Time is of the essence ... get involved now and address your concerns!
In the May 2007 Primary, 80% of the citizens of Philadelphia approved a ballot question which called for the creation of a Zoning Code Commission (ZCC) to reform and modernize Philadelphia's Zoning Code. Throughout 2010, the ZCC has been working on completing draft recommendations for the new zoning code. The drafts have been made public and in the fall of 2010 the new zoning code, as written by professional consultants hired by the Zoning Code Commission, will be presented to City Council, which will accept or reject it in its entirety. The ZCC has been issuing partial drafts of the new code since February, and now the entire draft of the code has been made public and is available online at ZoningMatters.org. Many passages of the code have been revised multiple times in response to input from interested groups, but a number of stakeholder groups still have questions and concerns about the proposed code.
The newly formed Built Environment Advocacy Coalition (BEAC), an informal group of representatives from more than twenty nonprofits in Philadelphia working together to celebrate and revitalize Philadelphia’s built environment, is interested in using this space to facilitate a discussion on zoning reform and raise public awareness of the importance of this issue.
Many of Philadelphia's private, public, civic, and non-profit organizations have taken a look at the proposed code and have submitted comments and recommendations to the commission. The BEAC has worked with PlanPhilly to compile these comments and recommendations into one place. We encourage you to read the submissions that are posted in this community forum to learn more about the proposed changes to the zoning code.
Then, pose your questions and comments. The Built Environment Advocacy Coalition will help to moderate a neutral and informed conversation about zoning reform.
Has your organization submitted comments to the ZCC? Do you want to share them? Send us an email and we will help you post your materials so that everyone can be a part of the conversation about zoning reform.
PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future