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Planning commission withholds recommendation on county 'Parks for All' plan, requests consultant briefing
Summary
The commission declined to recommend the county‑funded Parks for All plan to borough council, citing missing solicitor review and unclear fee‑in‑lieu language; members asked that the plan authors or consultants present to the planning commission before the commission issues a recommendation.
The planning commission reviewed the county‑funded Parks for All (parks and open space) update but voted not to forward a recommendation to borough council until the commission has an opportunity to discuss the plan with its authors or the committee that prepared it.
Staff explained the update was funded through Chester County's VPP micro‑grant program and had been attached as an amendment to the borough's comprehensive plan so it could qualify for that funding. The consultant team and several committee members were unable to attend the meeting. Commission members said the plan (a large document with many policy recommendations) raised procedural and legal questions they could not resolve without the authors and the borough solicitor in the room.
Key concerns centered on language about fee‑in‑lieu for recreational space and the plan's definitions distinguishing public from private recreation space and whether elevated courtyards would count toward required open space. Commissioner Alan Burke said the commission should not act without solicitor input and suggested commissioners had been "played by the developers" in past processes; several members expressed similar frustration and preferred to delay a recommendation until a consultant presentation and solicitor review could occur.
Action taken: Jim Cherry moved — and Thomas Doherty seconded — that the planning commission withhold a recommendation to borough council on the Parks & Open Space plan until the planning commission can meet with the plan's authors or the committee that developed it. The motion passed; staff will inform borough council that the planning commission cannot make a recommendation at this time and will request a consultant briefing and solicitor participation at a future meeting.
Next steps: staff will request that the plan authors or consultants present to the planning commission and will arrange for the borough solicitor to attend the follow‑up discussion so outstanding legal questions (fee‑in‑lieu language and how certain types of open space are counted) can be resolved prior to the commission issuing a formal recommendation.
