They’re becoming the planners of the future — and if that future was up to them, there’d be more affordable housing options, more sidewalks, and better public transportation.

The Chester County Planning Commission hosted 60 West Chester University students for its Chester County 2020 forum “to gather input on the future of the county from future leaders of the county,” said Transportation Planner Bill Deguffroy.

The event, held last month at WCU’s new College of Business and Public Management Center, taught the students about the accomplishments and challenges of Chester County’s Landscapes and Landscapes2 comprehensive plans, then picked their brains ahead of the latest update, Landscapes3.

“During the open forum section of the meeting, the biggest discussions revolved around affordable housing. The majority of (the WCU students) want to live in single-family homes,” said Transportation Planner Heather Martin.

“The students were engaged and had some interesting ideas on solutions — not just problems — so that was hopeful.”

Read more VISTA Today coverage of Landscapes3 here.