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Vision 2050

We hope you will participate as we work to create a vision for what Montgomery County should be like in 2050. Share your ideas and help guide our county into the future.

What do you want the county to be like in 2050? Tell us your hopes and dreams for the future.

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Dream for 2050

Dream for 2050

Phase 2: Vision Elements

Vision Elements

Phase 3: Montco 2050 Draft Vision Statement

Montco 2050 Draft Vision Statement

Phase 4: Vision for the Future

Vision for the Future

Phase 5: Thank you!

Thank you!

Dream for 2050

March 15, 2024 4:00 AM - December 5, 2024 5:00 AM

Dream big! Tell us what you want Montgomery County PA to be like in 2050. Describe your ideal Montgomery County - what does the housing look like? Transportation? Stores? Jobs? Parks? Trails? Tell us what you want Montgomery County to be like in the future.

26 ideas

Erin Murphy2 years ago In 2050, I’d like to see that Montco has responded to population growth, building development, and environmental challenges by taking advantage of two of the easiest and least expensive literature-based means of improving health, beauty and quality of life: tees and meadows. First, lots of trees. Trees shading the neighborhoods of Norristown. Trees lining busy roads, turning some into tree-divided boulevards. Large trees in parks, open space and riparian areas. Trees that provide wildlife habitats. Trees that mediate heat and flooding. Trees that improve air quality. Trees that enhance childhood learning and everyone’s quality of life. Trees that makes areas more inviting and walkable. Trees that makes homes cooler in summer. Second, meadows. Large meadows in open spaces and—even more important in our crowded landscape—smaller meadows everywhere. Incentivize setting aside turf areas for active recreation and play, while turning unused areas of mowed grass in public parks and private yards into meadows. Improve water retention, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and natural beauty. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from lawn equipment and chemicals entering the watershed.

Crystal Gilchrist2 years ago Advances in transportation have led economic and cultural advances throughout history. We are on the cusp of another great transportation transition. Currently, old is becoming new again as communities reach back to better understand how we can get around without the big, noisy, smelly vehicles. Pedestrian access, biking routes, electric recharging stations, clustering communities around amenities that can be accessed without traveling far. All these things relate to how we construct our towns and transportation systems. Bike paths should connect to transit stations and downtowns without having to intermingle with cars. That is the only way most people will consider biking on a regular basis. Every town and village should have sidewalks and pedestrian paths connecting residents to goods and services. Where main roads traverse village centers, alternative mini-bypasses should be considered so that village centers can be more tranquil and inviting. TMAs are useless; better to spend money on park & ride locations near major highways or provide transit incentives. Establish a category of roadway that allows narrow country lanes or village streets to retain their historic character with upgrades that reduce speeds and improve safety.

Brittney Anderson2 years ago I would like to see the county focus more on renovating existing structures or replacing them prior to developing land that could otherwise be left undeveloped. I think we should work with what we have prior to expanding. Additionally, MontCo has a lot of expensive homes and it would be nice to see some plans to support middle class families who have grown up here and would like to continue living here with families of their own (such is the case with myself). As a lifetime resident of MontCo I would be proud to continue to call it my home, but fear that I may be pushed out due to increase in costs and developments built to cater to wealthier individuals.

Christopher Mackay2 years ago Allow twice the units on every plot of land and ban lot minimums. It's a highly desirable area of the country and we don't want to prevent young families from moving here just because of cost and lack of housing. The potential train to Pottstown shouldn't be wasted by sprawl. The trail system is absolutely fantastic and under utilized as a transportation option because of the lack of density along it. We can also preserve more open space if the built areas are denser!

Mardi Ditze2 years ago

Jon Bergstresser2 years ago Dedicated trails that are inter connected for bikes (etc) would change Montgomery county. I live in Ambler, yet cannot ride a bike (safely) to MCCC, or any local park (Fort Washington State park comes to mind)this one transit improvement, safe dedicated, bike trails would completely change the quality of out county. I should be able to take my grandson on a bike ride without risk. Thanks!ps these facilities need to be in place to see the benefit. Hoping citizens will risk riding in traffic to show the need, will not happen, a comprehensive network needs to be designed, and possibly right of way laws used to create it.

Mark Cassel2 years ago Seriously consider consolidating governments or at least more government services for fiscal efficiency. Do we really need adjacent boroughs/townships to have different governmental bodies and administrations, different policing, and different services in this day and age? We have multi-municipal school districts, so why not joint planning and/or service delivery. This could also improve the professional resources available to smaller communities.

Joanne Mahoney2 years ago Doylestown needs to strive as home for all, those that can afford “luxury” housing but also need include in plans affordable housing . in every multi-family unit there must be in inclusion of affordable units . housing plans must also include senior housing units. There can not be a Devo’s over 55 homes without a less affordable units we are pricing out those that should live and be part of the community.

