MONTCO

2040

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MONTCO 2040: A SHARED VISION

The Comprehensive Plan for Montgomery County

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Montgomery County, Pennsylvania - Revised 2021

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH, Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., Vice Chair Joseph C. Gale, Commissioner

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PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD MEMBERS Steven N. Kline, AIA, Chair Dulcie F. Flaharty, Vice Chair Obed Arango Robert E. Blue, Jr., P.E., P.L.S. Jill Blumhardt John J. Ernst, AIA Nicole R. Kline-Elsier, P.E., PTOE Jonathan E. Rinde, Esq. Charles J. Tornetta

Scott France, AICP, Executive Director

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR MONTCO 2040 (AS OF 2015)

Karen Stout, Chair Montgomery County Community College

Tom Barton Barton Partners

Jill Blumhardt AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc.*

Linda Collins Montco SAAC

Rochelle Culbreath SEPTA

Scott Exley Bursich Associates*

Bill Fitzgerald Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board

Dulcie Flaharty Montgomery County Lands Trust/ Natural Lands Trust*

Mark Flanders Pottstown Borough

Eric Goldstein King of Prussia Business Improvement District

Art Haywood Cheltenham Township

Rob Henry Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association

Marc Jonas Eastburn and Gray*

Russell Johnson North Penn Community Health Foundation

Timi Kirchner Lansdale Borough

Dave Kraybill Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation

Judy Memberg Genesis Housing

Ann Nelson Freedom Valley YMCA

Sal Paone Paone Homes

Sue Pengelly Misty Knoll Farm

Liz Rogan Lower Merion Township

Suzanne Ryan PECO

Steve Spindler Steve Spindler Cartography

Luanne Stauffer Upper Perkiomen Chamber

Charlie Tornetta Tornetta Realty*

William Walker Horsham Township

Wesley Wolf Upper Dublin Township

John Zaharchuk Summit Realty

* Planning Commission Board Members

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MONTCO 2040: A SHARED VISION

The Comprehensive Plan for Montgomery County

Prepared by Montgomery County Planning Commission Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

2021 www.montcopa.org/Montco2040

MONTCO 2040 AWARDS

National Award

Award of Merit in the Comprehensive Plan – Large Jurisdiction Category from American Planning Association (APA), County Planning Division (CPD), and the National Association of County Planners (NACP)

State Award

2015 Daniel Burnham Award for Comprehensive Plan from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-PA)

Local Awards

2015 Planning Award from Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association (GVF)

2015 President’s Award from The Partnership TMA (PTMA)

CONTENTS

What is a Comprehensive Plan? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 What is in Montco 2040: A Shared Vision? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 How was the plan created? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Plan Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

Encourage collaboration and partnerships among governments, businesses, institutions, schools, higher education, and other stakeholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Improve transportation quality and expand options for county residents and workers . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Expand and connect county trails, local trails, greenways, natural areas, and parks . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Support strong downtowns and community destinations, including mixed use areas, arts and culture focal points, libraries, and other gathering places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Support a modern, resilient, green, and energy-efficient infrastructure network . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Improve stormwater management and reduce the impact of flooding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Conserve natural resources, environmentally-sensitive areas, and farmland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Provide more opportunities for residents to exercise and have healthy lifestyles. . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Support housing choices and opportunities to meet the needs of all people. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Enhance community character and protect neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

VIBRANT ECONOMY

Improve transportation access to businesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Encourage development and transformative investment where infrastructure already exists. . . . . . . . 66 Attract and retain businesses and vital community assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Flexibly adapt to changing market conditions and demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Facilitate marketing of the county and its assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

2040 VISION

Land use vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Transportation vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Overall vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

INDEXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

MAPS

Municipal Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 New Road Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 New or Expanded Transit Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bicycle Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Proposed County-Wide Trail System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Greenways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Downtown and Library Focal Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 County Roads and Bridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Existing and Future Sewer Service Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Existing and Future Water Service Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Designated Act 167 Watersheds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Preservation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Conservation Focus Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Farm Preservation Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Transportation Access to Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 County Airports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Generalized Future Land Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Development Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Future Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Programmed Roadway Projects—(TIP 12 Year and DVRPC Long Range Plan) . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Vision Roadway Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Programmed and Vision Transit Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

USING THIS PLAN

Montco 2040: A Shared Vision is designed to be an implementable and measurable plan. Unlike many plans, it is structured around the implementation of themes and goals rather than specific topics. To help readers use the plan, the topic areas from Montgomery County Today, which is the existing conditions and trend report for this comprehensive plan, are listed below with the goals that are most related to the topic.

The People of Montgomery County Goal – Collaboration among Stakeholders. . . . . . . . . .14 Goal – Diverse Housing Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Goal – Flexibility with Market Conditions . . . . . . . . . .70

The Health of County Residents Goal – Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles . . . . . . . .52

The County’s Built Environment Goal – Strong Downtowns and Destinations . . . . . . . .24 Goal – Diverse Housing Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Goal – Enhanced Community Character. . . . . . . . . . .56 Goal – Focused Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Vision – Land Use Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

The County’s Natural Environment Goal – Connected Trails and Greenways. . . . . . . . . . .20 Goal – Conserved Natural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

The County’s Open Space and Recreation Network Goal – Connected Trails and Greenways. . . . . . . . . . .20 Goal – Conserved Natural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Goal – Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles . . . . . . . .52 Vision – Land Use Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

The County’s Transportation Network Goal – Improved Transportation Choices . . . . . . . . . .16 Goal – Connected Trails and Greenways. . . . . . . . . . .20 Goal – Modernized Infrastructure Network. . . . . . . . .30 Goal – Improved Transportation Access . . . . . . . . . . .62 Vision – Transportation Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

The Homes of Montgomery County Goal – Diverse Housing Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Goal – Enhanced Community Character. . . . . . . . . . .56 Vision – Land Use Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

The County Economy Goal – Improved Transportation Access . . . . . . . . . . .62 Goal – Focused Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Goal – Attraction and Retention of Businesses . . . . .68 Goal – Flexibility with Market Conditions . . . . . . . . . .70 Goal – Marketing of Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

The County’s Infrastructure Backbone Goal – Modernized Infrastructure Network. . . . . . . . .30 Goal – Improved Stormwater Management . . . . . . . .38 Goal – Enhanced Community Character. . . . . . . . . . .56

Cultural and Educational Resources Goal – Strong Downtowns and Destinations . . . . . . . .24 Goal – Enhanced Community Character. . . . . . . . . . .56 Goal – Marketing of Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

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Montco 2040: a shared vision

WHAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

A comprehensive plan is a long-range plan required by state law for guiding the growth and physical development of a place. The Philadelphia region as a whole has a comprehensive plan, as do most of the 62 municipalities in Montgomery County. So, with all these comprehensive plans, what is the role of a county plan?

The county plan provides an overall land use and growth management framework for local municipal plans and provides guidance on issues that transcend local boundaries, such as highways, public transportation, flooding, trails, growth trends, redevelopment trends, shopping needs, impact of large developments, overall housing needs, natural systems, economic growth, etc. The county plan is an advisory document used to guide county and local municipal policies.

WHAT IS IN MONTCO 2040: A SHARED VISION?

Montco 2040: A Shared Vision is Montgomery County’s new comprehensive plan, providing an overview of the county’s vision and objectives. It reflects the input of thousands of citizens, county officials, and a steering committee made up of many diverse stakeholders. The plan was prepared by the county planning commission and adopted by the County Commissioners.

This plan provides goals and implementation steps for managing the county’s built environment. It is structured around three themes:

• ■ Connected Communities
• ■ Sustainable Places
• ■ Vibrant Economy

The plan’s concluding chapter provides a vision for the future of the county and includes an overall transportation vision, a land use vision, and a concluding vision.

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Comprehensive plans guide improvements to the built environment, ranging from highways and trails…

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… to growth trends, housing needs, economic growth, flooding, and redevelopment.

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THEMES AND GOALS

HOW WAS THE PLAN CREATED?

Montco 2040: A Shared Vision was created through an extensive research and public outreach process.

PLAN THEMES

Montco 2040: A Shared Vision is designed around three interrelated themes.

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Connected Communities

People want to be connected and part of a broader community. A key role for the county is to help these connections occur beyond local municipal boundaries.

Connected Communities involve:

• Collaboration among stakeholders
• Improved transportation choices
• Trails and greenways connecting multiple places
• Vibrant downtowns and destinations accessible by everyone

Sustainable Places

The county is full of wonderful neighborhoods and communities. These places need to be sustained and enhanced in a long-lasting and effective way.

Sustainable Places involve:

• Modernized infrastructure network
• Improved stormwater management
• Protected natural resources
• Opportunities for healthy lifestyles
• Diverse housing choices
• Enhanced community character

Vibrant Economy

A strong economy is critical for all places. With a vibrant economy, residents can earn and spend more, governments can make needed infrastructure improvements, and businesses can grow.

A Vibrant Economy involves:

• Improved transportation access
• Focused development
• Attraction and retention of businesses
• Flexibly adapting to changing market conditions
• Marketing of assets

Partnerships - Diversity - Growth - Quality Public Services - Community - Changing Demographics

THEMES AND GOALS

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

GOAL Encourage collaboration and partnerships among governments, businesses, institutions, schools, higher education, and other stakeholders

Why this goal is important:

• With 62 municipalities and 22 active school districts, local cooperation is critical.
• Issues are complex and funding often limited, which makes public private partnerships essential.
• Montgomery County is inextricably linked to Philadelphia and its other neighboring counties.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• Through participation in multi-jurisdictional and regional organizations.
• By expanding multi-municipal planning and other cooperation efforts.
• With preparation and promotion of model ordinances, advisory guidelines, and stormwater standards for more consistent regulations.

