[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6186206,"mediaKeyId","5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f","parentId",5078012,"title","Planning commission asks for university presentation, flags student-safety crossings in master plan review","audioSeconds",339,"startMs",2957000,"endMs",3296000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f&start=2957&end=3296","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f/thumbnail_2957000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6186206/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-asks-for-university-presentation-flags-student-safety-crossings-in-master-plan-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186206-38da20ae60dee7a43f91475c4ae9eb77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203631&Signature=XMRQRQ8-bENnIAKZlrLSVBBZ6MWi83yHybIjsEROika8Xr9YGIDr3f5H1IF5a6dUO-L3umycGPNj0V4DmHX0i4kfGbFkKf5t084ax9ntLVdKqrWvD0JPieubU8iNaNuhnhBJElOWMpRVr9S14tuK8sSjpjo6aUhkBmBmMIRruEq9NhT4qkyB52xt45k7rHk8O4XWMuprcgbiEW0xw~1HuMJoVNfcmOf1S69clQCbyKDfcyaT8YM0qfofTsIaYG3Yt~RR4--a~Khl0D1AP4nGMM1jGHw-5IL5D4ipDAajB-DCSoyruLKPeFzx~7YBEbOW9wu9NcgU0~0R-sQpdGmHfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Borough of West Chester, PA","date","2025-06-26T12:20:53.11Z","article","The Planning Commission reviewed West Chester University’s master plan overview for the 700 South High Street campus concept on June 24 and asked the university to provide a presentation and more detailed traffic and pedestrian information before the commission issues a recommendation to Borough Council.

Commissioners said the material submitted to date is an overview and that they expect individual projects to come forward for formal land-development review. They stressed the need for specific traffic and pedestrian-safety analysis at key locations, naming the Rosedale–High Street crossing and the High–New/Church Street area as primary concerns where students and through traffic intersect. The commission asked staff to contact university representatives (Ramsey was asked to follow up) and to seek a direct presentation to the commission and to Borough Council when available.

Members also discussed the geographic scope of the Planned University Campus (PUC) zoning district, noting that several university-owned buildings lie outside the PUC and that the commission may want to observe whether future rezonings are proposed for those properties. Commissioners asked for clarification on how campus expansions outside the PUC would be handled and whether those properties should be considered for rezoning in future reviews.

No formal recommendation was adopted on June 24. Commissioners said they would hold the matter to the July work session and asked staff to follow up with the university about a presentation and any additional traffic studies. They also encouraged commissioners to prepare any specific comment motions for the next meeting if a formal recommendation is required by the borough council deadline.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission - June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission reviewed West Chester University’s master plan overview for the 700 South High Street site and requested a presentation and additional traffic and pedestrian safety details before making any formal recommendation.","taxTitle","West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71483,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186211,"Planning commission holds 'rackspace' recreation-fee changes pending borough park-and-rec plan",649,2257000,2906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f&start=2257&end=2906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f/thumbnail_2257000.jpg","/articles/6186211/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-holds-rackspace-recreation-fee-changes-pending-borough-park-and-rec-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186211-92482eec40b2e1b42c8902f5eff8caba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203631&Signature=AUcqNNNVVf2YLDdq6t-5ZHwQJI8YMJHxZFN5r3Le-ahhjoqqjOl8bWs~~lttt8iNMksR0AfDaWUlX5m0suP8GXoDB-saZqa59d-Z~TS9WjdaYrl1tOdBf3odfMBqTqGh-1VfL3ruzKPpWzFf7Xh0BfLJeMY7J~w5N5gpUfmWzl6p2N7rQYnBcMX8D5SuwP8mVODufQF8UerWcljo2oI322Jw~p3oiNgh9DqRjf1L4XXzFUECWhdHZGLPRUQDYfLhH4GOiO1C0Zh5XmxUyrAKxXCp6hq-NRsr6lAcG0j23XlHPC~A4J1w50jnXht1ohl9vjHsIHF3qXU7AVB9nE~gcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 24 meeting the Planning Commission discussed revisions to the borough’s parks and recreation \"fee in lieu\" language and the classification of \"rackspace\" (private recreational areas) as public or private open space for fee credit.

Staff and commissioners said the borough should wait for the forthcoming comprehensive parks and recreation plan before making substantive changes because that plan is expected to provide the rational basis and methodology for calculating any fee in lieu. Commissioners referenced guidance from planners and historical precedent on impact fees in Pennsylvania (noting developments of impact-fee practice in the state since 1988) as context for how a borough might justify fee amounts.

