Preservationists have bought one reprieve from the ongoing expansion of developed land in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
"A 1,500-acre piece of land in fast-growing northern Chester County won’t be sprouting 700 new homes," reports Michaelle Bond.
"Natural Lands, formerly Natural Lands Trust, took ownership of the property last week and plans to create a 500-acre nature preserve and limit development on the rest of Bryn Coed Farms to 28 homes," adds Bond. The land had been tbhe source of developer interest over the years—zoning allows for 700 homes to be built on the property.
The conservation effort stems the tide of development since Chester County, the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania, approved its first Landscapes plan two decades ago. Since then, reports Bond, "a land area greater than the size of Philadelphia has been cordoned off to development."
FULL STORY: Deal done to preserve most of coveted 1,500-acre Chesco site
The Forgotten Treasure in Western Land
Will the arid West’s farms and settlements thrive for another century? Better conservation policy should take a longer view.
150 Acres of Undeveloped Land to Become 2,350 Homes Outside Denver
The church that owns a unique parcel of agricultural land in the middle of the Denver metropolitan area is prepared to sell to a developer that plans to build a mixed-use, master planned community.
Celebrating the 'Greenspace Gems' in the Cincinnati Region
An advocacy organization in the Tri-State area (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) is raising awareness about the region's 116,000 acres of preserved greenspace.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition
The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research