planning: PMPEI Planning Course Descriptions

Montgomery County, PA

P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Courthouse Hours: 8:30a.m. to 4:15p.m.
Phone: 610-278-3000
Website: www.montcopa.org

Planning Courses
The Montgomery County Planning Commission sponsors three municipal education courses at various locations throughout the year.  Each course consists of three evening sessions.  For additional information, contact Rita M. McKelvey at 610.278.3753.    
 

The Course in Community Planning

This course covers the fundamental information that municipal officials and planning commission members need to carry out their responsibilities and do an effective job.  It addresses the role of planning in local government and how planning commissions relate to the governing body, zoning hearing board, and zoning officer.  Specific topics include basic knowledge of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), comprehensive planning, plan implementation including zoning, subdivision, and land development regulation, official mapping, and how effective planning commissions approach their responsibilities.  The course is designed for both new and experienced participants.  
 
The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review
The Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review focuses on the work of planning commissions in the subdivision and land development review process, from preapplication meetings through project completion.  It is designed for both new and experienced planning commission members and is also useful to other municipal officials, individuals in the development sector, and engineers and surveyors.  The course is organized into three major sections: 1) the principles of subdivision and land development regulation and ordinance requirements, 2) subdivision and land development review procedures, and 3) design and technical standards of subdivision development.  Participants get hands-on experience reviewing plans and designing alternative solutions.  Topics in the course include the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) requirements governing subdivision and land development regulation, the importance of subdivision regulations to municipalities and to developers, procedures for reviewing applications, design considerations, requirements for approving and denying plans, project completion and follow-up, and new approaches to project design.  
 
The Course in Zoning

This “nuts and bolts” course for municipal planners, elected officials, and their staff deals with what is probably the most fascinating, complex, and provocative topic in local planning.  It traces the evolution of zoning in the early twentieth century to the way zoning is practiced in Pennsylvania today.  The Course in Zoning stresses the fundamentals of developing a sound zoning ordinance using the authority of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).  Course topics include the relationship of zoning to comprehensive plans, understanding zoning terms, key issues in drafting a zoning ordinance and map, adoption and amendment, zoning ordinance administration, MPC options for joint municipal zoning, planned residential development, and traditional neighborhood development.  The course includes mapping exercises, reviews of ordinance provisions, discussion of problem situations, and ethical issues.