Read the most current Delaware County Planning Commission meeting agenda or research agendas from the past 5 years.
Current Meeting Agenda
The Current Meeting Agenda is available in PDF format. If you do not have the required Adobe Acrobat Reader software, it can be downloaded free from the Adobe site.
Previous Agendas
The Planning Commission meeting agendas for the current and three previous calendar years are available below in PDF format. Historical agenda information not listed can be obtained by contacting the Planning Department at (610) 891-5200.
2026
2025
2024
2023
The Bates Awards Program honors excellence in site planning, development practices, and the innovate use of land resources.
| 2025 | No Award Presented |
| 2024 | No Award Presented |
| 2023 | No Award Presented |
| 2022 | No Award Presented |
| 2021 | No Award Presented |
| 2020 | No Award Presented |
| 2019 | No Award Presented |
| 2018 | Chester Charter School for the Arts, Chester City Edgmont Township Community Park, Edgmont Township Clem Macrone Park Rehabilitation, Radnor Township Lansdowne Landing, Landsowne Borough |
| 2017 | East Lansdowne Memorial Park, East Lansdowne Borough Central Park, Swarthmore Borough |
| 2016 | Walgreen’s Center, Lansdowne Borough Town Center West (Inn at Swarthmore), Swarthmore Borough |
| 2015 | No Award Presented |
| 2014 | No Award Presented |
| 2013 | Louella House, Radnor Township |
| 2012 | Knowles Avenue Underpass Project, Glenolden Borough (Special Merit Award to Borough Council) |
| 2011 | Founders Hall/Widener University, Chester City Edgmont Township, Leadership in Alternative Energy Policy |
| 2010 | Health Center Four/Rothman Institute, Middletown Township PPL Park Sports Stadium, Chester City |
| 2009 | SAP America, Inc., Newtown Township University Crossing, Chester City |
| 2008 | No Award Presented |
| 2007 | The McKee Group, Foxfield, Bethel Township Harrah's Chester Casino & Race Track, Chester City |
| 2006 | No Award Presented |
| 2005 | DeLuca Homes, Creekside Village, Upper Chichester Township |
| 2004 | No Award Presented |
| 2003 | No Award Presented |
| 2002 | No Award Presented |
| 2001 | No Award Presented |
| 2000 | No Award Presented |
| 1999 | SAP America, Inc., Newtown Township Chestnut Ridge, Chester City William Penn Homes, Chester City |
| 1998 | No Award Presented |
| 1997 | No Award Presented |
| 1996 | Jefferies Square, Chester City Home Depot Plaza, Upper Darby Township |
| 1995 | Riddle Village, Middletown Township Garnet Oaks, Bethel Township |
| 1994 | No Award Presented |
| 1993 | No Award Presented |
| 1992 | No Award Presented |
| 1991 | PennDOT, The Blue Route |
| 1990 | Mallard Mill Run, Nether Providence Township |
| 1989 | The Birches, Radnor Township |
| 1988 | Market Square Memorial Park, Marcus Hook Borough |
| 1987 | No Award Presented |
| 1986 | No Award Presented |
| 1985 | No Award Presented |
| 1984 | Radnor Corporate Center, Radnor Township Woodlot, Parkside Borough |
| 1983 | Runnymeade Farms, for execution of the plan, Edgmont Township The Watkins Avenue Multi-Purpose Recreational Center, Upper Darby Township The Chesley Office Campus, Nether Providence Township Ravenscliff, Radnor & Newtown Townships |
| 1982 | Runnymeade Farms, for site design, Edgmont Township Toft Woods, Upper Providence Township Arco Research Center, Newtown Township |
The 1724 Chester Courthouse was once the Courthouse for Chester and Delaware Counties and City Hall for Chester. Since the 1920s it has been open as a historic site. It is now owned by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) and leased by Delaware County. It is the oldest building in continuous public use in the country. Both PHMC and Delaware County are rehabilitating the building in anticipation of America250 in 2026. Follow the progress here.
LATEST NEWS
- The Courthouse will be open for the Reading of the Declaration on July 8, 2026 at 1 pm. All are welcome to see the completed rehabilitation of the Courthouse.
- BSS Construction has been selected to undertake the construction of the rehabilitation of the Courthouse. It is expected to be completed by the end of July 2026.
