Community Development - Planning & Zoning

 The Community Development Department is responsible for administering West Chester's zoning and property maintenance codes. With the Township's Land Use Plan as a guide, planning and zoning staff work closely with developers and property owners to ensure the highest and best use of the Township's valuable real estate.

Nearly every project, whether new construction or home remodeling, requires interaction with the Community Development Department in the filing of permits. Our staff is here to assist.

The Community Development Department staff works closely with a variety of appointed boards, commissions and committees to support the Township Board of Trustees in matters related to development of the community.

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN

The Zoning Commission

The West Chester Zoning Commission is a five-member board (with one alternate) composed of volunteer West Chester residents appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Commission hears and decides a variety of land use cases. The bulk of the Commission’s work includes the following:

• Applications to rezone property
• Development plans for Planned Unit Developments
• Development plans for Olde West Chester
• Zoning resolution amendments

In its review of Planned Unit Developments and Olde West Chester development plans, the Zoning Commission carries significant influence over the site design, as well as the appearance of buildings, landscaping, and amenities. On rezoning requests and text amendments, the Commission submits a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. In all cases, the Commission accepts public comment, reviews all submitted evidence, and after careful deliberation enters a formal decision or recommendation.

More detailed information on the West Chester Zoning Commission may be found in Article 7 of the West Chester Zoning Resolution.

The Board of Zoning Appeals

The West Chester Board of Zoning Appeals is a five-member board (with one alternate) composed of volunteer West Chester residents appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Zoning Appeals acts as an independent appellate board, which hears land use matters arising under the West Chester Zoning Resolution such as variance and conditional use requests. The Board also acts as a final authority regarding interpretations of the Zoning Resolution.The West Chester Board of Zoning Appeals holds jurisdiction over the following matters:

• Appeals
• Variances
• Conditional Use/Special Exceptions
• Non-conforming use substitution/extension
• Temporary structures and use
• Property Maintenance Code appeals

More detailed information on the West Chester Board of Zoning Appeals may be found in Article 8 of the West Chester Zoning Resolution and in the West Chester Property Maintenance Code.

The Olde West Chester Architectural Advisory Committee

Olde West Chester Architectural Advisory Committee is a five-member board composed of four residents, property or business owners, or merchants within the Olde West Chester Road Corridor Overlay District as shown on the West Chester Zoning Map, and one West Chester resident, preferably being a registered architect, or an individual with an architectural, historical, planning or related background.  All five members  are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Committee hears and decides, or makes recommendations to the Zoning Commission, on architectural related issues in Olde West Chester. The bulk of the Committee’s work includes the following:

• Major maintenance or building remodeling
• Major use change
• Highly visible accessory structures

In its review, the Committee carries significant influence over the appearance of buildings, including exterior building materials, windows, doors, shutters, paint colors, awnings, signs, roofs, landscaping mailboxes, etc. In all cases, the Committee reviews all submitted information, and after careful deliberation enters a formal decision or recommendation, which must be in conformance with the Olde West Chester Architectural Advisory Guidelines.

More detailed information on the Olde West Chester Architectural Advisory Committee may be found in Article 33 of the West Chester Zoning Resolution.

The Land Use Planning Committee

The West Chester Land Use Planning Committee is a seven-member board composed of volunteer West Chester residents appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Committee is charged with updating the West Chester Comprehensive Land Use Plan. During updates to the plan, the Committee meets regularly to approve new language, confers with interested property owners to consider their views, and holds public forums to obtain resident feedback. The Committee ultimately takes the proposed Land Use Plan to the West Chester Board of Trustees for adoption.

The Board of Trustees adopted the current Land Use Plan in 2004.