Chester County

Prompted by a rapid loss of farmland and open space, Chester County’s Open Space Protection Programs began in the late 1980s with the State’s first referendum to preserve open space. Since then, policies and practices aligned with public support and continuous funding has positioned Chester County as a statewide leader in land preservation and smart growth. Landscapes 3, adopted in 2018, is the updated comprehensive plan and seeks to advance the protection and stewardship of open space, farmland, and natural and cultural features to realize economic, ecological, and quality of life benefits.

Early on in the implementation process, the county sought to reframe the narrative and provide a quantitative understanding of the economic value of open space by publishing, Return on Environment, in 2019. Recognizing the value of carbon sequestration and storage, and to reduce the county’s carbon footprint, the county adopted Climate Action Plan in 2021. To support municipalities, preservation organizations, government agencies and landowners, the county developed an interactive open space tools map which explores where open space is being planned and where best to focus efforts. The map is coupled with a toolkit to provide guidance on agricultural zoning, conservation subdivision regulations, and transfer of development rights.

Recognizing that 12% of the county’s open space is protected by HOAs, the county updated its Conservation Subdivision Design Guide in 2022, with a principal goal of encouraging development proposals with high recreational, scenic, and ecological value. Begun as the Vision Partnership Program in the 1990s, and in high demand today, the county provides funding for open space plans and ordinances, provided that they implement the policies of Landscapes 3.

In 2019, Chester County celebrated the 30^th Anniversary of its Open Space Program. In 2021, the county reached the milestone of 30% protected open space, equating to the preservation of 148,000 acres and counting! In 2023, 78% of municipalities have adopted open space plans. The Chapter Awards Committee highlighted an excellent website, materials, and community engagement, and noted that perhaps equally compelling is the spectacular demonstration of support, as evidenced in support letters from partner organizations.