- On December 12, 2024 at 11 am, there was a Lafayette Trail Marker Dedication and a short celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Courthouse. It was held at the park opposite Chester City Hall at the corner of 4th Street and Avenue of the States, moving inside the Courthouse for the anniversary celebration. Watch the Lafayette Marker Dedication Ceremony and 300th Anniversary Celebration here and see photos here.
- On October 5, 2024, the County hosted Lafayette Day in Chester with boarded up windows but new LED lighting so the interior of the courtroom was not dark. See photos and learn more about the event here.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
In 2021, PHMC signed a lease agreement with Delaware County for the County to take over the programming and maintenance at the Courthouse. As part of the agreement, PHMC will be doing the following improvements:
- Repair/repaint first floor windows, doors, and shutters
- Repair/replace first floor HVAC system
- Upgrade first floor lights
- Repair roof leaks and seal roof to last longer
- Selective first floor interior painting/plastering
In 2023, Delaware County was awarded a National Park Service Grant for the Rehabilitation of the Courthouse. See press release here.
The grant covers the following improvements:
- Exterior stone repairs/ repointing
- Repair/repaint cupola and second floor windows, shutters, eaves
- Upgrade electric, fire, alarm systems
- Repair plumbing/electric on second floor
- Refinish wood floors
- Interior painting/plastering on both floors
The County hired J&M Preservation to undertake the drawings, specifications, and construction management for the NPS grant project. They have regular meetings with Delaware County and PHMC staff about the project and coordination. The construction projects covered by the NPS grant have will be completed by July 2026.
Some of the work covered by PHMC has been completed or are underway, and progress can be seen by visitors:
| Completed | In Progress - expected 2026 |
|---|---|
| Repair/repaint first floor shutters | Repair first floor HVAC |
| Repair first floor doors | Selective interior painting/plastering |
| Upgrade first floor lights | Repaint first floor doors |
| Repair roof leaks | |
| Repair/repaint first floor windows | |
| Seal roof | |
| Install first floor storm windows |
Keep checking back here for more progress about both projects.
PUBLIC USE OF THE COURTHOUSE
The Courthouse has the honor of being the oldest public building in continuous public use in the country. Apart from a few years in the 1780s between when Chester County moved the courthouse to West Chester and Delaware County was established, it has been in public ownership and use. While these construction projects are underway, public access is limited to a few times a year. Law Day, hosted by the Delaware County Bar Association, is on the first Friday in May each year. The Chester Historical Preservation Committee and Friends of the 1724 Chester Courthouse host the Reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 each year in honor of when it was read at the Courthouse on July 8, 1776. 2024 marks the 300th anniversary of the Courthouse, but because there is no heat and no running water to the building, a small celebration was held on December 12, 2024. Watch the video here. The Delaware County Bar Association’s Law Day was held on May 1, 2026.
The Delaware County Planning Department is hoping for public input for programming at the Courthouse after the construction is completed in 2026. The first floor is a courtroom which can hold audiences for mock trials, speeches, lectures, small performances, etc. The second floor has two restrooms (not ADA accessible), a room for meetings, and a large room (former Grand Jury Room). This can be used as a museum for Chester and/or the Courthouse, a larger meeting room, or anything else. Delaware County Parks and Recreation will manage rental permits for the building (free/low cost for community groups and non-profits to have meetings/programs) in 2026 and beyond. Let us know what you think here.
Questions about the 1724 Chester Courthouse? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
To celebrate General Lafayette’s return to Chester during his bicentennial tour, Delaware County hosted an event at the 1724 Chester Courthouse and the Avenue of the States.
Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, Marquis de La Fayette was a French nobleman who volunteered to join the Continental Army under General Washington. On September 11, 1777, the Battle of Brandywine was fought on the fields of the Brandywine Valley at Chadds Ford, now in Chester and Delaware Counties. Although it was an American loss, the strategic retreat allowed General Washington to warn Congress of the British march on Philadelphia later that month. Lafayette was wounded in the leg on the field of battle, but he was able to retreat to Chester and prevent the British from entering the town. His wound was dressed in Chester and thus started his long-time connection to the town. Spilling his blood on American soil solidified his status as a hero. In 1824, Lafayette was invited by President James Monroe, who he had fought with during the Revolutionary War, to come visit the United States. He visited Chester on the night of October 5, 1824, arriving by boat from Philadelphia. He was greeted by the townspeople who lined the street from the docks with tall candles. He went to the place where his wound was dressed (location unconfirmed) and had dinner at 1 am in the Grand Jury Room of the Courthouse.
