Housing & Community Development Committee Meeting | July 20, 2026

The City of Chester, PA Housing & Community Development Committee met on July 20, 2026, to discuss proposed zoning amendments aimed at supporting housing development and flexibility within mixed-use districts (C1R and C2R). Planning Director Paul Fritz presented several key amendments including eliminating restrictive residential density requirements, adjusting maximum building heights to better fit neighborhood character, and reducing mandatory commercial frontage on the first floor in certain downtown areas to allow more multifamily housing. A significant focus was on simplifying residential parking requirements to one off-street parking space per dwelling unit to reduce development barriers. The committee discussed the procedural steps involving county review under Act 247, public hearings, and council readings before final adoption. The committee voted to move forward with the proposed amendments, emphasizing the goal of easing housing development constraints while maintaining community character and addressing parking challenges. Further zoning amendments related to group homes and lodging definitions were also mentioned as upcoming topics.