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Module 1 of the draft zoning code due December 31, but developers and community groups discuss their biggest concerns in January

12/09/2009 | 

ZCC Regular Session

ZCC technical consultant Don Elliott reported that his team is hard at work on Module 1, which includes general provisions and administrative procedures for chapters 1 and 2 of the new code. These chapters must address the biggest concern for developers and community groups alike – how the new code will deal with neighborhood meetings regarding proposed development, especially for by-right projects. Facilitated discussions on this topic will be held in January, so that the full range of stakeholders can hash out potential solutions. While consultants plan to deliver a Module 1 draft to ZCC staff by the end of the year as required by contract, they will incorporate results from these discussions later, provided they are narrowly focused on this particular issue.

The ZCC was pleased when a third party stepped forward to coordinate a dialogue between developers and community groups about public input on development and when neighborhood meetings should be required. Kiki Bolender from the AIA Urban Design Committee is leading the effort and applied for funding from the William Penn Foundation. An advisory committee comprised of representatives from the ZCC, city planning commission, developer organizations, civic associations, neighborhood groups, and community development corporations will guide the process. Harris Sokoloff and the Penn Center for Civic Engagement will conduct three sessions: one for developers only January 19; another for community groups on January 23; and a combined session on January 27. The goal of the project is to find common ground, identify tensions and trade-offs, and discuss possible resolutions. A report summarizing the results of the meetings will be available by the end of January. ZCC chair Alan Greenberger reiterated, though, that the commission is responsible for writing the code. ZCC members will participate on the advisory committee, observe the meetings, and process the findings. How the results are incorporated into the new code will be discussed by the commission with the help of its consultant team. “Successful resolution of this problem will bode well for the project,” Greenberger said. “If there is real a problem on any critical issue, it can stop this thing dead in its tracks.”

Don Elliot stressed that most of the new code is not up for discussion at this stage, however. “I have received my marching orders,” Elliott said. “People want predictable and efficient procedures, more by-right development, and less reliance on the ZBA.” Mr. Elliott supports the developer/community group dialogue project, but cautions that it will be difficult to keep discussions from moving onto broader issues. The submitted draft for Module 1 will have just one missing piece related to neighborhood meetings. The consultant team is under contract to get a final, complete version of the new code done by next summer. Elliott wants to keep putting drafts on the table and focus discussions on just the two or three key issues that are really worthy of attention.

To suggest developers or civic leaders for the developer/community group dialogue project contact Linda Breitstein, Project Manager, Penn Project for Civic Engagement, 215-898-1112 or lindabre@gse.upenn.edu.

To discuss the project in general contact Kiki Bolender, Project Co-Chair, AIA Philadelphia, Urban Design Committee, 215-731-0390 or kiki@schadeandbolender.com or Harris Sokoloff, Project Co-Chair, Faculty Director, PPCE, 215-898-8426 or harriss@gse.upenn.edu.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation on the project.

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