Philadelphia City Council will hold its last scheduled full meeting of the year Thursday morning, and a number of zoning and planning measures are on the agenda.
One new bill, sponsored by outgoing Councilman Frank DiCicco, is scheduled for a first reading tomorrow. The ordinance, No. 110672, would repeal an earlier ordinance changing the zoning designations for properties in an area bounded by Richmond, Cumberland, Beach, and Schirra streets.
The following are bills and resolutions on final passage for tomorrow’s meeting:
- Bill No. 110859, authorizing the Planning Commission to remove deed restrictions for the the plot of land at Broad St. and Washington Ave.
- Bill No. 110130, providing a tax credit to condominium owners who do not receive regular City trash services.
- Bill No. 110671, That bill, another one introduced by DiCicco, would give a block of Bodine Street to the bar Finnegan's Wake. Watch the Planning Commission's discussion of the bill here.
- Bill No. 110307, creating the Callowhill Reading Viaduct Neighborhood Improvement District in the area bounded by Broad, Vine, Spring Garden, and 8th streets.
- Bill No. 110563, permitting outdoor non-accessory advertising on one block in the Callowhill neighborhood. This bill, introduced by Councilman DiCicco, was protested by SCRUB and other stakeholders at the last City Council meeting. DiCicco held the bill at that time. The Planning Commission previously recommended that this bill not be passed.
- Bill No. 110662, further defining prohibited uses in the Lower and Central Germantown overlay. This bill, introduced by Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, would allow for the building over a Dollar Tree in Chelten Plaza, something many members of the Germantown community object to. The Planning Commission also recommended that this bill not be passed.
To testify at tomorrow’s Council meeting concerning any of these bills, call the City Clerk’s Office at 215-686-3410 or 215-686-3411.
Contact the reporter at jaredbrey@gmail.com
Comments
Four (almost five) instances of spot zoning, one taxation district, and one 'free services' clause.
This is precisely why Council needs to get their dirty hands out of zoning entirely. The creation of the SSD should be voluntary and not mandatory, or should be a directed development area identified by the PCPC. None of the spot zoning is justifiable in relation to the proposed zoning maps or the City Plan. And allowing some residents to pay for services (utilized or not) while others are exempted from payment - that creates a slippery slope ('so if I don't call 911 for five years, do my taxes go down?') and reduces tax income at at time when no additional funds are designated to make up the loss.
While there may be more new Councilmembers coming in soon, the old ones continue to operate as though no one is watching the piggy bank.
Departing Council members should be banned from sponsoring bills from the date they announce they won't be running or when they lose the primary. They are accountable to no one and the result is exactly what's happening here....bills pushed through that would never have passed it they were running for re-election.
Philadelphia politics stink.