Recommendations for New Philadelphia Zoning Code, September 2009Print Page

Home » Recommendations for New Philadelphia Zoning Code, September 2009

Philadelphia's New Zoning Code: Detailed Recommendations

 

September 2009

prepared by:

Clarion Associates

Duncan Associates

in association with:

Wallace Roberts and Todd LLC

Claflen Associates

CHPlanning

Dyett and Bhatia

Hurley-Frank Associates

 

Major changes in the New Zoning Code are listed below, and are grouped according to the
Zoning Code Commission’s broad goals for this effort:

  • Goal: Simplify Base Districts
  •        Base districts are reduced from 55 to 32
  • Goal: Simplify Overlay Districts
  •        Overlay Districts reduced from 33 to 11
  •        14 Center City overlay districts consolidated into one
  •        10 Neighborhood commercial corridors overlay districts consolidated into one
  • Goal: Simplify Approvals
  •        Streamlined administration through more administrative decision‐making and reforms of the variance process
  •        Codification of current “fast track” process
  • Goal: Protect Neighborhoods
  •        New development standards for landscaping and natural areas
  •        New form‐design standards for residential areas near commercial strips and development
  •        Transit‐oriented Development (TOD) Overlay districts tailor size and scale to surrounding neighborhoods
  • Goal: Promote Sustainability
  •        New standards address reducing vehicle miles travelled and encouraging renewable energy, energy conservation, water conservation, urban food production, and promoting walking and community health
  • Goal: Promote Quality and Design
  •        New standards address connectivity, commercial corridor design, TOD design, parking lot and structure appearance, and transit‐oriented development design
  • Goal: Improve Readability and Reorganization
  •        Much simpler structure for the code – chapters reduced from 21 to six
  •        All information on permitted, certificated, special, and regulated uses, as well as any objective standards governing the development or operation of each use, will be consolidated into four use tables
  •        Fewer, broader, use definitions for most commercial, industrial, and institutional uses
  •        All information on required lot size, setbacks and build‐tos, maximum building height, and open space requirements consolidated into four dimensional tables
  •        All off‐street parking space requirements consolidated into one table
Tags:
X
Loading