Charles Guttenplan, M.S. Adjunct Assistant Professor
Community and Regional Planning
Charles Guttenplan joined the Community and Regional Planning
faculty with an extensive, and diverse, background in
land planning consulting for public and private sector
clients, regarding general land use issues, zoning and
other land use controls, legal aspects of planning,
subdivision and land development planning and
regulation, comprehensive planning, open space and
recreation planning, urban design, planning
administration and management.
He has been Director of Planning Services/Corporate Vice
President for Waetzman Planning Group, Inc., in Bryn
Mawr, since 1989, providing consulting services to
municipal governments and private sector clients, for
services including comprehensive plans, zoning and
other land use regulations, recreation plans,
development review, expert testimony, and general
planning services.
Current and previous clients include Hilltown Township, Bucks
County — preparation of complete update to the
Township’s comprehensive plan and open space plan —
and Marlborough, Middle Paxton, Narberth, Thornbury,
Tredyffrin, Upper Mount Bethel, and Upper Providence
townships. He was also the lead consultant on the
Liberty Bell Trail, working with 16 municipalities in
two counties (Bucks and Montgomery) to determine the
feasibility of establishing a recreational trail
within or nearby the right-of-way from the former
Liberty Bell Trolley.
He has represented and given expert testimony for a wide
variety of clients, including the Devereux Foundation,
the Goddard School, LFT Realty Group, Lower Bucks
Cablevision, Realen Properties, Inc., and the
Wilmington Savings Fund Society.
Prior to joining the Waetzman Planning Group, Mr. Guttenplan
was Director of Planning from Lower Merion Township
from 1987 to 1989. He was Associate Director of the
Montgomery County Planning Commission from 1984 to
1987 — he was initially hired by the Planning
Commission in 1973 as a Community Planner — providing
technical assistance to municipalities under contract
for preparation of comprehensive plans, zoning
ordinances, subdivision/land development ordinances;
conduct of topical studies; review of
subdivisions/land developments/zoning amendments; and
development of grant applications. He authored several
comprehensive plans, numerous zoning amendments,
subdivision/land development ordinance and various
amendments, neighborhood preservation/improvement
studies and other specialized planning reports.
Mr. Guttenplan received a Master of Urban and Regional
Planning from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.S.
in Housing from Pennsylvania State University.
Fellowships have included: U. S. Dept. of Housing and
Urban Development, Urban Studies Fellowship, September
1971 to August 1972, and the GSPIA Fellowship,
September 1972 to December 1972. He also participated
in the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania,
Community Leadership Seminars from September 1982 to
June 1983.
Mr. Guttenplan is a licensed professional planner in the
State of New Jersey. He is Chairman of the North Wales
Borough Planning Commission; Chairman of the North
Wales Borough Historical Architectural Review Board; a
member of the North Wales Borough Open Space,
Comprehensive Plan, and Zoning Committees; and a
member of the Schuylkill Canal Association. He is
additionally a member of the American Institute of
Certified Planners, the American Planning Association,
and the Pennsylvania Planning Association where he was
chairman from 1989 to 1991.
Mr. Guttenplan’s professional publications and
lecturing/teaching activities include:
Panelist on “Land Use” panel at Pennsylvania
Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Annual
Convention (1993).
Authored article, “Townships Responsible for
Preserving Natural Resources” in PA Township News
(November 1993).
Course Instructor for Local Officials Workshops at
Albright College (Reading, PA) for Local Government
Institute; General Planning (1995) and Cluster
Development/Zoning (1996).
International Council of Shopping Centers,
Philadelphia Region; Roundtable Discussion leader
for topic of “Zoning.”
International Council of Shopping Centers, Alliance
Program (Philadelphia Region), Panelist on
“Public/Private Partnerships” (1999).
Presenter at Brandywine Conservancy, Environmental
Management Center, Subscribers’ Meeting re: Cluster
Zoning (specifically, Upper Providence Township,
Montgomery County, PA, “Open Space Residential
Community District” (1997).
Certified as Instructor for Pennsylvania Municipal
Planning Education Institute for “Course in
Community Planning” (1998).
Certified as Instructor for Pennsylvania Municipal
Planning Education Institute for “Basic Course for
Zoning Officials” (2000).
Instructor for Tri-State Association of Commercial
and Industrial Realtors in association with
Villanova University, for continuing education
program on “Sound Land Use” presented in March and
May, 2000.
Presenter/panelist at various Pennsylvania Planning
Association Annual Conferences.
Authored and served as project manager for numerous
municipal planning documents. The following is a
representative list:
Comprehensive Plan Update for Hilltown Township,
Bucks County, PA, October 2003
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, Borough
of Narberth, Montgomery County PA, October 2003
Community Revitalization Plan for North Wales
Borough, Montgomery County, PA, April 2003
Community Revitalization Plan for the Borough of
Narberth, Montgomery County, PA, September 2000
Comprehensive Plan Update and Recreation Plan for
Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, PA, August
1998
Parks, Open Space and Recreation Plan for the
Borough of Narberth, Montgomery County, PA, January
1996
Open Space and Environmental Resource Protection
Plan for Upper Providence Township, Montgomery
County, PA, December 1995
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance for Upper
Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, PA,
January 1995
Zoning Ordinance Upper Mount Bethel Township,
Northampton County, PA, December 1994
Comprehensive
Plan Update Upper Providence Township, Montgomery
County, PA, August 1994
Comprehensive Plan for Upper Mount Bethel Township,
Northampton County, PA, May 1994
Open Space and Recreation Plan for Upper Providence
Township, Montgomery County, PA, June 1993
