The West Chester Board of Trustees appoints volunteer members to several standing boards, commissions and committees who play various and important roles in the operations of the Township.

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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

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.

Olde West Chester Architectural Advisory Committee

The 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 [PDF].

Volunteer Firefighters Dependents Fund Board

The Volunteer Firefighters Dependents Fund Board is appointed to review cases in which dependents of volunteer firefighters killed in the line of duty receive financial assistance. Board members evaluate the eligibility of the dependent to receive continued assistance. 

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West Chester Development Council

The West Chester Development Council is a non-profit corporation representing a public/private partnership between West Chester Township and the private business sector. The Council specializes in marketing West Chester Township to the business community.

West Chester Township Records Commission

The West Chester Township Records Commission reviews applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records and schedules of records retention and disposition submitted by Township departments. The Township Fiscal Officer and president of the West Chester Board of Trustees sit on this commission.

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.

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