GOAL Improve transportation quality and expand options for county residents and workers

Why this goal is important:

• Many residents and workers, particularly younger ones, want options other than cars to get to work.
• Only 8.1% of county residents walk, bicycle, or take public transit to work.
• 83% of county residents are in less walkable areas.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By working with others to improve road connectivity, expand Intelligent Transportation Systems, and eliminate road bottlenecks.
• By working with transit providers to extend service, increase frequency, improve access, and encourage transit-oriented development.
• With advocacy for more sidewalks and pedestrian-oriented design of developments.
• Through cooperation with others to add bike-friendly improvements to roads.
• Through collaboration to improve travel demand management.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

GOAL Expand and connect county trails, local trails, greenways, natural areas, and parks

Why this goal is important:

• Trails not only meet recreation and transportation needs; they also improve personal health and the local economy.
• Two-thirds of the county’s trail network still needs to be completed.
• Greenways protect and link sensitive natural areas and provide corridors for wildlife.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By expanding the county trail system.
• By working to connect local trails to the county system.
• With increased county parkland in greenway corridors and advocacy with others to preserve greenways.

GOAL Support strong downtowns and community destinations, including mixed use areas, arts and culture focal points, libraries, and other gathering places

Why this goal is important:

• In interviews and meetings, people consistently say they want more physical, civic, and social connections.
• Vital downtowns and mixed use areas improve nearby property values.
• The county has many unknown arts and culture “hidden gems.”

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How this goal will be implemented:

• Through collaboration to revitalize downtowns.
• By working with arts organizations and the tourism and convention board to raise the profile of arts and culture.
• By strengthening the county library and collaborating with other libraries.

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THEMES AND GOALS

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

GOAL Support a modern, resilient, green, and energy-efficient infrastructure network

Why this goal is important:

• Safe and clean sewer, water, and stormwater systems and well-maintained roads and bridges protect the health and safety of county residents and provide a foundation for economic development.
• Many sewer and water systems are aging and need to be upgraded.
• Communication, energy, and other infrastructure is rapidly changing and a critical concern for modern business.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By improving county roads and bridges.
• With right-sized roads, traffic calming, green streets, and sidewalks.
• Through advocacy for environmentally-friendly upgrades to municipal sewage systems.
• By working with others to match water supply areas, sewer service areas, and growth areas.
• With water source protection and water conservation.
• By encouraging recycling.
• By adapting to new energy and communication needs.

GOAL Improve stormwater management and reduce the impact of flooding

Why this goal is important:

• Over the past 30 years, flooding, which is the number one natural hazard in the county, has resulted in several fatalities and more than $120 million in property damage.
• There are 2,600 structures, as well as much important infrastructure, located within floodplains.
• Impervious coverage and resulting stormwater runoff continues to increase.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By implementing required stormwater improvements.
• By completing watershed stormwater management plans.
• Through advocacy for best stormwater management practices.
• By working with others to limit development in the floodplain.

GOAL Conserve natural resources, environmentally-sensitive areas, and farmland

Why this goal is important:

• Wetlands, woodlands, trees, and natural areas reduce flooding, protect water quality, improve air quality, and increase property values.
• Climate change and more variable weather will impact the county in many ways that can be ameliorated by conservation.
• Homes near open space have higher values, which is estimated at $16.3 billion in additional value for Southeastern Pennsylvania’s housing stock.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• With permanent protection of natural resources, open space, and rural areas.
• By adding environmentally-sensitive land to parkland while improving county parks.
• By preserving farmland.

GOAL Provide more opportunities for residents to exercise and have healthy lifestyles

Why this goal is important:

• Health is impacted by the built environment and the ability to walk and exercise conveniently.
• Diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other chronic health concerns have increased over the past decade.
• Many county residents are disconnected from fresh, local food grown or raised in the county.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By expanding opportunities to exercise in county parks.
• Through advocacy to make communities more walkable while coordinating recreation planning efforts.
• By working with others to increase the supply of fresh local food.

THEMES AND GOALS

GOAL Support housing choices and opportunities to meet the needs of all people

Why this goal is important:

• There are increasing numbers of smaller households, those living alone, and others who prefer to live in an apartment or townhouse.
• The senior population is expected to grow 58% between 2010 and 2040.
• The percent of households spending more than 35% of their income on housing increased from 16% in 1999 to 25% in 2009.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By supporting construction of additional affordable, permanent housing for the disabled, families, and seniors.
• With advocacy for workforce housing, walkable housing, accessory apartments, and accessible special needs housing.
• By encouraging renovation or replacement of aging public housing.
• By encouraging continued deconcentration of housing voucher use.

GOAL Enhance community character and protect neighborhoods

Why this goal is important:

• Typically, a home is a family’s largest investment.
• Many historic homes, downtown buildings, and institutional structures have been demolished over the past decade.
• Fire, police, and ambulance services are critical for protecting neighborhoods.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• Through support for investment in existing neighborhoods.
• With advocacy for appropriate land uses, infill, and public improvements.
• By enhancing 911 communication, upgrading emergency response times, and continuing training.
• By working with others to preserve important historic properties.
• Through cooperation to reinvigorate the tree canopy in communities.

VIBRANT ECONOMY

GOAL Improve transportation access to businesses

Why this goal is important:

• Transportation convenience and access is a major driver of economic development.
• Daily commute times increased over 20% from 1990 to 2010, about ten minutes a day, which equates to 40 extra hours a year sitting in traffic.
• Because the county is a large net importer of workers, getting these workers to their jobs is critical.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By working with others to provide better access to employment centers with new and improved interchanges, slip ramps, widened and realigned roads, and new road connections.
• By partnering to expand transit options.
• Through regional efforts to improve freight movement.
• With advocacy for preservation of existing airports.

GOAL Encourage development and transformative investment where infrastructure already exists

Why this goal is important:

• The cost of building and maintaining infrastructure is lower where it already exists.
• Many of the county’s business parks are old and need reimagining and reinvestment.
• Reusing former industrial sites cleans the environment, provides jobs, improves property values, and helps control sprawl.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• Through advocacy for locating new development in growth areas.
• By encouraging redevelopment of underutilized and vacant industrial land.
• By working with others to modernize and adapt older office and business parks through zoning changes, infrastructure improvements, marketing, and private sector investment.

THEMES AND GOALS

GOAL Attract and retain businesses and vital community assets

Why this goal is important:

• Many businesses can locate anywhere and are not as dependent on raw materials or local markets as they used to be.
• Competition for growing businesses with well paying jobs is intense.
• Business growth depends on educated and trained workers, who typically earn better incomes than less educated peers.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By partnering with economic development organizations to assist businesses that want to expand or locate in the county.
• Through the county Workforce Investment Board collaborating with trainers and educators to retrain and support a skilled workforce.

GOAL Flexibly adapt to changing market conditions and demographics

Why this goal is important:

• With more people working from home and offices being redesigned into smaller, more collaborative spaces, the office market is in transition.
• Online retailing is changing both the retail and distribution industries.
• The aging population, interest of young adults in town living, and increasing diversity of the county will impact the location and type of new housing and other development.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• By encouraging walkable, mixed use, transit-friendly, and entertainment-supportive places that will attract young workers and other key demographic groups.
• Through advocacy for designs and services that meet the needs of an aging population.
• By working with others to redevelop older retail properties.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

GOAL Facilitate the marketing of the county and its assets

Why this goal is important:

• Stronger marketing will help attract businesses, investment, visitors, and residents to the county.
• People do not automatically think of counties when they think of the place where they live or work.
• Montgomery County’s identity and strong assets are not as well known as they should be in the Philadelphia region.

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How this goal will be implemented:

• Through partnerships with the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board and other tourism organizations for attracting visitors and increasing county-wide tourism.
• Through partnerships with economic development organizations to emphasize the assets of Montgomery County.
• By increasing awareness of county economic development resources.

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THEMES AND GOALS

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

Collaboration among Stakeholders

Improved Transportation Choices

Connected Trails and Greenways

Strong Downtowns and Destinations

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ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS AMONG GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

Montgomery County is very diverse. Its 62 municipalities, 22 active school districts, and many business and community organizations need to work together to accomplish their goals. The county can play a key role in fostering connections and nurturing partnerships that extend beyond local boundaries and, in some cases, provide connections to the region. To encourage collaboration and partnerships, the county will...

...participate actively in multi-jurisdictional and regional organizations, such as business organizations, Councils of Governments, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

There are many organizations that have a significant impact on the built environment in two or more municipalities. Sometimes, these organizations work at cross purposes without even realizing it or are unaware of county goals and plans.

The county, through the planning commission and other departments, will reach out to these organizations and establish better communication about county goals and resources while encouraging joint efforts, including public/private partnerships.

...expand multi-municipal planning, communication, and other cooperation efforts

Currently, there are four multi-municipal planning regions in the county. In each of these regions, the communities have adopted common comprehensive plans and made their zoning consistent with these plans. The county planning commission will continue to work with these four regions and will encourage other municipalities to consider multi-municipal planning.

Besides broader, formalized planning, local municipalities can plan together on specific topics, such as village planning, corridor planning, and greenway planning.

...prepare and promote model ordinances, advisory guidelines, stormwater standards, and other documents that encourage consistent regulations

With 62 municipalities, the county has a lot of different ordinances and regulations. The county planning commission will continue preparing model ordinances and other informational publications that will help create more consistency across municipal borders.

Measuring success

• Presentations made to multi-jurisdictional organizations
• Programs and meetings with other partners

Measuring success

• New inter-municipal partnerships

Measuring success

• Model ordinances and other guiding documents prepared
• New model ordinances adopted by local municipalities

Montco 2040: a shared vision

MUNICIPAL COOPERATION

County government will work collaboratively with other county wide organizations, such as:

• Montgomery County Community College
• Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board
• Montgomery County Housing Authority

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The county will expand its outreach and communication, acting as a hub of information and facilitator among its many partners.

