Q&A
FixItPhilly Feature
Send FixItPhilly your questions about the zoning reform process. If we do not know the answer, we will forward it to the person who does to get a response. Just email info@fixitphilly.org. Select questions and answers will be featured here.
Q: In order to give the ZBA guidance as they make their decisions, the zoning code should have a statement of goals that the code is trying to achieve - the overall purpose of zoning and a guide for development. Any chance of getting this added? Rob
FixItPhilly asked Eva Gladstein, executive director of the ZCC, to respond to Rob’s question.
A. The Zoning Code Commission (ZCC) recently approved a set of revisions (Change Memo) to its Detailed Recommendations for a New Zoning Code. With this action, the ZCC gave a green light to its consultant team to begin drafting the new zoning code, using the Detailed Recommendations and the Change Memo as the foundation for their writing. You will be pleased to know that these documents emphasize the value of a purpose statement as “an important way to connect planning policy to regulatory interpretation and application.” Furthermore, the Detailed Recommendations state “…we will enhance [the purpose] section to reflect the City’s adopted plans, the larger objectives endorsed by the ZCC and will provide individual purpose statements throughout the New Zoning Code as appropriate. You will also be pleased to know that the ZCC intends to provide a purpose statement for each district. The ZCC intends to have the first draft of its Administration and Procedures section, which will include the general purpose statement, available for comment in early winter. That will provide a good opportunity for you to review the statement and provide your feedback.
Follow-up Q: Thanks for getting the response. However, it does seem strange that the statement of goals and objectives of the zoning code are being done at the end of the project, not at the beginning. Rob
A. The purpose statement will be based upon the direction that the Zoning Code Commission has already set, which builds upon the fundamental guiding principles articulated in the Home Rule Charter that the new code “should be consistent and easy to understand, should help shape future construction and development, and should enhance and improve Philadelphia’s development approval process while encouraging positive development and protecting the character of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.” The ZCC began to further refine its direction in 2009 by creating a set of objectives that are designed to advance these principles, and are articulated in its key documents and presentations. They are to:
- Facilitate public involvement
- Simplify approvals
- Protect neighborhoods
- Simplify base districts
- Simplify overlay districts
- Promote quality and design
- Promote sustainability
- Improve readability and organization.
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)