Phase I Civic Engagement Process Ends with Input from the 2nd District: Give the Public More Say, Strengthen Neighborhoods!

March 12, 2009

ZCC 2nd District Meeting

The last of 10 council district meetings was held Thursday evening at South Philadelphia High School. Participants in the 2nd Councilmanic District ranked public involvement, protecting existing neighborhoods, and an efficient zoning approval process as the top priorities for zoning reform in Philadelphia. Community input from all districts will be used to inform ZCC consultants as they complete an evaluation of the existing code, begin to research best practices from other cities, and develop recommendations for the new code.

As the zoning reform process moves forward, stakeholders in the 2nd District want the ZCC to consider how to give communities more say over development in their neighborhoods. Participants suggested encouraging more productive interaction between developers and neighbors up front, improving notification systems to keep the public informed about the process from start to finish, and explaining how and why decisions are made in layman’s terms. Neighborhoods should not only be protected, they said, but strengthened with development that reflects community character and promotes a better balance and integration of uses, even recommending a permit that specifically addresses the mix of uses in a particular area. Some participants want the city to offer more incentives for sustainable types of development and to encourage the reuse of buildings over demolition. They want the new code to be simple, clear, and context-sensitive. They want the new rules to be applied consistently, making variances more difficult to obtain, and a new process that is fair, depoliticized, and fully engaged with the public.

To follow how community input from the district meetings is compiled and track progress as the zoning reform process continues, visit www.zoningmatters.org .