The county planning commission will continue to support the four multi-municipal planning efforts while encouraging other municipalities to plan together.

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• Member/Associate Member of MCATO only
• Member of Consortium only
• Member/Associate Member of MCATO and Consortium
• Multi-Municipal Planning Region

Many organizations provide services to local municipalities. Two of the largest in the county are the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials (MCATO), which brings together local elected officials, and the Montgomery County Consortium, which brings together municipal staff members to arrange common services.

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Cooperation with neighboring counties and regional organizations is very important. These efforts will include:

• Trail construction, such as the Schuylkill River Trail that connects into Philadelphia, Chester, and Berks Counties.
• Watershed planning, such as the Neshaminy Creek that extends into Bucks County.
• Highway and transit improvements, such as the recently completed 202 Parkway leading into Bucks County.
• Economic development and marketing, such as ongoing efforts to find suitable locations for relocating employers within the region as a whole.
• Comprehensive planning and land use initiatives.

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

Collaboration among Stakeholders

Improved Transportation Choices

Connected Trails and Greenways

Strong Downtowns and Destinations

IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION QUALITY AND EXPAND OPTIONS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS AND WORKERS

The county’s transportation system connects people and places to each other and offers a variety of transportation choices for county residents and workers. To improve and expand these transportation options, the county will...

...work with PennDOT and local municipalities to improve road connectivity, expand Intelligent Transportation Systems, and eliminate road bottlenecks

Having an interconnected, finely-grained road network with many choices reduces congestion and provides alternative routes around accidents or other incidents. The Lafayette Street extension, for example, will do this.

The county already has an extensive network, and the vast majority of future road projects will improve intersections, repair roads, install Intelligent Transportation Systems, and widen roads, where appropriate. In addition, the county will advocate for new highway interchanges, roads, and bridges where more options are needed. More recently, the county has worked closely with PennDOT on its PennDOT Connects initiative, which coordinates PennDOT projects with local planning goals. (All transportation projects, whether providing a new road choice or not, are described in the final Vision chapter.)

NEW ROAD CHOICES

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New Road Choices

• New or Expanded Interchange
• New Road, Bridge, or Direction of Traffic

Measuring success

• Average commuting time improves or stays the same
• Increase in linked signal systems and miles of fiber optic cable for Intelligent Transportation Systems
• More commuters live in the municipality where they work

Numbers refer to the project list in the transportation section of the Vision Chapter

...work with SEPTA and other transit providers to extend service, increase frequency, improve access, and encourage transit oriented development

To give more transportation choices to county residents, the public transportation system will need to be improved. Currently, the 12-year PA transportation program for the region is putting $7.1 billion into public transportation capital projects and $8.4 billion into highway projects. This $7.1 billion is focused on upgrading SEPTA’s capital system, which has suffered from extensive neglect for decades. Bridges, stations, equipment, retaining walls, and tracks need to be rebuilt, and this, understandably, will be the focus of SEPTA’s capital investment. Parking garages will also be added.

More frequent service, in general, is desirable, including extended hours or frequency in the evening. When funding becomes available, the first priorities for expanding service will be to provide more frequent service on the Manayunk/Norristown, Warminster, and West Trenton lines as well as extending service into the county’s largest employment center, King of Prussia, which is expected to cost $600 million. The next priorities are extending rail service to Pottstown and Wyomissing, Berks County at a cost of $433 million and extending service past Souderton and Telford to a new stop, Pennridge, Bucks County, at a cost of $250 million. Bus service will be expanded when and where ridership and costs warrant extended service.

Measuring success

• Increase in transit ridership
• Number of upgraded train stations
• Increased percent of commuters taking public transit
• Increase in parking spaces at train stations

NEW OR EXPANDED TRANSIT SERVICE

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• Existing Rail Line
• Frequency Improvement on Existing Rail Line
• Extension of Rail Service
• Current Bus Lines

Numbers refer to the project list in the transportation section of the Vision Chapter

• Manayunk/Norristown Line—increase frequency to every 30 minutes throughout the day (number 107)
• Warminster Line—upgrade to double track to allow service throughout day in both directions (number 94)
• West Trenton Line—increase frequency to every 30 minutes throughout the day (number 116)
• Passenger Rail Extension to King of Prussia—provide a branch of the Norristown High Speed Line to King of Prussia (number 99)
• Passenger Rail Extension to Pottstown—extend the Norristown/Manayunk line to Wyomissing, Berks County through Royersford and Pottstown (number 98)
• Passenger Rail Extension to Telford—extend rail service from Lansdale to Pennridge, Bucks County through Hatfield, Souderton, and Telford (number 96)
• Cynwyd Line—increase frequency (number 175)

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

...advocate for more sidewalks and pedestrian-oriented design of developments

Sidewalks and crosswalks should be provided in all growth areas, including commercial areas and residential areas with more than one home per acre. On the Future Land Use Map, this includes areas identified as Regional Mixed Use Center, Business Area, Community Mixed Use, Town Center, Village Center, Town Residential, and Suburban Residential.

Developments, streets, and buildings should be designed to encourage walking with buildings close to the street, front doors in buildings, direct and separated pedestrian connections to streets, short blocks, streetscaping, traffic calming, and interconnected streets. Local municipalities should consider installing sidewalks in existing walkable areas with important destination, such as schools, shopping centers, and parks.

The county will advocate for better walkability, will install sidewalks on county roads in appropriate locations when the roads are rebuilt, will conduct walkability audits with local communities, and will prepare a walkability plan. The county has done this with Walk Montco, a sidewalk plan and pedestrian policy guide. The planning commission also partners with the county’s Department of Health and Human Services to conduct walk audits as part of Safe Routes to School projects.

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For ease of passing and handicapped accessibility, sidewalks should be at least five feet wide in more active areas, with a five foot setback from streets. Utility lines, walls, slopes, and other features may require adjustments to this standard.

In downtown areas, sidewalks should be 8 feet wide in addition to any area needed for opening doors, landscaping, or street furnishings.

Measuring success

• Increase in sidewalks on existing roads
• More municipal codes requiring sidewalks
• Increased percent of people commuting by walking
• Reduction in pedestrian/vehicle accidents

...cooperate with PennDOT, bicycling organizations, and local municipalities to add bike-friendly improvements to roads and bike facilities to developments

Bicycling on local roads can be difficult. Ideally, roads should have separate, marked bike lanes. Paved shoulders, especially when striped, offer some protection for on-road cyclists, and wider travel lanes next to curbs can be helpful. These facilities should be added to the primary and secondary bicycle routes identified on the map below. The county’s recent Bike Montco policy document lays out a bike plan for the county. Bike tourism routes and a low stress streets app have followed to help implement this plan. In addition, PennDOT should maintain bicycle lanes on PennDOT roads, local municipalities should consider bike sharing programs, and SEPTA should improve bike storage and access at its train stations.

Road diets, as proposed on Virginia Drive in Upper Dublin, First Avenue in Upper Merion, and Washington Lane in Cheltenham, provide a great opportunity to accommodate bicyclists within the existing cartway.

...collaborate with businesses, transportation management associations, chambers of commerce, and others to improve travel demand management

Traffic congestion can be reduced in more ways than physically improving roads. This is called Travel Demand Management, which give workers more flexibility and choice in getting to work. This approach encourages behavioral changes by commuters through telecommuting, compressed work weeks, flex time, car sharing, and carpooling. Building park and ride lots, using high occupancy vehicle lanes, and congestion pricing on toll roads support these changes. Commuters can also be encouraged to take public transit, bicycle, or walk to work.

The county will work with its two transportation management associations, the Greater Valley Forge TMA, which covers the half of the county nearest Chester County, and the Partnership TMA, which covers the half closest to Bucks County, to implement effective Travel Demand Management throughout the county.

BICYCLE ROUTES

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Measuring success

• Increase of bike lanes in the county
• Increased percent of people commuting by biking
• Reduction in bicycle/vehicle accidents

Measuring success

• Average commuting time does not increase
• Percent of people working from home
• Increase in employers using shuttle services and transit commuter benefit programs, such as Ride Eco

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

Collaboration among Stakeholders

Improved Transportation Choices

Connected Trails and Greenways

Strong Downtowns and Destinations

EXPAND AND CONNECT COUNTY TRAILS, LOCAL TRAILS, GREENWAYS, NATURAL AREAS, AND PARKS

Montgomery County’s trails have become a hallmark of the county, connecting communities, greenways, and local trails to each other. To bolster this network, the county will...

...expand the county trail system

The proposed county trail system consists of 257 miles of trails; so far, 84 miles of this network have been built. To create better connections to neighboring counties and to create more options within the county, the proposed trail system has been expanded from its original total length of 165 miles. In some locations, these trails, such as the Schuylkill River Trail, will be paved, multi-purpose trails. In other locations, they will be gravel or narrow walking trails. The county will own and maintain many of the trails, but some of them will be owned and maintained by local municipalities or other entities.

Expanding the trail system is a county priority. The highest priority trails, expected to be completed over the next 5 to 10 years, are listed below. These proposed projects fill in missing links, create trail loops, and/or extend the trail system into the county’s most populous areas.

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HIGHEST PRIORITY TRAILS

PROPOSED COUNTY-WIDE TRAIL SYSTEM

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Map updated as of July 2021 This map is based on aerial photography and official sources. This map is not meant to be used as a legal definition of properties or for engineering purposes.

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

...work with local municipalities to connect to the county trail system

The proposed county-wide trail system includes trails that are built and operated by the county, such as the Schuylkill River Trail, and trails that are built and managed by local municipalities. For example, the Power Line Trail in Horsham and the Liberty Bell Trail in Hatfield Borough were built by local municipalities. Other municipally-built trails, such as the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Lower Merion or the Skippack Trail in Skippack, have created important connections and have been added to the original county wide trail system.

