Experts and Public Agree on Zoning Priorities
ZCC Regular Session and 10th District Meeting
Responses from 1,200 online surveys, more than 200 participants at community outreach meetings, and 20 groups of professionals that use the code on a regular basis suggest that the main problem with zoning in Philadelphia is the process. Developers, residents, business-owners, and community associations want the priorities for zoning reform to include a clear, fair, and efficient process and an opportunity for civic input. The Phase I Code Evaluation process is on-going, but the results to date show that all code users (meaning any citizen that needs to reference the code for any reason) are frustrated by an incoherent, complicated code and a confusing process.
At the 10th Councilmanic District meeting Wednesday evening, more than 50 lively participants agreed. Comprised mostly of civic association members, the group described protecting existing neighborhoods is the most important thing zoning can do. They want clear, concise rules; more transparent and accessible information; better customer service; convenient offices; and more community involvement. Since each city neighborhood is different, they want the government to think local – local input, local access, and local decision-making.
As experts continue to review the code in relation to best practices from other major cities, additional input from the online survey, another set of code user interviews, and five more council district meetings will be used to inform the ZCC in guiding the consultants’ work on the new code. The ZCC Work Plan Committee will identify key issues raised throughout the code evaluation process and put questions before the full commission that are intended to provoke discussion and give direction to the consultants. The newly formed Civic Engagement Committee, chaired by Natalia Olson de Savyckyj, will ensure all community voices are heard and that the ZCC is responsive.
To participate in the online survey and code user interviews or to learn more about the council district meetings, visit http://www.zoningmatters.org/ .
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 (CurrentCurrent)
- 12/09/2009 ZCC releases results from opinion survey on draft recommendations (CurrentCurrent)
- 12/01/2009 Q&A (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 (CurrentCurrent)
- 10/31/2009 Neighbors fear new streamlined zoning will cut them out of the process (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/30/2009 Survey Results: Zoning should incentivize shared parking and bike parking for new businesses (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/29/2009 New zoning should protect neighborhoods but changes must be enforced (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/29/2009 Survey Results: ZCC needs to improve regulations for parking in new residential construction (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/28/2009 Survey Results: Time for the Zoning Code Commission to improve parking in neighborhoods (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/27/2009 Survey Results: Parking near workplace creates congestion (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/26/2009 Survey Results: Parking problems hit home (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/22/2009 Neighbors want a lot of say about what is built in their community (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/20/2009 ZCC and PCPC propose strategy to coordinate efforts (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/14/2009 ZCC debates zoning recommendations for public input (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/08/2009 Upcoming Zoning Code Hearing Times and Locations (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/07/2009 Community leaders tell ZCC they want power over their own destiny (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 10/07/2009 ZCC Hiring Program Coordinator (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/23/2009 Public hearing on draft zoning recommendations October 7 (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/09/2009 ZCC to make tough decisions on zoning recommendations (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/09/2009 Next steps for the new code (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 07/08/2009 Zoning Code Commission weighs in on best practices (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 06/10/2009 Can best practices from other cities meet Philadelphia’s needs? (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 06/10/2009 What is the future of industrial lands in Philadelphia? (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 06/10/2009 Zoning Code Commission selects Phase II Consultant Team (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 05/13/2009 Message on Zoning in Philadelphia: Simplify (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 05/13/2009 Phase I Next Steps: Best Practices Report and Discussion (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 04/27/2009 Phase II RFP Now Posted (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 04/17/2009 Submit Comments to the ZCC: Full Code Assessment and Executive Summary Available for Review (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 04/08/2009 ZCC Reacts to Code Assessment (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 04/08/2009 Phase II RFP Soon to be Released (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 03/24/2009 What Do Philadelphians Want Most from the Zoning Code Commission? (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 03/13/2009 What Do the Experts Say About Philadelphia’s Existing Zoning Code? (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 03/13/2009 Zoning Experts Recommend Fixes to the ZCC (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 03/12/2009 Tell the ZCC What You Think: Interim Assessment of Existing Code Available for Review (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 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 (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 03/04/2009 Redevelopment and Public Say are Key Issues in the 4th and 9th Districts (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/24/2009 100 Participants in the 3rd District Call for a Fair and Efficient Zoning Process (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/19/2009 Top Priorities for the 5th District: Protect Neighborhoods, Encourage Redevelopment and Improve Process (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/11/2009 Experts and Public Agree on Zoning Priorities (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/11/2009 ZCC Grapples With Big Zoning Issues: Variances and Civic Input (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/05/2009 Neighborhoods, Process, and Design of New Buildings are Priorities for the 1st District (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 02/03/2009 6th District: Improve Zoning Process and Protect Existing Neighborhoods (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 01/26/2009 8th Councilmanic District Speaks Out on Zoning (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 01/14/2009 Code Evaluation Update (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 01/14/2009 ZCC Forms Civic Engagement Committee, Creates Vice-Chair Positions (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 01/14/2009 ZCC Director in Place (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 01/14/2009 Community Outreach Begins – 5 of 10 Meetings Scheduled (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
ZBA
- 10/20/2009 BIA supports ZBA quorum bill and asks for more reforms (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/18/2009 Efforts underway to reduce delays at ZBA and speed up review (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 01/14/2009 Consent Calendar Proposed for ZBA (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
General Zoning
- 11/25/2009 Regulating digital signage – attend seminar December 4 (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/08/2009 Zoning Reform Nightmares (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 09/08/2009 FixItPhilly Parking Survey (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 06/18/2009 Council passes bill to create riverfront overlay district (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 06/04/2009 Rules Committee Supports Waterfront Zoning (CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 05/20/2009 Will developers be welcome in Fairmount Park? (CurrentCurrentCurrent)
- 05/20/2009 Waterfront Zoning Approved by Planning Commission; Public Hearing June 3 (CurrentCurrentCurrent)