The Exton Town Center is the central part of the township around the crossroads of Lincoln Highway and Pottstown Pike (PA Route 100).  It includes several major shopping centers as well as the Exton Crossing residential community.  It is our intent to encourage development at this location that will contribute to a distinct “sense of place” that separates it from the surrounding areas.  As one drives through the area today, you may note that there are sidewalks (including driveway crossings that use decorative brick pavers), street trees, benches, bicycle racks, and distinctive light fixtures in many areas of the Town Center.  Rather than spend public dollars to implement these design changes, they have been incorporated into our development regulations such that builders are required to provide them as they develop or re-develop properties within the district.  While this is a more gradual and time-consuming process, it saves public dollars while assuring that new development is designed to accommodate these features from the start.  The Township Zoning Ordinance includes a special “Town Center” zoning district in this area that accommodates a variety of commercial, residential, institutional, and office-type uses while simultaneously eliminating some conventional zoning provisions in exchange for a higher quality of design intended to make this a unique place in the region.  While the effect of the Town Center regulations is readily apparent, the process is not nearly complete.  The Town Center will continue to take shape for years to come.