14 /
planning
GIS Maps
In 2016 we continued to develop various
in our
Montgomery County atlas. Working with the Montgomery County
Department of Public Safety and the Montgomery County Board
of Assessment Appeals, we continued to develop and maintain
the county GIS. As part of this effort, a consultant was selected to
perform a strategic management plan for county GIS use, which
will be completed in 2017. During 2016, our staff developed a
variety of GIS products including:
An interactive map of the Fort Washington Office Park to
help prospective businesses find new business development
opportunities
An online map atlas with 37 maps viewed by over 200,000
GIS data requests by 38 municipalities and businesses
Various maps and spatial analysis products for other county
departments including voter services maps and crime maps for
the county detectives
Aerial view of Conshohocken Borough
School District Enrollment Trends
The inner ring suburbs are growing in Montgomery
County. Since 2010, new residential construction and
gains in population are becoming the norm in many of
the mature suburban communities found in the eastern
half of the county. New development has trended toward
redevelopment and infill in existing employment centers
and neighborhoods served by solid infrastructure and
urban amenities, such as public transit, walkability, trails,
and mix of uses. Since 2013, MCPC has been performing
for half of the school
districts in the county, many of which are in the eastern half.
Some of these districts have already experienced surges in
growth and most are expected to continue growing in the
next ten years.
Several factors are driving current growth in the eastern
districts. The millennial generation (age 15
–
34) has started
to move into prime childbearing years, prompting an
increase in birth activity that should continue to rise through
2025. The percentage of school-age children attending
private school has also decreased from the previous
decade. Housing is another factor. After historic lows of
new housing during the recession and post-housing bubble,
the market has recovered in recent years. Multifamily
apartments are the most popular new housing type. Many
are targeted toward high-income, young professionals
or empty nesters and generally bring fewer public school
students. However, as aging baby boomers sell their homes
to younger families, school districts experience growth. At
the same time, we have also seen student counts from older
existing apartments more than double over the last eight
years. This “churning” of households stimulates enrollment
growth. MCPC will continue to analyze population and age
demographics, birth activity, and new construction to assist
school districts.
Demographic Trends and Inventories
In 2016 we published several new inventory and demographic
reports that characterize key development trends, some of which
are highlighted below. All of these reports are contained within the
.
Annual Summary of Subdivision, Land Development, and
Zoning Activity
Housing Units Built
Nonresidential Construction
Median Prices for Housing
Updated Inventories: Shopping Centers, Apartments
and Condominiums, Mobile Homes, and Age-Restricted
Independent Living Developments
2016 National Walk to School Day – Cheltenham Elementary School
