Vision Partnership Program – County Consulting – Technical side
Program News
Welcome to County Consulting – Technical side of the Vision Partnership Program, which includes Technical Services Contracts and Technical Assistance Agreements. We are happy to provide detailed online information regarding this side of the Vision Partnership Program.
Program Dates and Deadlines
Applications (for Technical Services Contracts) and written requests (for Technical Assistance Agreements) are accepted on a rolling basis. Execution of contracts and agreements are based on staff availability and expertise, and the ability of the project to implement Landscapes3.
Program Questions
Questions about the program can be directed to ccObfuscationplanning@Obfuscationchesco.org. or 610-344-6285.
Program Overview
The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) is available to Chester County municipalities and multi-municipal groups seeking to improve their planning programs while achieving consistency with and implementation of the goals, objectives, recommendations, and map of Landscapes3. Through County Consulting – Technical, Chester County Planning Commission staff are available to act as the consultant for undertaking projects, with cost-sharing between the County and municipality. County Consulting – Technical projects are undertaken based on staff availability and expertise, and the potential to implement Landscapes3.
General project types that may be eligible include comprehensive plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances, ordinance amendments, official maps, and planning studies that advance Landscapes3 at the municipal or multi-municipal level.
Within County Consulting – Technical, the scope and cost of a potential project will determine whether it is a Technical Services Contract or a Technical Assistance Agreement. Please see the below table for the differences between these two components.
| Technical Services Contracts | Technical Assistance Agreements | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Applicants | All Chester County municipalities (multi-municipal projects permitted) | All Chester County municipalities (multi-municipal projects permitted) |
| Eligible Projects | Plans, ordinances, ordinance amendments, planning studies that implement Landscapes3 | Ordinance amendments, planning studies, mapping, analysis, layouts/renderings/illustrations, special studies that implement Landscapes3 |
| Application Period | Rolling; staff availability is a determining factor | Rolling; staff availability is a determining factor |
| Selection Process | Projects selected based on Chester County Planning Commission staff availability and expertise and extent of implementation of Landscapes3 | Projects selected based on Chester County Planning Commission staff availability and expertise and extent of implementation of Landscapes3 |
| Funding: Adopted Plans or Ordinances | Maximum $50,000 county funding (plus $10,000 per additional municipality for multi-municipal plans) | Maximum $5,000 overall project cost |
| Funding: Accepted Planning Studies | Maximum $30,000 county funding (plus $5,000 per additional municipality for multi-municipal plans) | Maximum $5,000 overall project cost |
| Municipal Contribution | 40% of project cost | 40% of project cost |
| Application Contents | Online application, letter of commitment | Written request |
| Consultant Qualifications | Chester County Planning Commission to provide lead staff planner qualified to complete the project | Chester County Planning Commission to provide lead staff planner qualified to complete the project |
| Scope and Contract Development | Chester County Planning Commission to develop scope of work and contract | Chester County Planning Commission to develop scope of work and agreement |
| Schedule | Ranges from 12-36 months depending on project type | Up to 12 months |
| Project Management | Chester County Planning Commission planner to provide project management | Chester County Planning Commission planner to provide project management |
| Invoicing | Chester County Planning Commission to submit invoice to municipality quarterly | Chester County Planning Commission to submit invoices to municipality at conclusion of the project |
| Amendments | Extension not to exceed six months; two contract extensions processed by Chester County Planning Commission; additional extensions or change in project cost requires approval by the Chester County Board of Commissioners | One extension not to exceed six months |
| Review of Completed Project | Applicable projects to be submitted for Act 247 review | Applicable projects to be submitted for Act 247 review |
| Reimbursement | N/A | N/A |
Program Purpose
Recognizing the benefits of awards to municipal planning projects, the Chester County Board of Commissioners established VPP in 1996 to promote cooperation between local governments and the County while implementing Landscapes, the County's Comprehensive Plan. The program was revised in 2010 to reflect Landscapes2 and revised again in 2019 to reflect Landscapes3.
The purpose of VPP is to advance consistency with and implementation of the county comprehensive plan while accomplishing impactful, lasting, and positive benefits for municipalities through innovative municipal planning; multi-municipal planning; and new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies that address opportunities and issues of community concern.
Program Eligibility
The VPP County Consulting – Technical is open to all Chester County municipalities. Eligible applicants include a single municipality or a multi-municipal group. General project types that may be eligible include plans, ordinances, ordinance amendments, and planning studies that advance one or more of the Landscapes3 goals and objectives, and implement one or more of the Landscapes3 recommendations at the municipal or multi-municipal level.
Projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, as amended, such as comprehensive plans (or elements thereof) or ordinances, shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the MPC. Projects not adopted under the provision of the MPC are defined as "Planning Studies" for the purposes of VPP.