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Planning Commission - Basics

The Malvern Planning Commission is a group of seven members appointed by Borough Council for four year staggered terms. They hold two meetings per month, a work session on the first Thursday of each month and a regular meeting on the third Thursday of each month. The public is invited to attend these meetings which will be held at 7:30 p.m. prevailing time at the Malvern Municipal Building, 1 First Ave.

The Malvern Planning Commission makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on all land development and subdivision applications that are submitted to the Borough. The Planning Commission plays an important role in developing the Borough’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, as well as keeping the Subdivision and Land Development Codes up to date and in compliance with Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).

The Planning Commission reviews:

  • Subdivision and land development plans
  • Conditional use applications
  • Lot line changes

Developers follow these steps when submitting a plan to the township:

  • Presentation of proposal and drawings of sketch, preliminary or final plans to Borough staff
  • Review of plans by Planning Commission at regular public meetings
  • Borough Engineer reviews relative to ordnances and determines technical completeness
  • Borough Manager and staff determine code compliance
  • Appeal to Zoning Hearing Board for variances
  • Return to Planning Commission, which makes recommendations to Board of Supervisors
  • Submits final plan to Borough Council for public hearing and seeks approval

Because planning is a continuous process that shapes and guides the physical growth of Malvern Borough in harmony with its social and economic needs, the Planning Commission encourages all residents to attend its meetings to express their views.

Planning Commission - Project Review Procedures

Applicants who desire to bring a Sketch Plan before the Planning Commission may do so on the first Thursday of the month.

Applicants who are seeking recommendations from the Planning Commisison for lot line revisions, waiver requests, subdivision and land development plan approvals, etc., must have already submitted initial plans to the Borough and received a letter from the Borough Engineer prior to attendance at a Planning Commission meeting.

Meetings – Malvern Borough Planning Commission meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.  Agendas are posted on the website.

  • The first Thursday meeting is a Work Session.  At this meeting, plans, waiver requests, lot line revisions, SALDO’s, etc., will be reviewed and motions for recommendations to Borough Council may be formulated, but no recommendations will be adopted and forwarded to Borough Council from this meeting.

 

  • The third Thursday meeting is a Regular Meeting.  Written recommendations for approval, formulated from the Work Session, will be reviewed and adopted by the Commission and a formal recommendation will be forwarded to Borough Council.  Recommendations will only be adopted if plans have been reviewed and approved at a prior meeting.

Documents – Planning Commission requirements for submitting documents (drawings, engineering letters, etc.) for review:

  • All documents must be submitted to the Borough no later than 5:00 p.m. on the preceding Thursday that the project is scheduled to be on the PC Agenda.
  • Nine copies of the material should be submitted to the Borough Manager for distribution to the Planning Commission.  Materials should also be submitted in an electronic format – PDF files preferred – for archival purposes.
  • There is no assurance that materials will be reviewed unless received by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday one week prior to the date of the Planning Commission meeting.

SALDO (Subdivision and Land Development) Projects will be reviewed only if:

  • An engineering review has been conducted by the Borough Engineer and,
  • The engineering review has been documented in a letter that has been received by the Planning Commission no later than the Thursday preceding the date of the meeting.

East King Street Redevelopment

Eli Kahn and David Della Porta presented a conceptual plan to the Malvern Planning Commission at its January 17, 2008 meeting. They have made a similar presentation to Borough Council. Please take note of both Borough Council and Planning Commission Meeting Agenda for future presentations and discussions of this redevelopment opportunity. Clicking on the following links will show illustrations of the plan.

This proposed major project now has a full Page - set on this website. Clicking on this link will take you to the East King Street Redevelopment pages. These pages provide plans, sketches, and zoning ordinance information.

Malvern Revitalization Plan - 2009 Update

A draft report and revisions have been completed by a Task Force and a Public Hearing was held October 6, 2009. The report may be viewed by clicking on the following link:

The Patriots Path - 'Final' Planning Documents

The Patriots Path is a proposed trail network in Malvern Borough and the townships of Tredyffrin and East Whiteland. The Path will be a multi-purpose, non-motorized trail network local park and open space sites that have special American Revolutionary War signifance. April, 2010 'final' planning documents are linked below and may be accessed by clicking on individual links:

Chester County Comprehensive Plan -" Landscapes2"

Clicking on the underlined link will take you directly to the Chester County Planning Commission's website displaying information on Landscapes2.