Councilmembers Share Concerns with ZCC at Briefing
City Council Briefing
This afternoon, Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger and Zoning Code Commission Executive Director Eva Gladstein briefed Council as a whole on the draft Zoning Code for the fourth time. Councilmembers asked about the Zoning Code’s treatment of mother-in-law suites, conversions of single family to multi-family homes, the extent of community input and other important topics.
Councilman DiCicco started off the session by reminding members why zoning reform is needed – to create predictable rules up front, to limit the need for variances that currently must be obtained in 40% of cases, and to attract investment from outside of Philadelphia. Deputy Mayor Greenberger acknowledged that the draft Code isn’t perfect but it is the product of four years of hard work and it strikes a balance between different positions. He thanked Councilman Green and Reynolds Brown for providing feedback and comments in written form before the September 14th hearing and said that the ZCC will make all changes to the Code within a single timeframe after the hearing is complete.
Councilwoman Tasco asked whether single family homes could be converted into two family homes under the draft Code. Eva Gladstein answered no. All existing single family districts will remain single family under the new Code. Councilwoman Tasco also sought to understand whether there will be any limitations placed on the community’s access to information about development or their right to voice their opinions when the new Code is adopted. Greenberger assured her that there is no change to access or input. Anyone with an interest can still speak at the ZBA. The new rules however require that developers provide Registered Community Organizations with additional early notice.
A broad discussion then took place around features of the Code designed to allow residents to age in place such as transit oriented development, adult day care and mother-in-law suites. Several Councilmembers and staff voiced their concerns about the lack of enforcement to ensure that mother-in-law suites do not become apartments occupied by non-families.
Click here to view the ZCC presentation to City Council.
Also See
- 04/17/2012 City prepares for implementation of new zoning code
- 03/12/2012 Provide comments on draft documents by March 30
- 02/03/2012 Take the ZCC Signage Survey
- 12/15/2011 City Council gives Philadelphia a new zoning code
- 12/07/2011 Committee sends zoning code bills to Council for final vote
- 11/17/2011 Bill to replace current zoning code is introduced into Council
- 11/15/2011 PCPC recommends approval of zoning bill 110766 with conditions
- 11/09/2011 ZCC votes unanimously to send Final Report to City Council
- 10/26/2011 ZCC reviews code recommendations from Council; homes in on final issues
- 10/20/2011 Zoning reform gets one step closer as City Council passes resolution of code recommendations
- 10/12/2011 ZCC discusses Council recommendations to date; awaits formal resolution of requested changes
- 09/27/2011 Council closes hearings on draft zoning code; on track for vote in 2011
- 09/21/2011 Zoning forum addresses how to resolve final issues and prepare the code for adoption this year
- 09/14/2011 Hearing on draft code draws crowd
- 09/08/2011 Councilmembers Share Concerns with ZCC at Briefing
- 07/19/2011 Next Great City Coalition Launches E-Petition to Pass Updated Zoning Code
- 07/15/2011 Fact sheets highlight why zoning reform is so important
- 07/08/2011 ZCC offers property research service
- 06/15/2011 City Council commences hearings on zoning code
- 06/08/2011 ZCC waits for Committee hearings to begin; work continues on sign controls and tools to aid public understanding
- 05/11/2011 ZCC VOTES YES! Draft code moves to City Council, but threat remains
- 05/09/2011 10 MORE YEARS TO ZONING REFORM?
- 05/03/2011 Final X-Change focuses on parking
- 04/27/2011 Stakeholders weigh in on development standards and how to encourage good design
- 04/19/2011 Stakeholders discuss new dimensional standards
- 04/13/2011 Vote to send draft code to City Council May 11
- 04/05/2011 Stakeholders focus on new use categories
- 03/23/2011 ZCC “Stakeholder X-Changes” underway
- 03/17/2011 At-large Council candidates support new zoning code
- 03/16/2011 ZCC “Stakeholder X-Change” draws crowd
- 03/02/2011 ZCC delays sending zoning code to City Council for 10 weeks
- 02/28/2011 ZCC explains how decisions about the new code were made
- 02/22/2011 Vote scheduled for March 2
- 02/18/2011 Special meeting lets ZCC explain how decisions about the new code were made
- 02/15/2011 ZCC adds two public meetings to schedule
- 02/09/2011 ZCC delays vote on new zoning code; some question whether code is ready for City Council
- 02/03/2011 City Council voices concerns about new zoning code
- 02/03/2011 Updated “Referral Draft” is released
- 01/26/2011 February 9 vote on draft zoning code questioned as revisions continue to be made
- 01/26/2011 Building Industry Association comments on December 2010 draft zoning code
- 01/26/2011 February 9 vote on draft zoning code questioned as revisions continue to be made
- 01/26/2011 Building Industry Association comments on December 2010 draft zoning code
- 12/21/2010 Deadline for comments on draft code extended to January 21
- 12/15/2010 Zoning code discussion focuses on timing and process; vote could be delayed
- 12/15/2010 ZCC still debating form and design controls; bonuses for green building stay as is
- 12/13/2010 ZCC adjusts Civic Design Review timeline
- 12/12/2010 New draft consolidated code released
- 12/02/2010 ZCC addresses comments from BIA and others: Civic Design Review is modified and a two-stage permit process is introduced
- 12/02/2010 Track code updates at Zoning Matters
- 12/01/2010 Vote on draft zoning code moved to January 2011
- 11/11/2010 Draft zoning code on fast track to City Council
- 11/11/2010 Get the latest code updates at Zoning Matters
- 11/11/2010 Civic engagement process sets new standard
- 11/11/2010 Councilman O’Neill cautions ZCC about new code
- 11/09/2010 Final open house culminates an open process
- 10/27/2010 Final comments on draft zoning code due November 12
- 10/27/2010 Final open house November 9 – time to weigh in on draft zoning code
- 10/27/2010 ZCC responds to input
- 10/06/2010 ZCC refines zoning code in preparation for December 8 vote
- 10/04/2010 Comment period on draft zoning code extended to November 12
- 09/22/2010 New “open house” format offers residents another chance to comment on draft code
- 09/22/2010 Zoning Commission briefs City Council on draft zoning code
- 09/20/2010 Open houses on draft zoning code start September 22
- 09/17/2010 Councilman O’Neill wants draft zoning code passed into law
- 01/13/2010 Consultants ask for feedback on draft procedures; recommend more decision-making authority for L&I and PCPC