Zoning Board of Adjustment Legislation

5/18/2010

Ballot question on ZBA passes

Philadelphia residents voted to amend the Home Rule Charter to designate the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and replace any absent or disqualified appointed member of that Board. As published in The Inquirer with 90% reporting: 86,022 yes votes ; 41,149 no votes.

5/12/2010

May 18 Ballot Question on ZBA

Ballot Text: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to designate the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, who may replace any absent or disqualified appointed member of that Board?

The following “plain English statement” was posted on the Committee of Seventy website and prepared by the Philadelphia Law Department: The Zoning Board of Adjustment hears and decides appeals in zoning cases, including variance requests. It is a six member Board, with five members appointed by the Mayor. The Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections is the sixth member. A majority of the Board – four members – must be present to decide an appeal.

The proposed Charter change reduces the size of the Zoning Board from six members to five. As a result, only three members would need to be present to decide an appeal. The Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections would no longer be a member. Instead, the Commissioner would be an alternate member who could serve in place of any absent member.

2/25/2010

Council approves changes to ZBA

Bill 090591 was approved by City Council with a 14-0 vote. The bill amends the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter by designating the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections as an alternate member of the Board who may replace any absent or disqualified appointed member; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot questions to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. View Bill 090591

11/23/2009

ZBA quorum legislation on hold but postponed hearings remain a problem

Proposed legislation that would change the composition of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and revise certain procedures, including the number of board members needed for a quorum is on hold, but postponed hearings at the ZBA continue to cause delays. Read Philadelphia Inquirer article “Nutter tiring of ZBA’s woes” by Jeff Shields.

10/29/2009

No vote on legislation to revise ZBA

Councilman Clarke did not call Bill 090591 up for a vote today, in order to see if the ZCC makes recommendations to City Council on the legislation by the deadline for a charter change, sometime after the new year.

10/20/2009

BIA testifies to support ZBA legislation, but wants more reforms; PCPC approves Bill 090588

Sam Sherman, president of the Building Industry Association, testified in support of Bill 090591 at a public hearing of the Committee on Law and Government on October 20, while at the PCPC monthly meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to support companion bill 090588. Click here to view BIA testimony.

10/12/2009

Public hearing October 20

The Committee on Law and Government will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 1:00 PM in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on Bill 090591, which would amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter by designating the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections as an alternate member of the Board who may replace any absent or disqualified appointed member; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot questions to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.

9/17/2009

Bills to revise ZBA introduced

Councilmembers Clarke, O’Neill, and Kelly sponsored a bill that would amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to change the composition of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and revise certain procedures. View Bill 090591 and 090588.

Clarke proposes changes to zoning board by Jeff Shields, Inquirer staff writer