Annual Report 2016
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Engagement was the foundation of the Montgomery County
comprehensive plan, Montco 2040: A Shared Vision,
which was adopted in 2015. We used an extensive public
engagement process to build momentum behind shared goals
with over 2,500 comments from the public through meetings,
the internet, social media campaigns, and a survey.
In 2016, we continued this process by meeting with each of the
62 municipalities in the county to discuss the goals in the plan
and to hear about important local planning issues. From the
feedback we received, our staff developed insight about how to
implement projects that advance the goals of the Montco 2040
plan. As a result, we are proud of the planning initiatives we
advanced in 2016:
Created the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program,
which awards grants to help municipalities launch projects
related to better stormwater management, walkability
improvements, and reinvestment in our employment centers
Completed the Walk Montco plan and launched Bike
Montco, a new countywide bicycle mobility plan
Facilitated the formation of the Wissahickon Clean Water
Partnership, which involves 13 municipalities and 3 waste
water treatment plants coming together to devise a
plan for improving water quality in the Wissahickon
Creek Watershed
Released the guidebook, Rethinking Institutional Properties:
Embracing Our Past and Investing in Our Future, which
discusses strategies to proactively promote the adaptive
reuse of institutional properties (with over 2,100 buildings
on 13,000 acres of institutional properties, our planners
developed strategies to help property owners and
developers realize hidden potential)
Advanced the comprehensive plan process in
6 municipalities
Getting the word out about these projects and more is part of
our success. Our outreach efforts throughout the year involved
various types of social media, face-to-face meetings around the
county, and our Planning Smarter Program. We have a growing
number of friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter and
Flickr. We used various online surveying techniques including a
map-based survey tool that enables responders to show us the
location of specific planning issues.
This past year, our planning commission staff spent many
evenings and weekends at various community events around
the county to get local perspectives. This was achieved by
asking the public to provide input by placing adhesive dots and
Post-it Notes on displays; using vision wall maps; and fostering
good, old-fashioned discussions. Through these appearances,
our planners were able to reach a broad segment of the
communities that we provide services for through our community
planning assistance contract program (34 of 62 municipalities
were under contract in 2016). Not only were they able to get
lots of good feedback from the public, but they were also able
to help inform local residents about current planning projects.
Our planners managed productive community workshops,
walking tours, and charrettes over the past year.
The Planning Smarter Program, which includes various types
of educational events throughout the year, keeps growing
in popularity. Through each of these events, we are able to
showcase new research and model ordinances to bring local
expertise to some of the most challenging planning issues that
our municipalities face. In 2017, you will continue to hear about
planning through our existing online media outlets, attendance
at community events, and more as we start to produce
informative videos and further expand our digital presence.
Public contact and engagement is fundamental to good
planning. Let’s stay engaged in 2017!
Steven Kline, Chair
Jody Holton, AICP
MCPC Board
MCPC Executive Director
