The Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment has shown a strong preference for providing developer-friendly decisions. Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke has seen enough.
"Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke wants to radically restructure the city’s zoning board over what he described as a series of decisions favoring developers and plans to introduce legislation to do so," reports Aaron Moselle and Ryan Briggs.
Clarke's plans for the council were laid out in a September 9 letter, writing that the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment "has flagrantly violated the law by granting zoning variances without any demonstration of hardship by the developer." The letter also includes draft legislation that would trigger a public referendum to amend the city charter to increase the size of the board and "impose council approval on positions that are currently appointed directly by the mayor," according to Moselle and Briggs.
"If approved, the ZBA would be required to include an urban planner, architect, zoning attorney, a real estate finance expert, and two members from community organizations," adds Moselle and Briggs.
The article includes more details about the unique power and reach of the city's ZBA, which has heard over 1,000 individual appeals, large and small, 2021 so far. "For comparison, New York City’s similar Board of Standards and Appeals typically sees less than half that number in a year."
FULL STORY: Council President Darrell Clarke to introduce overhaul of Philly Zoning Board
Philadelphia City Council Pushing for More Control Over Zoning Variances
A cause abandoned by the Philadelphia City in 2019 is on the table again.
Proposed Law Would Require Community Benefits Negotiations for 'High Impact' Projects in Philadelphia
A recently proposed law would attempt to force developers and neighborhood projects to the table to negotiate large projects in the city of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Renaissance Threatens Working Diamond District
Heretofore preservationists in the City of Brotherly Love have been focused on finding new uses for vacant, historic buildings, but the city's economic resurgence now threatens five, occupied low-rise buildings city's in vibrant Jewelers Row.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont