Montgomery County Planning Commission

Michael Stokes recently retired after nearly 34 years at the Montgomery County Planning Commission.  He was often the first into the office and last to leave.  His passion for planning is unmatched.  His limitless capacity for hard work, combined with his intellectual curiosity, made him the go-to, in-house expert on all types of projects, plans, and studies.  Michael’s greatest contribution was with Montgomery County’s open space program.  He guided the county through comprehensive open space planning and two programs of preservation funding over 20+ years totaling $250 million which resulted in 41,000 acres of permanently preserved open space.  Michael has been a long time PMPEI instructor, teaching countless citizen planners and elected officials.  His local involvement in planning includes chairing the Limerick Township Planning Commission for 10 years and serving on the board of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, 10,000 Friends of PA Policy Council, PA Trails Advisory Committee, and PA Water Plan Delaware Basin Committee.