Next Great City Comments on Draft Recommendations

Next Great City officially submitted comments to the Zoning Code Commission on Detailed Recommendations for a New Zoning Code, the  draft recommendations produced by the Clarion/Duncan Associates consultant team regarding the Zoning Code Rewrite.  Next Great City will continue to track the rewrite process and push for zoning that fosters sustainable communities

Zoning Code Commission Head Announced  

On November 13, 2008 Eva Gladstein was nominated by Mayor Michael Nutter to serve as the Executive Director of the Zoning Code Commission, the entity charged with updating Philadelphia's antiquated zoning code.

Ms. Gladstein was previously the head of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. She must be approved by a two-third majority of Zoning Code Commission members. If approved, she'll coordinate the efforts of two consultants that have been hired to provide expertise.

The Next Great City coalition looks forward to working with Ms. Gladstein on updating the Zoning Code specifically to include an open space designation to protect pocket parks and community gardens and to incentivize transit-oriented development and green buildings.

Fix It Philly Launched

 FixItPhilly.org is a new website with up to date information on zoning reform and efforts to streamline the development review process in Philadelphia!

The Building Industry Association, Government Affairs Committee and the When We Fix It Coalition launch fixitphilly.org on June 18, 2008. Fixitphilly.org will provide up-to-the-minute information on zoning, the development review process, and planning, and updates on City Council legislation as well as policy, personnel and program changes within related city commissions and departments.

As the Zoning Code Commission hires a consultant team like it did last week or an Executive Director as it will next week — learn about it at fixitphilly.org first. Fixitphilly.org will also provide opinion columns and articles on key issues facing the Zoning Code Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustments or the city itself.

See what is going on in Philadelphia on these important issues at a glance at fixitphilly.org.  And please forward this announcement to your friends! 

Charter Change Approved

On Thursday, February 8, 2007, Philadelphia City Council moved forward on a key item in the Next Great City agenda by approving a Charter Change to establish a Zoning Code Commission.  This measure, introduced by Councilmen Frank DiCicco and James Kenney received unanimous approval from all 17 members of Council.

On May 15th, voters overwhelmingly voted for creation of the Zoning Code Commission with a more than 70% approval rate. This Commission will be made up of 31 members, including 10 community leaders. They will be charged with making suggested changes to the Zoning Code, which would then have to be approved by City Council.

Zoning Code Commission

Members of the Commission, whom you can learn more about here, have been meeting regularly. The Next Great City coalition will work with Commission members to see that our recommendations around transit oriented development, green buildings and an open space designation are all included in the code update.

The Zoning Code Commissioni meets regularly. Go to www.zoningmatters.org to see the schedule of meetings.

The Next Great City subgroup on Zoning is also meeting regularly. To find out when, contact Christine.

• Zoning Code Commission