MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES: Regular Monthly Board Meeting Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Approved: May 10, 2017

BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING: Steven Kline, Chair; Dulcie Flaharty, V-Chair; Charles Tornetta; Robert Blue; David Cohen; Jill Blumhardt; John West

STAFF ATTENDING: Jody Holton; Mike Narcowich; Scott France; Michael Stokes; Daniel Farina; Brandon Rudd; Karina Caddick; Janet Galati, Commerce Dept.; Maureen Calder, Solicitor

PRESS: None

GUESTS: John Ernst, Lansdale Assistant Manager, Director of Community & Economic Development; Kim Haymans-Geisler, Resident; Ken Christovich, Resident

I. Call to Order/Board Comments Steven Kline called the board meeting to order. Mr. Kline said that he attended a Swamp Creek Greenway Plan meeting in Lower Frederick Township that was well-attended. Michael Stokes, Shane Greenburg, Henry Stroud and Peter Simone (consultant) facilitated a productive discussion and presented several options for improving access and the county’s Sunrise Mill property.

II. Minutes of March 8, 2017 The minutes from the March 8, 2017 regular Board meeting were approved by the Board.

Motion: To approve the March 8, 2017 Board minutes, by Mr. Blue, seconded by Mr. Cohen, and approved by all present.

III. Public Comment None

IV. Update on Lansdale Borough Transportation, Transit Oriented Development and Park Projects Presenter: Mike Narcowich, Guest: John Ernst; Lansdale Assistant Manager, Director of Community & Economic Development Mike Narcowich began the presentation by providing a short overview of recent and ongoing MCPC Planning Assistance to Lansdale Borough. Over the past several years MCPC has assisted Lansdale with a zoning ordinance update, draft sign ordinance and a draft SALDO. The planning commission is currently working with Lansdale on an update to their Comprehensive Plan, called Lansdale 2040. There is a committee focused on engaging a diverse range of people in the community, specifically those groups that are traditionally not included in the planning process. For example, lower income individuals, immigrant residents, different religious groups as well as the non-English speaking community. Mr. Narcowich mentioned some of the major land development and zoning reviews MCPC completed for the Borough, including apartments, townhomes, North Penn Commons, SEPTA’s Garage and 9th Street Station, and a zoning change to the Industrial District to allow residential and mixed uses. The future work items for Lansdale will include an analysis of parking and circulation at Moyer Road Park; revitalization planning for the central business district, as well as the industrial area and shopping centers. The Borough has also requested assistance in streamlining the zoning map. MCPC Board Minutes -2- April 19, 2017

John Ernst presented an overview of Lansdale and updated the board on the recent and future development projects. The Borough of Lansdale is located 28 miles north of in the northern part of Montgomery County. It is 2.99 square miles and includes a train station with a Main Street and 21 parks. He stated that Lansdale is a traditional suburb with an urban feel. The residents enjoy a walkable community with a close knit neighborhood and nice downtown. A series of changes began back in 2010 when an active group of residents, looking for a change, were voted onto Borough Council. Their first order of business was to bring in a new borough manager and professional staff that shared their vision for Lansdale. They then hired experienced consultants from Tennessee to embark on a branding and wayfinding campaign for Lansdale.

The early land development projects were funded using grant opportunities. These included a Main Street streetscape with brick, slate pavers, benches, amenities and decorated street lighting. In order to minimize traffic around the train station the Wood-Vine Street connector was created. The next significant change was a new municipal complex which joins the municipal building and police department in one building. Mr. Ernst also provided an update on the three SEPTA train stations (Lansdale, Ninth Street and Pennbrook Stations) including the new 630 space parking structure that will open later this week. SEPTA is also involved in the Railroad Avenue project that will be closed to normal vehicular traffic but available to bus and emergency vehicles and users of the . Mr. Ernst provided an update regarding the Liberty Bell Trail, which is approximately two miles and will connect one side of the borough to the other. Another proposed development is the Lansdale Apartments on the Madison Parking Lot, and the Madison Street widening project that is adjacent to the development and will create 70 parking spaces that can be closed off for events and weekend functions. Other projects on the horizon include the Walnut Street midrise apartments, the restoration of the Freight House, and a new skateboard park.

V. Upper Dublin School District - Action Presenter: Scott France Scott France requested that the Board approve the Upper Dublin School District Enrollment Projections Contract. This contract will include providing a full update to the District’s original demographic study analysis performed in 2014. The analysis will examine demographic trends, birth patterns, housing construction, housing sales activity, and other associated trends. This study update will create a new model that projects enrollments at each grade level and school building for each of the next ten years within the Upper Dublin School District. The contract will run from May 1, 2017 through July 31, 2017 for a total cost of $7,140 with a district share of $5,355.

Motion: To approve the Upper Dublin School District Contract, by Mr. Tornetta, seconded by Mr. Blue, and approved by all present.

VI. Montgomery County Trail Development Update Presenter: Michael Stokes, Henry Stroud Michael Stokes spoke about the history of the Montgomery County trail system since the late 70’s. Over the past 40 years, have become an essential part of the county and are now popular destinations for visitors to the county and for our residents.

