Philadelphia Pushes Ahead with Changes to Zoning Code

The work of various city organizations to amend and improve Philadelphia's zoning code has received the thumbs up from the City Council’s Committee on Rules and the Planning Commission. Jared Brey of Plan Philly reports that the changes to the zoning code, adopted in 2011, include minor tweaks and some more significant changes.

Among the more significant changes to the zoning code will be a requirement for "major planned developments to go through the Civic Design Review Committee." The Committee is largely responsible for ensuring that large new projects are reviewed to determine how they will impact the surrounding neighborhood. Brey writes that projects, including the recent redevelopment of Mt. Sinai Hospital, received approval from the Planning Commission before going through the Committee for review.

Other changes include new rules on the expiration of entitlements and restrictions on "front-loading garages" in certain zoning districts. The changes to the zoning code will now go before the City Council for a final vote.