Crystal Gilchrist2 years ago Western Montgomery County is a wonderland of natural spaces, some preserved, but many still in private ownership and available for development. Allowing suburban type sprawl in western MontCo would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. The natural areas of the Perkiomen Creek watershed are critical for mitigating severe storms and heavy rains. Numerous critical habitat areas still exist but are jeopardized by nearby urbanization (see the MontCo Natural Areas Inventory - most of the critical habitat areas are in the Perk Valley.) The beautiful countryside of the Perk Valley could support a growing tourism business through more biking/hiking trails, and more support for the existing villages to develop intown businesses that support tourism. Agriculture is also important throughout the Perk Valley; more support to preserve farms would help maintain local food sources and provide farmers with funds needed to maintain and expand their operations.MontCo sits on an incredible wealth of open spaces. It will only become more valuable as the climate continues to change with local weather becoming more unpredictable. Save Open Space, Plant More Trees, help communities direct development to where the infrastructure is already in place. Make the developed areas more amenable to pedestrians. bicyclists, and transit. The man who plants trees whose shade he will never enjoy, is a true believer in the future.

Jon Bergstresser2 years ago

James Gulezian2 years ago We need to develop the cultural infrastructure of Norristown. It is imperative that this infrastructure represent all races, nationalities, and ethnic groups living in the county. There should greater provision of enrichment in all areas of the arts, e.g., music, dance, fine art, etc., for disadvantaged people. There are too many road quality issues and areas in desperate need of a facelift within Norristown to meet the requirements of a bona fide county seat. This includes development of the areas along the Schuylkill river. Norristown would be a great venue for jazz artists and entertainment. It deserves to stand alone with its own special identity and brand.

Stephen Heverin2 years ago With the loss of local newspapers in our township there has been a loss of knowledge and engagement in our community on what is happening. We should find a way to provide local news and information again in our community. Without this, people have become insulated from what is going on in our township and instead of being fed by misinformation on social media. Social media forums themselves even when community based are isolated and not good reliable sources of news. This is something that is lacking and would help to bring more a sense of community together.

Michael H2 years ago

Jon Bergstresser2 years ago

unknown author2 years ago I want the Montco I live in in 2050 to be one in which our inner-ring suburbs and our train-station communities provide all types of homes in all parts of town for people of all means, backgrounds, and abilities -- served by an accessible, gridded transportation network of wide sidewalks, quality trails, protected bike lanes, and calm streets as well as a rapid, frequent, comfortable transit service (arriving every 10-15 minutes throughout the day) -- all of which connects residents to active, high-quality community spaces, amenities, and services (including parks, libraries, coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, plazas, stores, doctors, dentists, and more) -- while our farther-flung exurban and rural areas are able to protect existing natural resources, woodlands, and other environmentally sensitive areas from damaging sprawl. That's the vision, anyway.

Kyle Doll2 years ago We need to make compounded efforts to promote bikes as viable alternatives to driving. This requires a variety of approaches starting with safe, convenient, and comfortable cycling routes. These should be road separated and sufficiently wide avoiding steep grades where possible. Another factor to combat these unavoidable steep grades is e-bikes. They can be promoted by including public chargers at workplaces, grocery stores, and the like as well as more opportunities for subsidies to some degree (e-bikes deserve them as much as or more than EVs). Additionally, (electric) cargo bikes must be promoted as they are crucial to replacing car-trips. Many people would be shocked at how well their drive to the store could be done with an electric cargo bike and proper paths. There are other factors to making bikes truly replace cars (density, multi-use, etc.), but these are the most obtainable and specific to bikes in my eyes.

Mardi Ditze2 years ago There are many areas in Mont. Co. that are destinations; parks, trails, theatres, restaurants but getting there requires a car. Not everyone can afford a car or the prices of the destinations. By 2050, I'd like to see more destinations such as a more competitive restauant scene, more cafes, more retail, more cultural venues, etc. that are accessible by walking or have more options to get there like more public transportation options, bike/ car share, sidewalks, and connect trails system.

Michel Florijn2 years ago

Charles Whitney2 years ago

Athen Schaper2 years ago

Kyle Doll2 years ago As the title suggests, I would love for a world where cars aren't the only form of regular transportation. While it would be no easy feet, I would love to see the reintroduction of streetcars/trolleys/light-rail. Of course, this would have to start with just better bus service or BRTs, but eventually with enough effort people may be able to see the true potential of car independence.Attached is a map of the former Montco trolley system. I can only imagine the joy and convenience of using it.

Emma M2 years ago

Matthew Edmond2 years ago

Pearl Flamberg2 years ago

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