The county encourages local municipalities to build trails and to connect to the overall county system. Whenever feasible, local open space purchases should connect into the local trail system and the county system. To help communities, the county can provide invaluable expertise on trail design, construction, operation, grant preparation, and maintenance.

Measuring success

• Increase in miles of municipal trails connecting to the county trail system

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Lower Merion’s Cynwyd Trail has become a source of pride for the community. Over time, it should connect with the Schuylkill Trail in Manayunk in one direction and extend to Fairmount Park in West Philadelphia in the other direction.

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Trails can connect residential neighborhoods with...

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... community focal points, like Collegeville’s new trailhead park where Main Street and the Perkiomen Trail intersect.

...increase county parkland in greenway corridors while working with local municipalities to preserve their greenways

The county’s greenways, which are primarily along its streams and rivers, connect the county’s natural environment, providing important habitat preservation, wildlife corridors, and floodwater storage. With the county’s park system and trail network, these greenways have also become important places for recreation, wellness, and social interaction, improving the county’s overall quality of life.

Many of the county’s parks are located along a greenway, and, as opportunities arise, the county will look to expand its park holdings within greenways. In addition, the county will continue expanding its trail system within greenways, providing multiple opportunities for residents to interact with nature.

However, most of the greenway corridors are not near county parkland, and local municipalities, both through their park systems and regulations, should work to preserve these environmentally sensitive corridors. Private property owners can also play an important role in greenway preservation.

GREENWAYS

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Measuring success

• Increased percent of greenway length with permanently conserved open space

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

Collaboration among Stakeholders

Improved Transportation Choices

Connected Trails and Greenways

Strong Downtowns and Destinations

SUPPORT STRONG DOWNTOWNS AND COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING MIXED USE AREAS, ARTS AND CULTURE FOCAL POINTS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER GATHERING PLACES

In this hyper-connected digital age, people seek places to connect in person. The county’s schools, places of worship, and shopping malls meet this need to a certain extent. Other venues that draw from even wider demographics also meet this need and are becoming more popular as gathering places, including downtowns, cultural venues, and libraries. To support these places, the county will...

...collaborate with businesses, municipalities, chambers, downtown organizations, and others to revitalize downtowns

Many county downtowns have been revitalized over the past decade, such as Ambler, Narberth, Conshohocken, and West Marshall Street in Norristown, while others are still in need of revitalization. In the county and across the region, places have revitalized by recreating employment centers, strengthening arts and culture anchors, accommodating immigrants, attracting nearby wealth, and/or building new housing.

Measuring success

• Increase in residential property values in downtown areas
• New construction in and near downtowns
• New businesses in downtown communities

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A strong organization can do marketing, run special events, pursue grants and state aid, maintain public spaces, conduct social networking, run merchandising programs, host online discount sites, etc.

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Multi-layered amenities - food, entertainment, parks and plazas, beautiful landscaping, streetscaping, attractive buildings and signs, and accessible parking - create an appealing public realm for visitors.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

According to the national Main Street Program, main streets can revitalize through good design, strong organizations, effective promotion, and economic restructuring. National studies of downtowns find that the most successful ones are managed like a mall, are appropriate for retailers, meet the needs of their market, are safe, have strong advocates, are well maintained, are anchored by important civic and cultural institutions, are walkable, and have a unified, defined area. Above all, these places have strong private and public leadership.

The county does not have a direct role in downtown revitalization but can support revitalization efforts by helping to prepare revitalization plans, encouraging businesses to locate in downtowns, supporting redevelopment planning efforts, working with PennDOT to provide streetscaping and walkable transportation improvements, working with SEPTA to improve public transportation, marketing the county’s downtowns, assisting in exploring the possibility of establishing a land bank, connecting county trails with downtowns, explaining new state laws and programs to municipalities, and a host of other supportive and collaborative efforts.

Creating Great Community Places

For downtowns to be vibrant, their public spaces must be vibrant. These parks, plazas, streets, sidewalks, community centers, and libraries are the heart and soul of the community. The Project for Public Spaces published 11 key elements needed to transform these spaces:

• The community is the expert
• Create a place, not a design
• Look for partners
• You can see a lot just by observing
• Have a vision
• Start with the petunias: lighter, quicker, cheaper
• Triangulate by putting different attractions together
• Be persistent despite naysayers
• Partners and activities should drive the design
• Money is not the issue
• You are never finished

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F.A.C.E.—Food, arts, culture, and entertainment form the backbone of most successful downtown revitalization efforts. Communities should conduct market analyses and establish appropriate market niches for their downtowns.

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Public spaces should have multiple activities to appeal to a wide range of people.

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CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

...work with arts organizations, Creative MontCo, the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board, and community groups to raise the profile of arts and culture activities in the county

The county has many hidden arts and culture gems and a strong interest in the arts, yet many residents and arts organizations feel disconnected from each other. Creative MontCo, a nonprofit initiative working with partners at the tourism and convention board and community college, is raising the profile of the arts community, creating connections in this community, using arts for revitalization and placemaking, and strengthening the creative economy.

The county, through its parks and historic sites, hosts many arts and culture events. The county will also work with Creative MontCo and other groups to raise the profile of the arts county-wide. In addition, county economic development efforts recognize the importance of the creative sector to the county economy.

...strengthen the county library and collaborate with other independent public libraries in the county on library resources and services

Despite popular perceptions to the contrary, public libraries are being used more and more, particularly for internet access, egovernment, ecommerce, civic engagement, training, tutoring, and literacy. The county library will need to continue adapting to changing information needs and cooperating with other independent libraries in the county to meet the ever increasing demands on their services. The county’s colleges and universities can help meet this demand by making their libraries even more accessible to the general public.

Measuring success

• Greater attendance at arts and culture venues

Measuring success

• Increase in items circulated
• More usage of the main county library
• Larger number of municipalities that have a library

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Arts and culture events and venues attractive a diverse audience to the county’s downtowns and other community gathering places.

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Libraries are much more than books. They are gateways to the community, government, the internet, and entrepreneurship.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

DOWNTOWN AND LIBRARY FOCAL POINTS

The Perkiomen Trail and county park system are key assets for communities along the Perkiomen Creek.

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Municipalities without their own libraries or a county library branch building might want to increase library access for their residents.

Any new library buildings should be designed as community focal points, preferably in centrally-located walkable locations near residents and commercial centers.

Communities along the Schuylkill River, like Royersford and Bridgeport, should continue reclaiming their riverfronts and creating connections to the county trail system.

Arts and culture facilities will remain a focal point for communities along the Lansdale/Doylestown line. Transit oriented development is also important.

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• Primary Downtown/Main Street Area
• Secondary Downtown/Main Street Area

Pottstown’s revitalization can take advantage of the arts, the Schuylkill River trail, the community college, and new entertainment venues.

Downtown areas in the eastern part of the county can take advantage of nearby wealth by providing restaurant, specialty shop, and entertainment options.

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Business parks, like Fort Washington, King of Prussia, and Bala Cynwyd, as well as the former Willow Grove Naval Air Station can become new, mixed use community focal and gathering places.

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Norristown, as the county seat, is a priority for revitalization. With its Arts Hill festival, the extension of Lafayette Street, future trail junction, and riverfront redevelopment opportunities, Norristown is poised for significant redevelopment.

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7.2 Strategy for the Suburban Growth Area

The Suburban Growth Area (SGA) comprises the peripheral parts of the municipality where strategic growth is directed to support infrastructure efficiency and preserve the natural heritage system. The following policies apply to the Suburban Growth Area:

7.2.1 Development Standards

New development within the SGA shall adhere to the following density and design targets:

7.2.2 Infrastructure Servicing

Development in the SGA is conditional upon the availability of full municipal services. Where services are currently unavailable, developers are required to enter into a Pre-Servicing Agreement¹ with the Municipality.

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7.3 Natural Heritage Protection

The Municipality recognizes the critical importance of the natural heritage system. Development proposals shall demonstrate no negative impact on the features or ecological functions of the following:

• Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs)
• Significant Woodlands
• Significant Wildlife Habitat

7.3.1 Environmental Impact Studies

An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) shall be required for all development applications located within 120 metres of a Natural Heritage Feature. The EIS shall assess the potential for long-term ecological degradation and propose appropriate mitigation measures.

7.3.2 Buffers and Setbacks

A minimum buffer of 30 metres from the boundary of any PSW shall be maintained, unless an alternative distance is justified through an approved EIS and supported by the Conservation Authority².

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Modernized Infrastructure Network

Improved Stormwater Management

Conserved Natural Resources

Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles

Diverse Housing Choices

Enhanced Community Character

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SUPPORT A MODERN, RESILIENT, GREEN, AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK

Infrastructure, including roads, bridges, sewers, water, power, and communications, is the backbone of land use and economic development. It’s often taken for granted that it will function well; however, many parts of the infrastructure system are aging and will need to be modernized. In addition, climate change is putting pressure on the infrastructure network, highlighting the need to keep this network resilient. To improve infrastructure, the county will...

improve county-owned roads and bridges

Montgomery County owns 74 miles of roadways and 133 bridges, 106 of which have spans of 20 feet or more. The county will be conducting an extensive modernization of its system of roads and bridges. The county’s Motor Vehicle Registration Fee provides a dedicated source of funding to continue these improvements. Since 2012, the county has completed 29 bridge projects. There are currently 20 active bridge projects in design, three underway in construction, and another 10 bridges about to begin construction.

The county will develop a program and schedule for road repaving and rehabilitation. Ridge Pike in Plymouth is currently a priority for rehabilitation. Portions of Ridge Pike, Butler Pike, Bergey Road, East Sumneytown Pike, Schultz Road, Horsham Road, Plymouth Road, and Old Sumneytown Pike are priorities for repaving. The county transportation authority will take the lead on purchasing land when it is needed for road and bridge improvements.

