Consent Calendar Proposed for ZBA
ZCC Regular Session
PCPC, L&I, and the Commerce Department are putting together a new “consent calendar,” which would expedite approvals for certain minor permit applications in an effort to reduce the ZBA backlog. Bill Kramer, director of the planning commission’s Development Planning Division, presented the new procedure to the ZCC. Minor cases were identified as certificated uses; zoning changes for FAR, height, or rear yard areas that are 10 percent or less, or one foot; decks; additions to mechanical features; changes to meet ADA requirements; and even cell tower sites. Eligible projects must meet specific L&I criteria, be approved by PCPC, and have no objections to be placed on the consent calendar, which would then be voted on as a block at the start of ZBA meetings. If any protest is raised at that time, the matter would be moved to a full hearing on the same day. Although intended to be in effect at the start of this year, there are concerns about what issues are considered minor and how applicants notify neighbors and interested parties. Mr. Kramer described the consent calendar as a work in progress, but if the process ultimately succeeds, the agencies hope to reduce the backlog by about 30 percent and shorten the amount of time the permitting process takes as well. ZCC members were encouraged to provide input directly to L&I or PCPC and to think about what is deemed a “minor application” in the future, as the new code is developed. Video coverage of the ZCC discussion on the consent calendar is available at http://www.planphilly.com/node/6348 .
Zoning Watch 2009 Archives
ZCC
- 12/09/2009 Module 1 of the draft zoning code due December 31, but developers and community groups discuss their biggest concerns in January (Current)
- 12/09/2009 ZCC releases results from opinion survey on draft recommendations (Current)
- 12/01/2009 Q&A (Current)
- 11/18/2009 Zoning Code Commission adopts modified recommendations for new code; the role of public input remains a question (Current)
- 10/31/2009 Neighbors fear new streamlined zoning will cut them out of the process (Current)
- 10/30/2009 Survey Results: Zoning should incentivize shared parking and bike parking for new businesses (Current)
- 10/29/2009 New zoning should protect neighborhoods but changes must be enforced (Current)
- 10/29/2009 Survey Results: ZCC needs to improve regulations for parking in new residential construction (Current)
- 10/28/2009 Survey Results: Time for the Zoning Code Commission to improve parking in neighborhoods (Current)
- 10/27/2009 Survey Results: Parking near workplace creates congestion (Current)
- 10/26/2009 Survey Results: Parking problems hit home (Current)
- 10/22/2009 Neighbors want a lot of say about what is built in their community (Current)
- 10/20/2009 ZCC and PCPC propose strategy to coordinate efforts (Current)
- 10/14/2009 ZCC debates zoning recommendations for public input (Current)
- 10/08/2009 Upcoming Zoning Code Hearing Times and Locations (Current)
- 10/07/2009 Community leaders tell ZCC they want power over their own destiny (Current)
- 10/07/2009 ZCC Hiring Program Coordinator (Current)
- 09/23/2009 Public hearing on draft zoning recommendations October 7 (Current)
- 09/09/2009 ZCC to make tough decisions on zoning recommendations (Current)
- 09/09/2009 Next steps for the new code (CurrentCurrent)
- 07/08/2009 Zoning Code Commission weighs in on best practices (Current)
- 06/10/2009 Can best practices from other cities meet Philadelphia’s needs? (Current)
- 06/10/2009 What is the future of industrial lands in Philadelphia? (Current)
- 06/10/2009 Zoning Code Commission selects Phase II Consultant Team (Current)
- 05/13/2009 Message on Zoning in Philadelphia: Simplify (Current)
- 05/13/2009 Phase I Next Steps: Best Practices Report and Discussion (Current)
- 04/27/2009 Phase II RFP Now Posted (Current)
- 04/17/2009 Submit Comments to the ZCC: Full Code Assessment and Executive Summary Available for Review (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 04/08/2009 ZCC Reacts to Code Assessment (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 04/08/2009 Phase II RFP Soon to be Released (Current)
- 03/24/2009 What Do Philadelphians Want Most from the Zoning Code Commission? (Current)
- 03/13/2009 What Do the Experts Say About Philadelphia’s Existing Zoning Code? (Current)
- 03/13/2009 Zoning Experts Recommend Fixes to the ZCC (Current)
- 03/12/2009 Tell the ZCC What You Think: Interim Assessment of Existing Code Available for Review (Current)
- 03/12/2009 Phase I Civic Engagement Process Ends with Input from the 2nd District: Give the Public More Say, Strengthen Existing Neighborhoods, and Fix the Process (CurrentCurrent)
- 03/04/2009 Redevelopment and Public Say are Key Issues in the 4th and 9th Districts (Current)
- 02/24/2009 100 Participants in the 3rd District Call for a Fair and Efficient Zoning Process (Current)
- 02/19/2009 Top Priorities for the 5th District: Protect Neighborhoods, Encourage Redevelopment and Improve Process (Current)
- 02/11/2009 Experts and Public Agree on Zoning Priorities (Current)
- 02/11/2009 ZCC Grapples With Big Zoning Issues: Variances and Civic Input (CurrentCurrent)
- 02/05/2009 Neighborhoods, Process, and Design of New Buildings are Priorities for the 1st District (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/03/2009 6th District: Improve Zoning Process and Protect Existing Neighborhoods (Current)
- 01/26/2009 8th Councilmanic District Speaks Out on Zoning (Current)
- 01/14/2009 Code Evaluation Update (Current)
- 01/14/2009 ZCC Forms Civic Engagement Committee, Creates Vice-Chair Positions (Current)
- 01/14/2009 ZCC Director in Place (Current)
- 01/14/2009 Community Outreach Begins – 5 of 10 Meetings Scheduled (Current)
ZBA
- 10/20/2009 BIA supports ZBA quorum bill and asks for more reforms (CurrentCurrent)
- 09/18/2009 Efforts underway to reduce delays at ZBA and speed up review (Current)
- 01/14/2009 Consent Calendar Proposed for ZBA (Current)
General Zoning
- 11/25/2009 Regulating digital signage - attend seminar December 4 (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/08/2009 Zoning Reform Nightmares (Current)
- 09/08/2009 FixItPhilly Parking Survey (Current)
- 06/18/2009 Council passes bill to create riverfront overlay district (Current)
- 06/04/2009 Rules Committee Supports Waterfront Zoning (CurrentCurrent)
- 05/20/2009 Will developers be welcome in Fairmount Park? (Current)
- 05/20/2009 Waterfront Zoning Approved by Planning Commission; Public Hearing June 3 (Current)