Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is an advisory body to the Township’s Board of Supervisors. Primary responsibilities of the Commission include review and comment on land development plans and other land use related plans, making recommendations on those plans to the Board of Supervisors, or to the Zoning Hearing Board in certain circumstances. The Planning Commission also reviews the land use regulations of the subdivision and land development Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plans, and makes recommendations for revisions and updates to those planning documents.

Current Agenda / Past Minutes

The Township's Comprehensive Plan (2022)

East Bran20221006 2022 Comprehensive Plandywine Township has a long history of progressive land use planning and open space preservation. It is also one of the most rapidly growing townships in Chester County. After steadily growing between 1980 and 2000, population spiked by 44% between 2010 and 2020. Even as land was being developed for housing, the township was focusing on open space preservation: an agricultural security area was created in 1991 and Township residents overwhelmingly approved an increase in the earned income tax to support open space acquisition in 2002. This program has preserved a total of 1,776 acres in perpetuity. The combined consequence of land preservation efforts and the tremendous growth is that the Township is essentially built out.

The Township’s 2009 Comprehensive Plan focused on the preservation of open space, the enhancement of Guthriesville Village, the inherent character of the community, and maintaining a high quality of life through community services. This Comprehensive Plan update is intended to carry forth and build upon that vision.

From a legal standpoint, the Comprehensive Plan is enabled and regulated by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (PA MPC), which specifies that a plan should be reviewed at least once every ten years. While the plan is adopted by the Board of Supervisors, it is not a regulatory document like a Zoning Map or Zoning Ordinance, but is intended to guide the policies and practices of the Township over the next 10 years

pdf-icon The 2022 Comprehensive Plan

The Township’s Official Map (2023)2023 Official Map

An official map is a community planning tool that identifies specific parcels or portions of private property within a municipality where public rights-of-ways, public easements, or public open spaces are envisioned.

pdf-icon The 2023 Official Map

Act 537 Sewer Facilities Plan (2023)

537 PlanDomestic sewage is treated and disposed of by various methods, ranging from large municipally-owned sewage treatment plants to community or individual on lot disposal systems (OLDS), also called “septic systems.” Malfunctioning sewage disposal systems, regardless of type, pose a serious threat to public health and the environment. They can pollute public and private drinking water sources, often by discharging directly to the groundwater, and they can expose people to various bacteria, viruses and parasites.

The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) was enacted to address existing sewage disposal problems and prevent future problems. To meet these objectives, the act requires proper planning of all types of sewage facilities, permitting of individual and community OLDS, as well as uniform standards for designing OLDS.

pdf-icon 537 Plan, Volume 1

pdf-icon 537 Plan, Volume 2

Landscapes3: County Comprehensive Plan (2018)


Landscapes 3 Cover PageLandscapes3 is Chester County's comprehensive plan. It establishes growth management and preservation strategies to guide municipalities, developers, preservationists, and others in making decisions that promote sustainable practices and ensure that future residents have access to the same benefits that we currently enjoy.

The Chester County Board of Commissioners adopted the Chester County Comprehensive Plan, Landscapes3, on November 29, 2018.