district that permits the development of residential, office and light industrial uses.

High

Planning Commission; Consultant

Zoning Ordinance Amendment; Zoning Map Change

Public Improvement Implementation Strategies

1

Prepare a Park Master Plan for Hoopes Park.

High

Planning Commission; Consultant

Special Study; possible state or County grant funding

4

Improve the area along Goose Creek between Magnolia and Lacey Streets as a linear park.

Medium

Consultant; Planning Commission

Special Study, possible grant funding

5

Continue to implement the Everhart Park Master Plan. Construction of curbing along the park is needed along West Miner and West Union Street.

Medium

Consultant; Borough Engineer

Infrastructure Improvements

7-A

The Borough must maintain brick sidewalks, road surfaces, planters and tree grates, etc.

Medium

Public Works Department

Maintenance Program

Transportation, Circulation and Parking Implementation Strategies

All

Prepare a Sidewalk Inventory and Plan.

Medium

Planning Commissions, Consultant

Prepare Inventory and Plan; Prepare implement Plan recommendations

All

Implement traffic calming techniques.

Medium

Planning Commission, Traffic consultant

Special Study; May be combined with sidewalk inventory and plan

5

Pursue the de-designation of Routes 52 and 100 on Price Street.

High

PennDOT, Traffic Consultant, Borough Engineer

Special permit

5

Install sidewalks along the east side of Bradford Avenue. 

Medium

Consultant, Borough Engineer

Special study and infrastructure project

7-A

Implement new automated parking payment technology, such as the use of credit cards at Borough lots.

Medium

County or Regional Planning Commission

Infrastructure project

All

Encourage the construction of the 322 bypass interchange north of the Borough to operate at full potential by the addition of southbound Route 202 and northbound Route 322 access ramps.

Medium

County or Regional Planning Commission; Borough Engineer; PennDOT

Infrastructure project

All

Reassess levels of service at all intersections after implementation of the “closed loop” signal system.  Coordinate signal timing to manage congestion and traffic incident management.

Medium

Borough Engineer; PennDOT

Special Study

All

Implement a Borough-wide signage program for attractions, streets, public parking areas, landmarks, and school zones. 

Medium

Borough Engineer; Consultant

Special study, Infrastructure program

All

Re-evaluate the pavement marking program make certain that standard visibility and reflective levels for striping are in place year-round, and turning lanes are marked appropriately throughout the Borough.

High

Public Works; Borough Engineer

Infrastructure
Improvement

All

Evaluate ridership demand on SEPTA bus routes and work with SEPTA to establish additional routes.

High

SEPTA; Borough Planning Commission; Consultant

Special Study

All

Study re-implementation of the Run-A-Round or similar local shuttle bus service.

Medium

Chamber of Commerce

Special Study

All

Monitor and participate in the efforts to extend SEPTA’s R-3 rail line.  Support the inter-suburban line connecting passenger rail service to West Chester from the south.

Medium

SEPTA; Borough Planning Commission; Consultant

Appoint committee / official to monitor / support

All

Implement recommended pavement-marking improvements to network Borough bikeways to other bicycle connections as proposed by the Chester County Planning Commission.

Medium

Public Works; Borough Engineer

Infrastructure Project

7-A

Promote sharing of private parking lots and private on-street parking stalls at off-peak times, through special agreements; provide alternative parking areas for business owners and apartment residents; provide incentives for peripheral parking for downtown business patrons, such as free parking validation or extended meter parking.

Medium

Property Owners; West Chester Borough

Request the BID Authority  to investigate and report to Council

General Implementation Strategies

All

Update the Comprehensive plan after the 2010 Census.

Low

County and Borough Planning Commission, Consultant

Comprehensive Plan Update

All

Appoint a Steering Committee to oversee plan implementation.

High

Borough Council,
Planning Commission

Regular Meetings and Progress Reports

7-A

Continue to assist and support the West Chester Business Improvement District Authority in the creation and operation of a “business improvement district.”

High

Consultant, Borough Manager

Special Study

All

Adopt a rental housing code to protect neighborhoods against physical and economic deterioration.  Adopt procedures to administer the registration of rental leases. Provide information that explains the Rental Housing Code to local owners, agents and managers. Monitor inspections and code violations.

Medium

Code Enforcement

Revise Administrative Procedures

All

Update the Emergency Operations Plan.

Medium

Borough Manager

Revise EOP

All

Participate in efforts that support an appropriate landfill for the projected solid waste needs.

Medium

Public Works; Adjacent Municipalities

Special Study

All

Coordinate with Philadelphia Suburban Water Company for pipe rehabilitation or replacement of the Borough’s older mains.

High

Public Works; Borough Engineer; PSWC

Infrastructure Project

All

Additional parks and recreation opportunities should be provided where appropriate.

High

Consultant

Comprehensive Parks, Open Space and Recreation Plan Update

All

Remain active in West Chester University’s planning.

High

Town Gown; Planning Commission

West Chester University Master Plan

All

Provide information to adequately assist in the referral of residents who require health and human services.  Provide training to employees regarding available services.

Medium

Borough Staff; County Staff

Staff Training