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THE COUNTY HAS CREATED A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR BRIDGES.

• Top Candidates for Bridge Replacement - these bridges will need to be replaced and include Arcola Road, Knight Road, Lutheran Road, Bergeys Mill Road, Morris Avenue, Rostowski Road, Moyer Road, Davis Grove Road, Paper Mill Road, Moreland Avenue, Butler Pike, Stump Road, Swamp Pike, Easton Road, Sterigere Street, and Ridge Pike bridges.
• Top Candidates for Bridge Rehabilitation - these bridges do not need replacement but will need rehabilitation. They include Old Gravel Pike, Dietz Mill Road, Simmons Road, Black Rock Road, King Road, Conshohocken State Road, Peevy Road, Old Reading Pike, Line Lexington Road, Green Lane Road, Deep Creek Road, Sumneytown Pike, Germantown Pike, Old Sumneytown Pike, Ashmead Road, Old Gulph Road, Ashbourne Road, and Mount Pleasant Avenue bridges.
• Candidates for Bridge Rehabilitation or Replacement - these historic stone arch masonry bridges or steel truss bridges have enough historic significance to be studied to see if they can be rehabilitated. If rehabilitation is not feasible, they will need to be replaced. This category includes Fetters Mill Road, Washington Lane, Valley Green Road, Swedesford Road, Price Road, Keller Creamery Road, Faust Road, Keith Valley Road, Keim Street, Garges Road, Trumbauer Road, Fruitville Road, and Mingo Road bridges.
• Candidates for Elimination or Turnover - Because of traffic volumes, significance, or other factors, some bridges should be demolished or turned over to other government entities or private property owners. These include Camp Wawa Road, Snyder Road, and Hedrick Road bridges for elimination. Fern Avenue, Old Gravel Pike, Rupert Road, and McLean Station Road bridges should be turned over to other entities.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

COUNTY ROADS AND BRIDGES

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Road Ownership

• County Owned
• State Owned

Status of County-Owned Bridges

• ▲ Top Candidates for Replacement
• ▲ Top Candidates for Rehabilitation
• ▲ Candidates for Rehabilitation or Replacement
• ▲ Candidates for Elimination or Turnover
• ▲ Other County-Owned Bridges

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

...advocate with PennDOT and local municipalities to right-size roads, install traffic calming, build green streets, install sidewalks, and use other safety and environmental improvements for streets

Streets are the most public places in the county, the connecting thread between communities. Their primary role is to move vehicles, both motorized and non-motorized, but they also have an impact on adjoining properties, the walkability of neighborhoods, the image of communities, and stormwater. There are a number of approaches PennDOT, the county, local municipalities, developers, and property owners can use to lessen these impacts. The countyadopted a complete streets policy in 2019 to address all modes of transportation during county road and facility improvement projects.

Right-Sized Roads - Roads can sometimes be too small or too large for the amount of traffic volume they carry. Many roads built in the 1950s and 1960s were made wider than they need to be, and right-sizing these roads is called a road diet. Often road diets incorporate bike lanes, landscaped medians, rain gardens, on-street parking, crosswalks, and sidewalks. Road diets often increase the efficiency of vehicular traffic flow, make the road safer for everyone, and provide opportunities to green the road with best managment practices.

Traffic Calming - Traffic calming is designed to slow down vehicular traffic and make roads safer and more appealing for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people on adjoining properties. The most common traffic calming techniques used in the Philadelphia area include speed humps, traffic circles, roundabouts, landscaped medians, speed tables, curb extensions or bumpouts, on-street parking, and streetscaping.

Green Streets - Green streets incorporate landscaped areas designed as stormwater best management practices. Instead of going directly into pipes, runoff is directed into landscaped areas that allow water infiltration and filtering of pollutants. Green street techniques include stormwater curb extensions, stormwater planters, vegetated swales, and rain gardens.

Measuring success

• New examples of road diets, traffic calming, and green streets completed in the county
• Fewer accidents on roads

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Bumpouts in Jenkintown were used to narrow West Avenue, making it easy for pedestrians to cross from one side to the other.

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Keswick in Abington uses streetscaping, landscaped islands, and roundabouts to calm traffic.

... advocate with sewer authorities, the state Department of Environmental Protection, residents, and local municipalities to upgrade municipal sewage collection systems and treatment plants in the most environmentally-friendly way

Sewer service expansions and sewer system upgrades are regulated by plans produced under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537). These plans are reviewed by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Montgomery County Planning Commission. The Montgomery County Health Department is responsible for evaluating, permitting, and inspecting any on-lot sewage proposals.

Many of the county’s sewage plants and sewer lines are getting old and will need to be upgraded. When upgrades occurs, inflow and infiltration should be reduced, storm sewers and sanitary sewers should be separated, if they are combined, and ozone or ultraviolet light disinfection should be considered. In addition, if sewage sludge is currently being incinerated, authorities should consider composting as an alternative.

In Rural Resource Areas where on-lot sewage disposal will be used, the preferred approach is subsurface disposal, which allows water to percolate back into the water table. Other preferred alternatives, in descending order of preference, include individual residential spray irrigation systems, community lagoon system with spray discharge, community lagoon system with subsurface discharge, and community sand mound. Mechanical treatment and/or direct stream discharge are less preferred alternatives, because they may encourage development at higher densities.

Measuring success

• Number and type of upgraded sewage systems

EXISTING AND FUTURE SEWER SERVICE AREAS

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Existing and Future Sewer Service Areas

[ ] Conservation Areas and Preserved Farmland [ ] Existing Sewer Service Areas [ ] Future Sewer Service Areas [ ] Areas Without Future Public Sewer Service

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

... work with water suppliers, sewer authorities, the state Department of Environmental Protection, and local municipalities to match water supply areas, sewer service areas, and Designated Growth Areas

Water supply and sewage treatment services are provided by municipal authorities or private utility companies. The county will advocate with these agencies to coordinate their efforts with local plans, county plans, and each other.

Generally, sewer and water service areas should:

• Serve Designated Growth Areas, as shown in the county’s Future Land Use Map.
• Only be extended into Rural Resource Areas because those areas are already served by either public sewer or water, have concentrations of failing on-lot sewage systems, have water supply problems, or contain cluster development with significant open space preservation. Cluster development should have at least 60% open space, a density of less than one home per acre, and a location within a half mile of an existing public sewer and water system.
• Match each other’s service areas as much as possible. It is particularly important to avoid having on-site wells serving developments served by public sewers, because this pulls water out of the water table and discharges it into streams rather than allowing it to infiltrate back into the ground.

EXISTING AND FUTURE WATER SERVICE AREAS

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Measuring success

• Proportion of new water service areas and sewer service areas that falls within Designated Growth Areas, as shown on the Future Land Use Map
• Proportion of new water service areas and sewer service areas that falls within each other’s service areas

Montco 2040: a shared vision

... advocate with water authorities to protect water sources and encourage water conservation

Overall, Montgomery County is well supplied with drinking water - the county has 17 large public water suppliers and is generally blessed with good ground and surface water supplies. Nevertheless, droughts periodically occur in the region and the water supply can become polluted. The county will work with water purveyors, the state, and municipalities to address these issues. Also, the county Department of Health and Human Services will increase public education and outreach on conservation during periods of drought.

To protect water supply, water suppliers should:

• Replace aging pipes, where needed, and upgrade treatment facilities, making them as energy-efficient as possible.
• Continue interconnecting adjoining systems.
• Educate residents about conservation practices they can use at home and work, including installation of low flow fixtures and use of efficient landscaping and lawn maintenance.
• Improve loss detection on water lines and fix leaks.

Municipalities can:

• Create source water protection plans, including wellhead protection.
• Adopt natural features protection ordinances, such as wetlands, steep slope, floodplain, woodlands, and riparian corridor ordinances.
• Adopt stormwater best management practices to encourage groundwater infiltration.
• Require stormwater best management practices for runoff from farms, golf courses, school, large corporate properties, playing fields, and construction sites.
• Use low density zoning, cluster zoning, and transfer of development rights to keep development and impervious areas out of headwaters, ground water recharge areas, well-fields, and other sensitive areas for the water supply.

Measuring success

• Decrease in water usage per resident
• Improved interconnections between water suppliers

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Green roofs are a stormwater best management practice.

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Planting trees in riparian corridors and protecting trees and understory growth in these corridors helps protect water quality.

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

encourage trash haulers, citizens, businesses, and local municipalities to increase recycling and reuse, while reducing solid waste generation

Montgomery County has a Municipal Waste Management Plan that examines whether the county has enough capacity for the approximately 650,000 tons of waste produced annually and outlines methods of improving waste recycling and reuse. The current plan will be updated by the end of 2014.

Right now, the county has enough capacity for the waste it generates, and this is expected to continue in the future. About 28% of the waste stream is recycled, which is below the state goal of 35%. The county will work with its partners on educational and outreach campaigns to move the recycling rate towards the state goal of 35%. In addition, the county will continue to hold collections for special waste items, such as household hazard waste and outdated electronics.

... adapt to changing energy and communications needs and assist municipalities adjusting to these changes

One of the best ways to address energy needs is to reduce energy consumption, which saves costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The county recently created a new initiative, the Energy Reduction and Sustainability (ERAS) program, for county facilities and operations. The county will implement energy conservation measures, explore opportunities to use renewable energy sources, consider green vehicles when vehicle purchases are being made, and promote energy conservation and sustainability with its employees, visitors to county facilities, and citizens-at-large. In addition, the county planning commission will continue to offer to prepare sustainability plans for local municipalities.

Measuring success

• Increase in recycling rates
• Decrease of municipal solid waste generated
• More special waste collection events held

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Disposing of waste properly, from household hazardous waste to unwanted prescriptions, will continue to create the need for collection events.

