City officials told council the 2027 Minimum Municipal Obligation will require roughly $13.7 million in pension contributions — about 22% of the projected city budget — after an Act 205 requirement adds $4.2 million to the calculation.

Mayor highlights collaboration to combat illegal dumping in Chester neighborhoods.

Delaware County officials discuss Crozier Hospital's closure linked to inadequate funding from Prospect.

Local leaders commend Chester Biddy Basketball and Keystone Wellness Center's community programs.

Tenants face prolonged uncertainty as lenders delay decisions on distressed property ownership.

Council members discuss accountability for inadequate living standards in city housing developments.

Chester City Council finalizes ordinance for regulated vehicle towing amid community celebrations.

Council approves honorary street sign and construction plans for Fourth And Booth Distribution Center.

The Zoning Hearing Board granted Widener University’s request to convert the former Best Western at Providence Avenue into student housing (Providence Hall), agreeing the use closely resembles a hotel and that parking demand can be met by nearby lots. The mayor voiced support for stronger city–university ties.

At a June 10 Planning Commission meeting, the planning director proposed a focused package of zoning amendments aimed at reducing barriers to housing — including removing a ground-floor commercial mandate in corridor zones, rescinding an 800-foot interstate restriction, lowering density controls and simplifying parking to one space per unit — and said the package will be refined before council consideration.

At a deliberative session following the committee meeting, City of Chester staff reviewed a set of resolutions including a handicap parking request for 501 E. 22nd (R105), authorization to run promotional tests for corporal detective vacancies (R106), a Chester Water Authority road-opening permit (R107), a PennDOT-backed Norris Street trail project and authorization to extend construction management for the Public Works building; staff also described hiring 10 firefighter cadets.

Staff reported progress on transit coordination with SEPTA, a county microtransit study, the 291 roadway redesign, a Chester Creek Connector Trail design award and a market‑feasibility grant pursuit for downtown mixed‑use redevelopment.

The commission recommended conditional approval of DelCor's replacement of WRTP Building 2 at 3201 West Front Street, subject to resolving stormwater/infiltration testing, landscaping requirements and fire‑safety coordination, and approved a waiver to permit combined preliminary/final review.

The Chester City Planning Commission voted Sept. 9 to recommend conditional approval of the Chester Upland School District's proposed athletic complex at 1100 West 10th Street, forwarding the plan to city council subject to engineering, fire-marshal and Shade Tree Commission comments.

After extended testimony about prior permits, parking and a disputed 60-day procedural claim, the board approved a variance for a bed-and-breakfast at 1200 Curlin/Kerwin Street with a condition requiring a convex mirror to improve sight lines for reversing vehicles.

At the Aug. 26 Chester City Council meeting, Mayor introduced newly elected Delaware County Sheriff Sadiq Kumar, who outlined plans for community outreach, said his office hired about 15 new deputies and announced a fraud-prevention unit targeting scams that affect seniors.

Council heard that an original Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program award of $9,500,000 supported the WISFS Sportsplex and that staff is proposing additional RACP funding (noted in the transcript as '3.5') to address cost overruns; no vote was recorded in the deliberative session.

County planners outlined a federally funded "quick-build" Safe Streets for Schools project at Crosby & 13th near Edgemont Scholars Academy that would add stop bars, crosswalks, painted curb extensions and flexible bollards; staff said student-chosen art and a six-month evaluation are part of the grant strategy.

On Aug. 26 the Chester City Council approved a package of routine resolutions including a handicap parking zone, police promotional testing, road permits for Chester Water Authority, a parcel transfer to the redevelopment authority, inspection services for North Street, an amendment for Philadelphia Union Sportsplex assistance, a 12-month extension for EJM Advisory ($12,000), MG Engineering services for a 9th Street school-zone study ($11,800), a $75,000 change order extending construction management and authorization of multiple fire cadets.

During repairs to the Sun Village Park Pavilion staff found asbestos in the roof; chief said removal would cost about $48,000 and recommended removal overseen by certified professionals, funded with ARPA and the contract contingency plus an additional change‑order amount.

Planning staff presented a Delcor application to upgrade the western regional wastewater treatment plant with an ultraviolet disinfection system and sodium hypochlorite storage/feeding building; planning recommended conditional approval subject to fire‑marshal and engineering comments and a suggested site tour for emergency responders.

Resolution 98 would authorize an RFI/RFP to find certified lead inspectors, risk assessors and abatement contractors for a lead hazard reduction program funded in part by EPA, the William Penn Foundation and HUD; staff said program guidelines are being developed and the grants span multiple years.

Paul Fritz, the city planning and zoning director, presented a suite of small zoning amendments intended to reduce barriers to multifamily housing; the committee voted to recommend the package for county review and a public hearing.

The planning department proposed a citywide minimum of one off-street parking space per dwelling unit and allowing appropriately sized on-street spaces adjacent to a lot to count toward that requirement; the CBD would continue to require no off-street parking.

On July 8, the City of Chester unanimously passed an ethics ordinance on final reading and approved multiple resolutions covering police‑headquarters engineering, grants, equipment sales, change orders, ethics‑board appointments, and reinstating the Chester Parking Authority.