200 years later, the American Friends of Lafayette have organized a committee to commemorate this Farewell Tour of Lafayette to recreate his journey throughout the 13 months and 24 states he visited. More information about the Bicentennial tour is at lafayatte200.org.
On October 5, 2024, the Delaware County Planning Department, in partnership with other County departments, the City of Chester, American Friends of Lafayette, America250PADelco, and historical organizations, held an event to commemorate Lafayette’s return to Chester. He was greeted by visitors holding large ‘candles’, like they did in 1824, and several speeches were held in the Courthouse in his honor. Historical groups and vendors were along the street for the visitors to learn more about them or to purchase Lafayette-related memorabilia. County Council member Richard Womack, Chester City Mayor Stefan Roots, and other special guests were in attendance.
Questions about the 1724 Chester Courthouse? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
The Planning Department can assist in identifying zoning and regulatory information about specific parcels in Delaware County.
Most municipalities have zoning maps and district regulations on their individual websites or can provide copies to the public. Municipal officials will have the most current zoning information for their residents.
However, The Delaware County Data & Mapping Innovation Office provides the Delaware County Municipal Zoning application, an interactive map that provides zoning data from all 49 of its municipalities. It should be noted, overlay zoning districts must be turned on under the layers section to be viewed on the map. Lastly, documents may become outdated, as stated by the disclaimer page, it is always recommended to check with municipal officials.
Delaware County Planning Department provides the Delaware County Municipal Dashboard, which includes links to Municipal Plans, Zoning Ordinances, and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances, as well as a brief overview of the municipality.
If you need to ensure you have the most recently adopted ordinance, we recommend you contact the municipality.
The Delaware County Real Estate Parcels & Tax Records System and Homestead Status is a great resource for finding a site’s owner, building information, and folio and map numbers.
Need assistance finding your parcel’s regulatory information? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
Provider
US DOT – Federal Railroad Administration
Application Deadline
June 8, 2026
Summary
The Crossing Safety Program intends to fund highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects, including but not limited to elimination projects, that improve safety and mobility of people and goods. Such projects will improve American rail infrastructure to enhance rail safety, improve the health and safety of communities, eliminate highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossings that are frequently blocked by trains, or reduce the impacts that freight movement and railroad operations may have on underserved communities.
The Federal share of total costs for Crossing Safety Program projects funded under this notice shall not exceed 80 percent, consistent with 49 U.S.C. § 22909(g) and 2 CFR part 200.
There are no predetermined maximum dollar thresholds for individual awards, but no more than 20 percent of the grant funds available in any fiscal year ($229,305,600 for the combined FY25-26 round) will be awarded for projects in any single State.
FRA will not award grants for less than $1,000,000, except for a Planning project, as described in 49 U.S.C. § 22909(d)(6). Projects requesting less than $1,000,000 must consist solely of Planning activities to be considered eligible. Applications that request funding for a combination of Planning and Project Development activities must exceed $1,000,000 in Federal assistance under this NOFO. For the purposes of the award minimum requirement, FRA considers Highway-Rail Grade Crossing safety information and education projects to be Planning projects described in 49 U.S.C. § 22909(d)(6).
Common Eligible Projects
The following projects are eligible for funding:
i. Grade separation or closure, including through the use of a bridge, embankment, tunnel, or combination thereof.
ii. Track Relocation.
iii. The improvement or installation of protective devices, signals, signs, or other measures to improve safety, provided that such activities are related to a separation or relocation project described in paragraph (i) or (ii).
iv.Other means to improve the safety and mobility of people and goods at highway-rail grade crossings (including technological solutions).
v. A group of related projects described in paragraphs (i) through (iv) that would collectively improve the mobility of people and goods.
vi. The planning, environmental review, and design of an eligible project described in paragraphs (i) through (v).
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 22909(j)(1), grants under the Crossing Safety Program may be awarded for commuter rail passenger transportation projects. Consistent with 49 U.S.C. § 22909(j)(2), FRA will transfer such projects to the Federal Transit Administration to administer.
More Information
https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/fy25-26-NOFO-RCE-crossing-safety
Provider
PA Department of Community and Economic Development
Application Deadline
Applications are received on a rolling basis year-round. PA SITES applications are approved quarterly. To be eligible for consideration at the next quarterly approval, applications must be received by the end of a calendar quarter to be considered for a funding round.