Commissioners also discussed rooftop courtyards, trails, and whether private, resident-only open spaces can be credited toward public recreation requirements when accompanied by legally binding agreements. Several members recommended a narrowly tailored short-term edit—changing two words in the current code—to remove an obvious inconsistency and asked staff to circulate that short technical fix to the commission for comment. They also asked staff to re-share earlier consultant material (a prior analysis by Tom Comitta and others) so commissioners could review options for a broader rewrite of the ordinance if warranted.

The commission agreed to hold substantive changes until the completed park-and-recreation comprehensive plan is available, circulate the proposed short fix to members, and revisit the topic at a work session. No fee schedule or new ordinance language was adopted at the June 24 meeting.","Commissioners discussed the borough's recreation-fee (fee-in-lieu) language, the definition of 'rackspace' as public vs. private open space, and whether to require a standardized fee calculation. They agreed to delay action until the comprehensive parks and recreation plan is complete and to circulate a proposed short technical fix.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186216,"West Chester planning commission tables change to town-center 'build-to' rule, seeks clearer draft",1832,68000,1900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f&start=68&end=1900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5078012-3f0f37f19f8b778341729884e61d2b7f/thumbnail_68000.jpg","/articles/6186216/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/West-Chester-planning-commission-tables-change-to-town-center-build-to-rule-seeks-clearer-draft","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186216-1c9d79b1cbbebacb69074f9215f030fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203631&Signature=gyJClI~-ILg1Obl82z~Erxn9Re-lXhK7E2dDrZZW3La2zVXmE~vUmfLilwaIKuaZ1pOdY28JKW6XHc949rUzEo82hq67bbvSmr~nO-Adi9OKd6fEhYFUTYe5hfhhbapu-EMz409hFfa3gPBJTpofeucW3mxT3zLu9mfzJP6VGG431djCi-~d5xr6MAug8VJCU4dmVEdwyTJa267pB08OOMYFb5FZfoR0BwoucOFZsQDHbFyBCMA44QeQizRYcQjeXbjwnDd6ikCZYdgWa2FyXITrEK6Y5cWCX4LQbqzmzRF6YMZuSMlfpwuQaeb8-FPoiOwQJe4V5IFv3aOBWW0IDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Chester Borough Planning Commission on June 24 discussed proposed zoning language for the Town Center that would return the front building line and side-yard requirements to 0 feet and revise the current \"build-to\" wording to reduce ambiguity.

The commission’s discussion centered on whether the code should require a building to meet the front line for a fixed percentage of its facade (members suggested figures ranging from “more than half” to 80 percent) or simply adopt a 0-foot minimum front-yard setback that would allow flexibility without forcing applicants to seek variances. Commissioners said the change aims to reinforce a consistent street edge in the town center and reduce cases where new buildings step back and leave parking or blank frontage between sidewalk and building.

Commissioners said the current wording in the zoning table and the build-to definition has produced inconsistent outcomes on recent projects, including developments cited on Market Street and the Burger King site, where adjacent properties have different setback patterns. Commissioners discussed examples (330 Market Street, 123 Market Street, 44 West, and Jack’s Corner) to illustrate how inconsistent adjacent frontages have complicated review and produced unpredictable building placement. Several members noted that returning to a clear 0-foot minimum would simplify review and encourage storefronts at the sidewalk, while others warned it could encourage uniform, flat facades if combined lot consolidations allow long, uninterrupted building fronts.

Members debated whether the code should specify a minimum percentage of the building frontage that must meet the line (50 percent, 80 percent were discussed) versus using a setback formulation that allows applicants to place parts of a building behind the line without a variance. Commissioners also discussed adding context and design requirements elsewhere — for example, in the Height Overlay District — to require breaks, articulation, or other street-level design elements for long facades.

The Planning Commission did not adopt a formal code change. The commission agreed to table the item and return it to the work session with a clearer draft, an example illustration (elevations and a streetscape context), and proposed wording that explains whether the regulation is intended as a mandatory build-to line or a minimum setback. That clearer draft will be circulated for review before the commission takes final action.

The commission also approved the May 27 meeting minutes at the start of the session.","The Planning Commission discussed changing the Town Center front-yard requirement from a build-to line to a 0-foot minimum setback and debated whether to require a percentage of the building façade to meet the line. Commissioners decided to table the proposal and return it to the work session for clearer language and an illustrative example.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission asks for university presentation, flags student-safety crossings in master plan review

Planning commission holds 'rackspace' recreation-fee changes pending borough park-and-rec plan

West Chester planning commission tables change to town-center 'build-to' rule, seeks clearer draft