Electronic appliances should be recycled rather than put into the general trash stream. Unused drugs should be disposed of at municipal drug drop-off boxes. The county is a co-sponsor of hazardous waste collection events. Several each year are held around the county.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

With the Limerick nuclear power plant and the Covanta Plymouth Renewable Energy Facility (a waste-to-energy facility) producing large amounts of electricity, Montgomery County meets its current and future needs. There might be demand for small natural gas power plants designed to meet short-term peak load or other specific needs, and these should be located on large properties with few environmental constraints in industrial areas with access to cooling water, natural gas transmission lines, and the power grid.

Because of its limited environmental impact, small scale renewable energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric facilities should be installed around the county in appropriate locations. For example, the county is pursuing a permit for a small-scale hydroelectric facility on the Norristown Dam. Local municipalities should adopt ordinances allowing renewable energy and can use guiding ordinances prepared by DVRPC in cooperation with the county.

Currently, the county is crossed by a variety of electric transmission line corridors and petroleum or gas pipelines. Creation of new corridors should be avoided; however, it is conceivable that upgrades and expansions to existing corridors might happen, possibly for new pipelines shipping natural gas from upstate Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia region. In these cases, construction should be done with as minimal an impact on the natural environment and nearby development as possible.

Broadband access has become an infrastructure necessity as county residents rely upon it for daily work and educational needs. The county encourages innovative high-speed communications systems to be installed in key residential, commercial, and industrial locations. The major issue with communications is tower siting and design. Whenever feasible, new communication antennae should be attached to existing taller structures, such as buildings, smoke stacks, water towers, or other communications towers. In addition, the design and color of new towers should blend into their surroundings, and towers should have as little an impact on neighboring properties as possible. Towers should also be the minimum height necessary to achieve the required broadcasting objectives and placed in locations that minimize their impact on the surrounding community.

Measuring success

• Reduction in county energy costs
• Incorporation of renewable energy for county needs
• Municipalities adopting new ordinance standards for energy and communication uses
• Municipalities incorporating sustainable practices into their operations

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These wind turbines in Pottstown help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy conservation, helped by tools like the new smart meters, can help even more.

Electric vehicle charging station at the Montgomery County Community College. To encourage alternative fuel vehicles, more charging stations and natural gas stations will need to be built in the county and region.

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Modernized Infrastructure Network

Improved Stormwater Management

Conserved Natural Resources

Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles

Diverse Housing Choices

Enhanced Community Character

IMPROVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FLOODING

Stormwater control and flooding are key issues that transcend local municipal boundaries. To improve stormwater facilities and address flooding from ever-more-common storms, the county will...

implement required county stormwater improvements

Because much of the pollution reaching local streams is from runoff rather than sewage treatment plant or industrial discharge pipes, the federal government requires municipalities control pollution from water runoff. The county, like its 62 municipalities, must meet these federal MS4 permit requirements. The county proposes to continue:

• Installing Green Stormwater Instructure at county sites wherever practicable.
• Expanding education on stormwater issues for county employees, contractors on county projects, and visitors to county facilities.
• Training its departments on methods to reduce pollution in stormwater.
• Maintaining the database and website to provide information to the public and municipalities on stormwater systems.
• Mapping all stormwater systems and inspecting outfalls for illicit discharges.
• Adopting rules for construction site stormwater runoff on county properties.
• Enacting a post-construction stormwater runoff ordinance or standardizing procedures.
• Updating procedures for preventing pollution, particularly for vehicle maintenance, fueling and washing, stormwater facility maintenance, and storage of materials.

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This rain barrel at Green Lane Park helps with the county's MS4 stormwater permit requirements.

Measuring success

• Progress on the permit requirements of public education, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site stormwater control, and pollution prevention

Montco 2040: a shared vision

... complete and update watershed stormwater management plans

Traditional stormwater control regulations treat all properties within a watershed the same for release of stormwater; however, from a flooding standpoint, it actually makes sense to have different rates of discharge from stormwater basins and other stormwater control facilities. When a property is right next to a river, it might make sense to have the water get into the river quickly before more upstream stormwater reaches that point, while properties in headwaters areas might have a slower rate of discharge.

Because of this, the state requires counties to prepare stormwater management plans for watersheds, known as Act 167 plans. As shown in the map below, Montgomery County has prepared many of its plans. For the future, the county proposes to create one county-wide plan for all watersheds, including updates of watershed plans that have already been completed. This plan will focus on problem areas of county-wide significance.

Measuring success

• More watersheds with a current plan
• Creation of a county-wide stormwater plan

DESIGNATED ACT 167 WATERSHEDS

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

advocate with local municipalities and developers for best stormwater management practices

Over time, the techniques for controlling stormwater have evolved to more naturalized systems to mimic the hydrology of the property that existed before development. So, if a quarter of the stormwater flowed off the property before it was developed while the rest was infiltrated into the ground, absorbed by plants, or evaporated, then ideally only a quarter should flow off afterwards. While it may be difficult to duplicate pre-development conditions, post-development hydrology should mimic these conditions as much as possible in both land developments and infrastructure projects.

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) attempt to mimic a more natural water cycle and include naturalized basins, vegetated swales, disconnected impervious surfaces, rain gardens, bioretention areas, porous pavement, infiltration basins, sediment forebays, stormwater extended detention ponds, stormwater ponds, and constructed wetlands. Impervious surfaces should be minimized for all new development.

The county will continue encouraging stormwater BMPs in both new and existing developments, including retrofits of existing facilities. The planning commission’s popular Sustainable Green Parking Lots Guidebook, published in 2016, has helped municipalities incorporate BMPs into parking lot retrofits. Funding is available from the Montco 2040 grant program to aid with this type of work. The county should continue to maintain a database of stormwater BMP projects and green developments, and develop and disseminate new educational information on stormwater BMPs. In addition, the county will continue to advocate for adoption of its model Riparian Corridor ordinance, which requires a protected vegetated buffer next to streams.

Measuring success

• Municipalities adopting new best management practices
• New installations of stormwater best management practices

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Bioswales and porous paving allow water to infiltrate into the ground and help with groundwater recharge.

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Because trees reduce stormwater runoff and prevent erosion, they are particularly important near rivers and streams.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

... work with local municipalities, developers, emergency providers, PennDOT, SEPTA, and emergency management agencies to limit development in the floodplain and limit the impact of flooding With climate change, flooding seems to be a more common problem. The best method of dealing with flooding is to keep development and fill out of the floodplain. All local floodplain ordinances should prohibit fill and buildings within the floodplain, except for brownfield sites in redeveloping areas. Communities that allow buildings in the floodplain must require them to be elevated and floodproofed. Auto-related uses and other uses that could have a strong negative environmental impact should be prohibited in all floodplain areas.

The impact of flooding can be reduced through an emergency flood warning system; building code enforcement for floodproofed buildings; good drainage system maintenance; acquisition and demolition of structures in the floodplain; improved stormwater management; re-greening of old development; retrofitting and floodproofing of existing structures in the floodplain; installation of flood control structures; and natural resources protection.

Recognizing that flooding does not affect all populations equally, the county should work to identify populations that may be disproportionately affected by flooding, assist these populations in understanding the magnitude of the threat, and identify how these populations can become more resilient. Strategies to address flooding threats and hazards like heat island effect should be addressed in the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The county has a model floodplain ordinance that it will continue sharing with local municipalities while reviewing municipal floodplain ordinances for their compliance with federal regulations. The county will continue to implement its Hazard Mitigation Plan, which has a number of recommendations for addressing flooding. And the county will encourage partners to plan for flooding, which will continue to occur.

Measuring success

• Newly adopted floodplain ordinances prohibiting structures in the floodplain
• Flood warning systems installed
• Homes and businesses removed from the floodplain or elevated

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This elevated train signal hut illustrates changes designed to make infrastructure more resilient to flooding and climate change.

This red and white floodgate can be lowered when the road floods to stop vehicles from driving into unsafe floodwaters.

New buildings should not be put in the floodplain, except for buildings on brownfield sites in redeveloping areas.

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Modernized Infrastructure Network

Improved Stormwater Management

Conserved Natural Resources

Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles

Diverse Housing Choices

Enhanced Community Character

CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE AREAS, AND FARMLAND

Montgomery County has many unique natural resources and open space that should be conserved through a variety of methods. To conserve these areas and take on a leadership role, the county will...

advocate with local municipalities, conservation groups, the state, property owners, businesses and others to permanently protect natural resources, open space, and rural areas

Successful natural resource and open space preservation will be achieved through partnerships involving the county, municipalities, the state, conservation groups, property owners, foundations, and private funders. This unprotected open space falls into two categories:

• Conservation Opportunity Areas—generally, these areas are environmentally significant landscapes that connect preserved open space, primarily existing parks and conservancy lands. Conservation Opportunity Areas consist of streams, rivers, wooded highlands, forested floodplains, wetlands, and diabase geology areas. These areas might also include adjacent golf courses, cemeteries, and large institutional properties

When feasible, these areas should be protected through fee-simple purchase or a conservation easement. Recognizing the success of past initiatives, the county should explore options for conservation programs that promote active tourism, protect critical conservation areas, increase opportunities to exercise, and green the county's towns. Other techniques can be useful, such as encouraging development on the least environmentally-significant part of a property, transfer of development rights, land stewardship, and adopting steep slope and woodland preservation ordinances.

A recently launched “Return on the Environment” project looks to highlight the ways that the county's open spaces add economic value to many aspects of our lives. In addition, the planning commission is undertaking a strategic planning initiative to focus our open space planning and land acquisition efforts.

On some properties, techniques like a cluster zoning ordinance could allow development on less-significant parts of the site while greenways, environmentally sensitive land, historic properties, and viewsheds are preserved.