Summary
The Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES) was established to provide grant and loan funding to eligible applicants to develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within the Commonwealth.
Common Eligible Projects
The funding for the program includes two components that support the development of competitive sites within the Commonwealth:
1. Planning Grants - The Planning Grants component provides grants to conduct a plan or feasibility study for a prospective site that may include the best future use of the parcel(s) for best economic growth opportunities for redevelopment or new development.
2. Construction Grants and Loans - The Construction Grants and Loans component provides grants and loans to serve as gap financing for strategic sites that need financial assistance to help reduce development risk for businesses. The grant and loan funding is intended to help finance strategic investments that will enhance sites across the Commonwealth to effectively compete for expanding and relocating businesses. The program will help reduce development risk for businesses by timeline reduction from the development of public infrastructure or reducing unknown development costs.
More Information
https://dced.pa.gov/programs/pennsylvania-strategic-investments-to-enhance-sites-program-pa-sites/
Provider
PA Department of Environmental Protection
Application Deadline
June 22, 2026, at 4:00pm
Summary
The Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants aims to improve and protect Pennsylvania’s waters from nonpoint source pollution associated with acid mine drainage (AMD), energy resource extraction, agricultural activities, stormwater runoff, and streambank and shoreline degradation, along with verifying and demonstrating efficacy with enhanced data collection and distribution. Additionally, the goal is to provide assistance to, and expand the data collection capabilities of, trained/audited Tier III collectors and to enhance the quality of data collected by water quality monitoring entities across Pennsylvania.
Common Eligible Projects
Examples:
- Lake restoration projects
- Stream stabilization/improvement structures for pollutant
- load reductions
- Riparian Forest Buffers
- Agricultural BMPs
BMP Implementation as identified in an existing Section 319 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). This includes design and permitting and/or construction for agricultural and stormwater management BMP projects, along with AMD, stream channel degradation and floodplain restoration to mitigate the risk of flood damage in the watershed.
Section 319 WIP Revisions or updates to existing WIPs that are at least eight years old.
Tier III Monitoring within 319 WIP Watersheds, TMDL/ARP watersheds, and other impaired waters conducted by qualified collectors, generating assessment level data according to DEP standards.
Statewide or Regional projects addressing nonpoint source pollution to restore or protect water quality may be considered if funding remains.
More Information
Provider
PA Department of Environmental Protection
Application Deadline
June 22, 2026, at 4:00pm
Summary
The Growing Greener Plus program is an initiative by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) that aims to protect and conserve the state's natural resources. The purpose of Growing Greener is to restore Pennsylvania’s impaired waters and protect waterways from nonpoint source pollution.
Common Eligible Projects
For this grant round, the priorities are:
- BMP implementation (design, permitting, and construction)
- Technical Assistance projects, including public-private partnerships, that expedite BMP implementation
- Agricultural erosion and sediment control or nutrient and manure management plans
- Stream, wetland and floodplain restoration projects that improve water quality and reduce flooding
- Priority projects located in and directly benefiting Environmental Justice Areas
More Information
Provider
Visit Delco
Application Deadline
May 20, 2026
Summary
Visit Delco is happy to announce the upcoming launch of the Visit Delco Tourism Grant Program, with applications opening on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. This new funding opportunity will support projects that enhance communities, elevate visitor experiences, and grow tourism across Delaware County.
This competitive program will fund projects such as public events, beautification and placemaking, community-based programming, marketing initiatives, and strategies that encourage overnight visitation. A total of $250,000 will be awarded, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. A 25% match (cash or in-kind) is required per PA Act No. 18 of 2016.
Eligible applicants must be:
- A municipality, formal business association, or registered nonprofit with a mission of economic development and/or community enhancement
- Located in Delaware County, PA
- In good financial standing with no outstanding obligations to Visit Delco
- In operation for at least one year
Common Eligible Projects
This initiative aims to support main street areas and municipalities located within Delaware County, Pennsylvania by providing financial assistance for eligible initiatives related to:
- Public events that attract visitors and drive economic activity
- Beautification efforts that enhance curb appeal and placemaking
- Community-based programming that supports arts, culture, and tourism
- Strategies that encourage overnight stays in local hotels and lodging facilities