It's the market, more than politics or zoning processes, that determines whether developers keep drawing up plans and pouring concrete in Philadelphia, according to one consultant.
Still, the city's zoning and planning process is not exactly one that developers love dealing with. There's the confusion over zoning rules; the myriad departments that need to approve sometimes simple requests (as many as 14, for some); the battle with community groups and the zoning board; a zoning code overflowing with overlays and changes made on an individual, piecemeal basis.
Today's Primary Concerns looks at the issue and what the next mayor would do to help streamline the zoning process in the city.
What happens next could depend on whether voters approve a May 15 ballot refrendum that would create a Zoning Reform Commission, which would study the issue and make reccomendations to City Council for wholesale changes. Other related referendums include one that would professionalize the planning commission, ensuring that qualified individuals with the proper experience sit on it.
A similar measure addressing the funhouse of the zoning board was killed by politics; Councilman Jim Kenney was forced to withdraw his attempt at ensuring qualifications for those sitting on that board. Kenney says it's dead for now. (The next mayor will put his own picks on the board, anyway.)
"It was a mistake, but mistakes happen," zoning board Chairman David Auspitz said of Kenney's attempt. "Sometimes things sound good, but when you think about them they're not."
Auspitz rationalizes that mandating qualifications isn't a good move because it's important that people feel comfortable with the board's members.
"They feel comfortable with other people [like them] up there," he said.
Zoning isn't just about encouraging (or not) development. It's about things like avoiding ugly blank walls at street level (like the ones included with the Symphony house, visible in your photo).
David Auspitz is talking out his @$$ (or just trying to keep his job). All the people on the ZBA need to be replaced with people who actually know what they're talking about.
Posted by: dude | April 09, 2007 at 12:37 PM
i dont know how philly can sustain a housing boom without job-creation in tandem.
the same goes for construction of luxury 'townhomes' without parallel development of low-cost homes to alleviate homelessness.
Mayor Brady will support the passage of Council Bill #060732, introduced by Councilman Darryl Clarke in September of 2006.
This proposed ordinance amends Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code to establish “inclusionary affordable housing”.
Specifically, the bill provides that 10% of all units be set aside for affordable housing when a proposed development is
a) constructed on city property or financed with assistance from the City and is larger than 20 units or
b) is larger than 20 units and is eligible for a tax abatement and is larger than 20 units.
Posted by: bradybradybrady | April 09, 2007 at 04:40 PM
If anyone takes the time to attend a zoning hearing, you will easily find out how to have your case approved...follow the simple rules, work with your community and Councilperson and the ZBA Board will generally apporve your plans. What you will also see is the ZBA Board protecting our communities from people with ill conceived ideas and misrepresentations...they are very sensitive to the fact that the neighborhoods have to live with their decisions and they get it absolutely right with a few, if any, exceptions. It is a great relief to know that the five (5) members of the ZBA are "Community based" people; they will do a great job for any Mayor.
Posted by: Eddie | April 09, 2007 at 08:37 PM
In other words, pander to the get-out-the-vote agents for your councilperson who raise a stink about any and all development in order to extort kickbacks.
Those meetings are more like Judge Judy than anything else. I take it Brady wants to keep things the same at the ZBA if he gets elected?
Posted by: dude | April 09, 2007 at 10:26 PM