• Rural Resource Areas—these rural areas primarily consist of farms, scattered low-density homes, and villages. The county already preserves farms through its farmland preservation program, and local municipalities sometimes preserve farms and other rural landscapes too. Communities can use land preservation cluster ordinances, transfer of development rights, and farmland zoning to preserve low density Rural Resource Areas.

Measuring success

• Increase in acres of open space preserved
• New municipal ordinances protecting open space and natural resources
• Percent of new development in areas shown as open space or rural resource areas on the county's future land use map

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Greenways and stream corridors, like Saw Mill Run Creek, are vulnerable areas that should be protected.

PRESERVATION PLAN

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

permanently protect additional environmentally-sensitive parkland while improving county parks

The county’s parks and historic sites are important assets that will be expanded and improved over time in accordance with park master and resource managment plans, often through partnerships with private sector and non-profit organizations.

The trend of preserving additional land for public use/and or conservation should be encouraged over the next ten years, with logical park expansions and preservation of key natural resource areas continuing to be a priority. However, assembling small parcels or corridors of parkland, especially in urban and downtown areas, should also be a priority in order to bring nature into developed areas, green the places where people live, and spur revitalization of older portions of the county. Success should be measured in terms of gaps completed, connections made, public access provided, landscapes restored, and wise stewardship policies instituted rather than in terms of specific acreage goals met.

The county will work to maintain the environmental quality of its parks through good stewardship. This will include removal of invasive plants, use of native plants when possible, installation of stormwater best management practices, use of stream stabilization projects, and implementation of wildlife control, including deer, tick, mosquito, and geese management. In addition, the county will work with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure that their parks continue to thrive as great amenities for the county.

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CONSERVATION FOCUS AREAS

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Over the past 20 years, Montgomery County’s Open Space Programs were the major impetus for land preservation throughout the county. From 1993 through 2014, preserved open space in Montgomery County increased by more than 18,000 acres, an average yearly increase of 900 acres.

Preserving land highlighted in the Natural Areas Inventory preserves the county’s ecological resources. Public access should be carefully considered and managed to avoid detrimental impacts to these sensitive areas.

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Central Perkiomen Valley Park

This park, consisting of 464 acres, is a series of activity areas along the Perkiomen Creek. Future improvements or expansions might include:

• Filling in of gaps in parkland along Hollywood Drive and Perkiomen Creek Road.
• Addition of fitness stations along existing trail.
• Cooperation with Graterford Prison along the Perkiomen Creek and its tributaries.

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Green Lane Park

This park, consisting of 3,062 acres, is a multi-use park centered around two lakes and a reservoir. Future improvements or expansions might include:

• Expanding trailhead parking near Ward Road, possibly on new property.
• Creating a lower loop trail near Green Lane Road.
• Considering partnerships for an adventure course or similar activity.
• Providing a greenway trail to Mill Hill along the Perkiomen Creek
• Experimenting with pontoon boat environmental education tours
• Addition of fitness stations along trails

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John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove

This historic site, consisting of 249 acres, is operated in partnership with the National Audubon Society. Future improvements might include:

• Development of a new museum and visitor center, including renovations and upgrades to the historic structures.
• Upgrading the trail system.
• Providing a separate pedestrian bridge at Egypt Road to improve the existing Audubon Loop Trail.
• Winterization of the pavilion.
• Improved entrance and bus circulation.

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Lock 60 at the Schuylkill Canal Park

This park, consisting of 64 acres, features a working canal lock, a towpath, and 2.5 miles of canal. Future improvements might include:

• Completion of the towpath restoration.
• Connector trail between Lock 60 and the Upper Schuylkill Valley Park.
• Improvements to the mule tenders house as an interpretive area with signage.

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Lorimer Park

This park, consisting of 230 acres, features trails and picnic areas along Pennypack Creek. Future improvements or expansions might include:

• A trail connection to the north to the Bethayres Swamp, Huntingdon Valley, Bethayres, and Bryn Athyn.
• A trail connection south to Rockledge.
• Fitness stations along the trail.
• Acquiring additional wood and meadow land near Moredon Road.

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Lower Perkiomen Valley Park

This park, consisting of 90 acres, has playing fields, trailhead parking for the Perkiomen and Schuylkill trails, and picnic areas along the Perkiomen Creek. Future improvements might include:

• A loop trail.
• Fitness stations along the trail.
• Pedestrian bridge connecting to the Audubon loop.
• Landscaping to provide buffering from Route 422.
• Interior upgrades and repairs to buildings.

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Norristown Farm Park This park, consisting of 690 acres, is leased from the state and includes active farm fields, trails, and picnic areas. Guaranteeing permament protection of the park is critical. Future improvements or expansions might include:

• Expansion of the Whitehall Road parking lot.
• Fitness stations along the trail and trail extensions to Einstein Hospital and the Elmwood Park Zoo, possibly as a public-private partnership.
• Additional land from the Norristown State Hospital.
• New uses for buildings with private partners, possibly as a bed and breakfast or restaurant.
• A living educational farm, potentially a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm.
• Refurbishing of the barn wing for community use.

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Pennypacker Mills This historic site, consisting of 181 acres, was the home of Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Pennypacker. Future improvements or expansions might include:

• Acquisition of land that will connect Pennypacker Mills with the Spring Mountain Natural Area.
• A trail loop to Spring Mountain and Schwenksville.
• A connection to the Perkiomen Trail.

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Peter Wentz Farmstead This historic site, consisting of 106 acres, is a farmhouse that was General Washington’s headquarters before and after the battle of Germantown. Future improvements might include:

• A new visitor center on the prior Rothenberger property.
• A trail and foot bridge connection to the Rothenberger property.
• Picnic pavilion near parking lot for school groups.
• An improved loop trail with a connection to the county trail system and Worcester’s local trail system.

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Pottsgrove Manor

This historic site, consisting of 2 acres, was the home of ironmaster John Potts. Future improvements might include:

• A better connection to Memorial Park.
• More appealing physical connections to the Pottstown Station for the Colebrookdale Tourist Railroad, the new carousel, and the new miniature golf course.
• Better connections to the Schuylkill River Trail and Riverfront Park.

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Spring Mill Park

This park, consisting of 31 acres, remains relatively undeveloped, although it includes trailhead parking for the Schuylkill River Trail. Future improvements and expansions with community partnerships might include:

• Riverfront access, possibly including a boat launch.
• Public art near the trail and train station.
• Expansion towards Barren Hill Road.

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Spring Mountain Natural Area

This area, consisting of 124 acres, is at the heart of an important natural area and contains trails. Future improvements might include:

• Loop trail up the mountain for hiking.
• Preservation of land along Schwenksville Road.
• Preservation of land off of Cedar Road around the Perkiomen Trail.

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SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Sunrise Mill Historic Site

This historic site, consisting of 236 acres, contains a historic gristmill but is not open to the public. Future improvements might include:

• Public access to the property and trail connections.
• An extension of the property onto the former Camp Arthureeta and Camp Joy properties to extend greenway protection along Swamp Creek.
• Operation of the mill as a public/private partnership.
• Preservation of the historic stone arch bridge.

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Upper Schuylkill Valley Park

This park, consisting of 244 acres, has river access, picnic pavilions, and a small wildlife center. Future improvements might include:

• A connection to Royersford’s riverfront.
• A loop trail crossing of the Schuylkill River at Route 113 into Chester County.
• An upgraded trail connection to Lock 60 at the Schuylkill Canal Park.
• Connections to Upper Providence’s trail system.
• A fishing pier and canoe launch
• Upgraded parking and improvements to the wildlife center.

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Wissahickon Valley Park

This park, consisting of 149 acres, and the Fort Washington State Park provides an important link in the Wissahickon Green Ribbon Preserve. No county-initiated expansions or improvements are expected, except for a connection to the future Cross County Trail; however, the state may choose to put in new improvements on its property

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increase the amount of preserved farmland

In 2020, the county reached a major milestone when it surpassed 10,000 acres of preserved farmland. Although the COVID-19 pandemic prevented an in-person celebration, a video highlighting the reasons why farmland preservation matters was released by the county commissioners. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the county has 596 farms on 30,780 acres, which leaves many opportunities for more farm preservation.

The county expects to continue preserving farms through the state farmland preservation program. The goal is to preserve at least 4,600 more acres on 100 more farms by 2040, for a total of 14,600 acres and 246 farms by 2040. Prime agricultural land and soils should be a priority for preservation when farms are preserved.

The county will work with partners, such as the Penn State Extension service, the Conservation District, and land conservancies, to provide technical assistance to farmers to keep their farms viable. There is a great opportunity in the county for farmers to meet the demand of the Philadelphia area market for locally produced goods, especially organic vegetables and meat products.

Local municipalities can support farming by easily allowing farm stands, encouraging compatible development in farming areas, encouraging farmers’ markets, preserving farms, and respecting the right of farmers to farm.

FARM PRESERVATION AREAS

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Rural Resource Areas Preserved Farms Significant Farmland Area

Measuring success

• Increase in total acreage of preserved farms
• More preserved farms

4,600 more acres of farmland will be preserved by 2040

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Modernized Infrastructure Network

Improved Stormwater Management

Conserved Natural Resources

Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles

Diverse Housing Choices

Enhanced Community Character

PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO EXERCISE AND HAVE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

The county’s built environment is intrinsically linked with the ability of its residents to lead healthy lives. All county residents need access to the things that keep us fit—such as healthy food and places to exercise. To that end, the county will...

expand opportunities to walk, ride, bicycle, boat, and exercise in county parks while connecting to adjoining parks and facilities

The demand for outdoor recreation surged in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trail use increased and visits to parks and other natural areas became an outlet for residents looking for ways to stay healthy. The county’s parks provide opportunities for recreational activities—such as walking, running, bicycling, boating, and horseback riding. The county will:

• Explore adding loop trails or trail extensions to county parks. Potential areas for new trail expansions include Central Perkiomen Valley Park, Green Lane Park, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Lorimer Park, Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, Norristown Farm Park, Pennypacker Mills, Peter Wentz Farmstead, Spring Mountain Natural Area, and Upper Schuylkill Valley Park.
• Add fitness stations and equipment where suitable. Fitness stations could fit almost anywhere, particularly Central Perkiomen Valley Park, Green Lane Park, Lorimer Park, Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, and Norristown Farm Park.
• Take advantage of the unique geography of county parks when opportunities arise. Other parks present unique opportunities—an aerial ropes course, adventure course, or additional boat launches are possible additions to the county park system.

