Strong Support for New Zoning Code Expressed at City Council Hearing

“Cautious optimism” seems to describe the belief of many stakeholders that the four-year process to re-write Philadelphia’s seriously outdated Zoning Code may occur before year’s end.    

City Council’s Committee of the Whole held a seven hour public hearing on the City’s proposed new zoning code on September 14^th as reported in the Philadelphia Daily News Zoning hearing a 7-plus hour marathon and the Philadelphia Inquirer After a six-hour hearing, City Council takes no action on zoning overhaul.

A broad range of stakeholders, including PACDC and several our members, submitted testimony at the hearing.  While various stakeholders had specific ideas of how the code could be further improved, the goal of approving a new code in 2011 was expressed by nearly everyone at the hearing from City Council members to CDC Directors and dozens of others.

The hearing was recessed until September 27^th at 10:00 a.m.  Once the hearing is closed, City Council has 30 days to provide final feedback to the Zoning Code Commission.  The Commission then has up to 30 days to make further revisions to the Code.  Council then has up to five Council sessions or 60 days (whichever is later) to vote for or against the proposed new code without making further amendments or table it. 

While that is the formal process, it is anticipated that the Zoning Code Commission and City Council will work together to resolve issues that have been raised.  Given the timing requirements and Council’s meeting calendar, that and positive political will be essential for the Code to pass before the session ends in December.

“PACDC members and other stakeholders who represent neighborhoods throughout the City have provided much input, and offered constructive feedback to the Zoning Code Commission during drafting and re-writing of the new Code,” said Rick Sauer, PACDC Executive Director.  “Now is the time to resolve final issues and adopt a new code this session.”

This sentiment was echoed in a September 15^th Philadelphia Inquirer editorial which called for swift passage and implementation of the new Zoning code, Inquirer Editorial: Council shouldn't stall passing new zoning code.