A Fresh Look at Sustainable Community Growth through Smarter Parking Policies
MALVERN, PA – November 20, 2024 – The Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) is set to host its Parking Reform Summit at Penn State Great Valley’s Musser Auditorium, addressing a key challenge in urban planning—rethinking parking minimums to support more sustainable, vibrant communities. This half-day event brings together community advocates, professionals, and policy leaders to explore innovative parking strategies that drive economic growth, reduce environmental impact, and enhance community livability.
Open to all, the Summit offers two attendance options: Full Summit Registration ($155) or Breakfast Keynote only ($50). Registration is available at TMACC Summit Registration.
“Reforming parking minimums isn’t about taking away spaces; it’s about creating new opportunities for affordable housing, green spaces, and thriving local businesses,” explains Tim Phelps, TMACC Executive Director and Summit organizer. “This Summit is a forum for real solutions that our communities can adopt to better support residents and businesses alike. Attendees will leave with practical insights and tools to bring sustainable change back to their communities.”
Keynote Speaker: Edward Erfurt of Strong Towns
The day kicks off with a keynote by Edward Erfurt, Director of Community Action at Strong Towns, a leading advocate for community-centered growth. Edward Erfurt is the Director of Community Action at Strong Towns. He is a trained architect and passionate urban designer with over 20 years of public- and private-sector experience focused on the management, design, and successful implementation of development and placemaking projects that enrich the tapestry of place. He believes in community-focused processes that are founded on diverse viewpoints, a concern for equity, and guided through time-tested, traditional town-planning principles and development patterns that result in sustainable growth with the community character embraced by the communities which he serves.
Agenda Themes and Key Sessions
The Summit will offer six in-depth sessions led by industry experts, exploring how smarter parking policies can transform community growth. Each session is designed to provide actionable insights, whether attendees are urban planners, municipal leaders, developers, or engaged community members.
- Unlocking Economic Potential: How Reducing Parking Minimums Can Drive Growth, Affordability, and Vibrant Communities
- Revitalizing Communities through Parking Zoning Reform: Building Consensus for Smarter Growth
- Beyond Pavement: How TDM Strategies Drive Economic Growth, Reduce Parking Demand, and Foster Livable Communities
- From Asphalt to Innovation: How SMART Parking Technology is Reshaping Communities and Economic Growth
- Parking Reform as a Catalyst for Walkable, Transit-Oriented Communities Across Urban and Suburban Landscapes
- Finding Common Ground: Balancing Developer Goals with Community Needs in Parking Reform
An Invitation for Action and Collaboration
The Parking Reform Summit offers an ideal platform for stakeholders across various fields, from real estate and municipal planning to environmental policy and commercial development. “The Parking Reform Summit is a timely and essential forum for rethinking how municipalities determine appropriate parking for development” says Kristin Camp, land use and municipal law attorney at Buckley Brion McGuire & Morris LLP and TMACC Board member.
TMACC’s focus on real-world applications, coupled with its expertise in regional infrastructure initiatives, ensures that attendees will leave with strategies to advance sustainable and practical solutions.
“As legal professionals who guide municipalities and developers alike, we have a unique opportunity to influence innovative and smarter land use policies that prioritize people and sustainable development over excessive parking requirements. I’m excited to be participating in one of the panel discussions and encourage fellow attorneys who practice in land use/real estate to attend and engage with us in creating healthier, more efficient spaces that better serve our communities.
Supporting TMACC’s Mission
As TMACC’s largest annual fundraiser, this Summit plays a vital role in supporting the organization’s transportation initiatives, including multimodal transit projects and public policy work that impacts Chester County’s growth and accessibility. Each sponsorship and registration helps TMACC continue its mission to create more equitable, sustainable transportation solutions for Chester County residents.
Connecting Professionals and Community Advocates
Beyond learning, the Summit provides networking opportunities for professionals from diverse fields—law, land use, commercial real estate, and urban planning. Participants will engage in dialogue with experts, expand their networks, and gain fresh perspectives on sustainable community development.
For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.
Media Contact:
P. Timothy Phelps, Executive Director tphelps@tmacc.org