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advocate with local municipalities, schools, businesses, institutions, and property owners to make communities more walkable and coordinate joint recreation planning efforts

Communities should encourage “active design” - a way to make the built environment more healthful, livable, and supportive of physical activity. For starters, municipalities can:

• Design playgrounds with ground markings to initiate games and other activities; provide lights on sidewalks and active play areas to allow for physical activity into the evenings; and encourage physical activity facilities in schools.
• Design well-connected streets with sidewalks; keep block sizes relatively small; provide pathways through existing blocks to increase walkability; minimize mid-block vehicular curb cuts; implement traffic calming measures; provide amenities such as seating, restrooms, and water fountains to increase the frequency and duration of walking.

Since this plan’s adoption, municipalities have worked to make walking and biking easier. Pottstown’s Walk Bike Pottstown initiative added crosswalks and targeted bike lanes that crisscross the borough. Joint recreation planning is also key. The Pottstown area has been planning for joint recreation needs for several years—an outgrowth of the regional planning effort there. A small financial investment shared among the eight communities in the region is beneficial to all in the long run. Other communities have joined together to plan for joint trail needs—such as Hatfield Borough and Hatfield Township. Hatboro and Upper Moreland Township partnered on a joint recreation plan. The county will help coordinate efforts like these to encourage joint recreation planning and use of facilities.

work with food providers, farmers, health advocates, and others to increase the supply of local, fresh food

Having easy access to affordable fresh food is an important step in keeping the county’s residents healthy. Many residents rely on convenience stores or fast food restaurants for meals, which often have a limited number of healthy options. This is a real concern with obesity and obesity-related diseases like diabetes on the rise.

Although most of the county is within close proximity to one (or more) full service grocery stores, many of the more densely populated boroughs do not have a full-service grocery store. These places should encourage grocery stores, farmers’ markets, community gardens, home gardens, and food safety net providers within their borders to provide fresh fruit and vegetable options.

The county will continue to encourage farming as a viable enterprise by preserving farms, providing technical assistance to farmers, and encouraging farmers to raise and/or grow products for local consumption. Food pantries, cupboards, and soup kitchens should partner with farms and farmers markets to provide fresh produce.

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Measuring success

• Number of recreation coordination meetings held

Get Out and Go Montco is a new county initiative to encourage county residents to get healthy and have fun using the county’s network of parks, trails, and open spaces.

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Measuring success

• Increase in farmers’ markets
• More farms growing produce or producing meat and dairy products

In conjunction with DVRPC, the planning commission completed Eat Local Montco, a policy guide to assist in promoting and elevating the county’s farmers and local food producers..

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Modernized Infrastructure Network

Improved Stormwater Management

Conserved Natural Resources

Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles

Diverse Housing Choices

Enhanced Community Character

SUPPORT HOUSING CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE

Everyone must have housing, and all people want a variety of choices to meet their specific housing needs. The vast majority of housing demand is met by the private sector, but government does affect this private sector supply of housing, both by regulating housing construction and by subsidizing some housing. To improve housing choices, the county will...

support construction of additional affordable, permanent housing around the county for the disabled, seniors, and families in cooperation with developers and non-profit housing providers

In 2013, the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development, which works with developers to determine good locations for new housing, had about $2.6 million available to support new affordable housing construction, a rental subsidy program for special needs people, and a first time homebuyers program. About $950,000 came from the federal HOME program and about $1,680,000 from the county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which uses fees from the recording of deeds. The county expects these programs to continue, with a key focus being the provision of dispersed family housing.

A new emphasis will be placed on the approximately 500 people in homeless shelters or on the streets on any given day, 60% of whom are families. The county’s Your Way Home program, with its Call Center and Housing Resources Centers, will partner with philanthropic and non-profit organizations to rapidly re-house people experiencing homelessness in permanent housing or permanent supportive housing.

Measuring success

• New subsidized housing units provided

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Ardmore Crossing in Lower Merion includes a mix of market rate and subsidized townhouses, as well as subsidized elderly apartments.

County programs help first time homebuyers.

advocate and partner with local municipalities, developers, and community groups to provide workforce housing, additional walkable new housing, accessory apartments, and accessible special needs housing that will reflect the needs of the county’s diverse population

Many actions create housing opportunities, such as:

• Allowing accessory apartments in local zoning districts
• Building apartments, townhouses, duplexes, quadruplexes, twins, and small lot singles in walkable locations that will appeal to singles, young workers, small households, and seniors. (Of the projected demand of 38,000 new units by 2040, 24,700 of the units are expected to be apartments or attached singles.)
• Giving zoning bonuses for workforce housing
• Allowing special needs housing in all zoning districts
• Using employer assisted housing
• Streamlining the development review process
• Encouraging senior housing to be near services and walkable destinations

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The county recently completed Homes For All, a report which presents recommendations to the county commissioners on ways the county can support the construction of more homes at all price points. This comes after the county’s very successful Your Way Home initiative.

Measuring success

• Increased new multifamily, townhouse, and small lot single developments in appropriate locations
• New municipal ordinances allowing affordable housing, accessory apartments, and special needs housing
• Percent of county population paying less than 35% of their income for housing

encourage renovation or replacement of aging public housing units in cooperation with the county housing authority

The Montgomery County Housing Authority is an independent agency that administers the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s programs for public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Authority owns and operates four high rise towers designed for elderly and disabled populations and four townhouse communities designed for general occupancy. MCHA has renovated and reconstructed both its Crest Manor and North Hills developments, gaining additional housing units in the process of modernizing its housing stock.

Measuring success

• Number of public housing units replaced, improved, or renovated

encourage continued deconcentration of housing voucher use in cooperation with the county housing authority

Approximately 2,500 households across the county participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program within privately-owned rental units. Federal standards provide the framework for where the vouchers will most likely be used. The Montgomery County Housing Authority will continue to encourage deconcentration of vouchers by making voucher users aware of housing opportunities around the county, encouraging private sector landlords to accept vouchers, and exploring methods of changing federal funding levels and regulations to increase the value of individual vouchers.

Measuring success

• More places and landlords with a housing voucher presence

SUSTAINABLE PLACES

Modernized Infrastructure Network

Improved Stormwater Management

Conserved Natural Resources

Opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles

Diverse Housing Choices

Enhanced Community Character

ENHANCE COMMUNITY CHARACTER AND PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS

Most of Montgomery County is now developed, and many of the county’s neighborhoods are quite old - even post war neighborhoods are now 60 years old. These places need to remain appealing places, to be true neighborhoods where residents can interact while going for a walk or visiting a park. To enhance and protect its existing neighborhoods, the county will...

through Community Development Block Grants, other government funding, and advocacy, support investment in existing neighborhoods

The county’s neighborhoods run the gamut, from brand new subdivisions to older places needing reinvestment. The county Planning Commission will support efforts of municipalities to find additional state and federal funding for infrastructure improvements, such as the Transportation Alternatives Program, Community Conservation Partnership Program, Local Share Gaming Funds, or Act 13 Greenways Fund.

In addition, except for Abington, Conshohocken, Limerick, Lower Merion, and Norristown, which apply for money on their own, the county Department of Housing and Community Development runs the federal Community Development Block Grant program, which provides grants to eligible municipalities for community improvements. In 2013, the county had $3 million available. Moving forward, these funds will be targeted at supporting public facilities, infrastructure, public services, and economic development.

Measuring success

• Increase in residential property values
• New investment in existing neighborhoods

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Investment in older communities is critical.

Montco 2040: a shared vision

...advocate with local municipalities and developers for appropriate land uses, infill development, maintenance, and public improvements

As the county has become more developed and as interest in more urban or mature suburban locations has increased, infill development and redevelopment in existing neighborhoods has increased. This infill development should respect the character of existing residential communities and minimize the impact of new development on neighboring developed properties.

This can be done by:

• Adopting Traditional Neighborhood Development or Form Based Zoning.
• Incorporating standards that regulate the scale and design of infill development. These might include requirements on the footprint, height, and width of buildings; requirements for porches, roofs, windows, and doors that are similar to nearby homes; or requirements that garages be in the back of homes.
• Locating industrial, car-oriented, and heavy commercial uses away from residential neighborhoods.
• Encouraging adaptive reuse of old industrial and institutional buildings that add to the character of a community.
• Preserving historic properties and adaptively reusing these properties when they are no longer viable for their original use.
• Controlling the lighting, loading, outdoor storage, and trash areas of commercial uses and requiring buffer landscaping next to residential properties.
• Encouraging redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties with poor maintenance into new, compatible uses.
• Installing traffic calming, sidewalks, and crosswalks to improve walkability.
• Continuing to invest in local parks.
• Recognizing exemplary developments through awards programs, like the county’s Montgomery Awards. Recent awards have gone to projects such as Bridgeport’s Zero Energy Ready Homes, Station Row at Station Square in Lower Merion, Lions Gate at Penn State Abington and the new SEPTA garage in Lansdale.

Measuring success

• Percent of new development occurring as infill

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New infill housing can match the character of existing neighborhoods.

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Adaptive reuse of vacant buildings improves neighborhoods.

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