Henry Stroud provided a status of the current and future trail system within Montgomery County. The county has an ambitious plan for a 260-mile countywide system of trails. There over 91 miles of trails completed in the county trail system- 63 miles were built and maintained by the county and 28 miles were built and maintained by local municipalities and conservation organizations. At present, 14 miles of additional trails are in the design and construction phase. Mr. Stroud anticipates that 8 miles of trails will be completed within the next 2-3 years. The Planning Commission recently completed a project called the Montgomery County Trail Asset Inventory. This is an online inventory of all the county maintained trails and includes data maps and information about important trail features such as access points, trail surfaces, drain structures, and bridges. Mr. Stroud also provided a progress report of each trail project including: the Chester Valley Trail through

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Upper Merion Township and Bridgeport Borough; the Cross County and Wissahickon Trail through Erdenheim Farm in Whitemarsh and Springfield Townships; the through the Fort Washington Industrial Park in Upper Dublin Township; the Trail in Pottstown Borough; the connections to Bucks County in Upper Moreland Township and connections to Philadelphia in Rockledge Borough; and the in Montgomery Township. He also briefed the board on the status of the Swamp Creek Greenway Feasibility Study, the trail crossing modernization initiative, and the repaving. Michael Stokes concluded the trail update by noting the significant amount of work being done to build local trails and provided descriptions of four recent local trail projects.

VII. 2016 Median Housing Price Report Presenter: Daniel Farina Daniel Farina presented the 2016 Medium Housing Price Report. Montgomery County had a total of 11,441 market rate sales of homes in 2016. The medium sales price of the overall total was $278,500, a 2.9% increase from 2015 median price. These figures represent a stable housing market that is rising at a healthy rate. The median price increase of new homes in 2016 was 14.2% higher from the previous year, while existing homes had only a 3.1% increase from 2015. The report also compares these figures by housing types - single family detached and multifamily housing increased at a higher rate than single family attached. The most affordable housing in Montgomery County is in Norristown, Pottstown and West Pottsgrove. The most expensive are in Bryn Athyn, Lower Merion and Worester. We anticipate that the stable growth from 2016 will continue into 2017.

VIII. Worcester Township Community Planning Assistance Presentation Presenter: Brandon Rudd Brandon Rudd presented an overview of the planning assistance contract for Worcester Township. Worcester is located in the center part of Montgomery County. Mr. Rudd spoke about the local government, demographic data and community landmarks of Worcester Township. The community landmarks in Worcester include three villages (Fairview Village, Center Point and Cedars); the Peter Wentz Historic Site; Merrymead Farm and Central Schwenkfelder Church. Previous contract items included a sign ordinance, transferable development rights ordinance and Center Point Village Vision. The new contract items include various ordinances and general flexible assistance. The work will include a draft revision to the zoning in the Center Point Village area, bamboo ordinance and a wireless telecommunication ordinance. This is a two year contract from January 2017 to December 2019; 2 planner days per month and 10 night meetings per year.

IX. Manufacturing in Montco and Manufest Event Summary Director’s Report Presenter: Scott France, Guest Janet Galati, Commerce Department Scott France introduced Janet Galati from the Commerce Department. They spoke about manufacturing in Montgomery County and the recent Manufest Event. Mr. France provided statistics about manufacturing. There are 43,162 manufacturing jobs in Montgomery County, and the county continues to lead the state in the number of manufacturing jobs despite the 40% loss since 2001. The causes for the decline are in part due to international competition and the change in land use patterns. The annual average salary in manufacturing has grown at a higher rate compared to overall salaries in Montgomery County, indicating the changing nature of manufacturing into higher-skilled workers with larger compensations. The types of manufacturing jobs in the county are diverse and include chemical, food, fabricated metal, computer/electronics and printing. Mr. France also shared a map of the county where potential manufacturing sites could be developed. It includes business parks, corporate campus sites as well as small and large scale industrial areas. There are many trends in manufacturing that affect both growth and decline in local manufacturing and include reshoring, trade policies, automation, Marcellus Shale, branch manufacturing and supply clusters.

Janet Galati spoke about MontcoWorks, Montgomery County’s Workforce Development Board. They help to direct federal, state and local funding to workforce development initiatives and programs. For example, there are federal and state grant programs that offer skills training programs and job seeking services. There are also training funds available for current workers who are at risk to lose their jobs due to a change in the process or updated technology. Their ultimate goal is to

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step in and provide support before the layoffs even happen, thus keeping the unemployment rate down. The PA CareerLink of Montgomery County offers an online option for individuals who are searching for employment and employers who are seeking candidates. They help to streamline the recruitment process. Additional programs include the Youth Empowerment Program, EARN, LEAP Re-Entry, GED Prep & Exams (MCCC). Ms. Galati also provided an update about an event called Manufest. It occurred on Saturday, March 11 at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell. This was a successful manufacturing careers event that connected students, job-seekers and employers. Their goal was to educate the community that the manufacturing route provides a lot of well compensated opportunities with a variety of skill sets.

X. Director’s Report

1. Ms. Holton spoke about the re-opening of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. It was recently renovated. The event was well attended by the commissioners and the community.

2. A survey was distributed to municipal managers and engineers about townhome community design. We will be creating a guidebook for best practices in designing and sustaining townhouse developments. It is set to be released in October.

3. The Calendar of Events from April 19 to May 10, 2017 was distributed for board review. Ms. Holton highlighted the free Walkability webinar being offered on April 28th. Anne Leavitt-Gruberger is working with DVRPC on this series which follows up on our Walk Montco study. MCPC is sponsoring a three-session course on Subdivision and Land Development Review on May, 4, 11 and 18 at the new Lansdale Borough Hall

4. Ms. Holton shared an MCPC event as part of our Planning Smarter series. The Village of Valley Forge has been selected as our annual walking tour on June 22 from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00.

The next Board meeting will be on May 10, 2017 at 9:00 AM in the Planning Commission’s Office.