>>Zoning (appeals)

Zoning Focus Group:

Since: Summer 07′    Chair: Dan Scholnick       Contact:

Commitee Members: Andres Barrera, Jeff Carpineta, Duane Wilcox, Frank Wilson, Dan Scholnick, Pat McHugh

Background: With tremendous development happening now in the 19125 area, builders, owners, and users are having to navigate the existing Philadelphia Zoning Code, often seeking variances to allow for what the code does not.

As of Summer 2007, the community input for zoning decisions (appeals) has been handlied by the NKCDC NAC zoning committee. It was proposed by the NAC that EKNA might begin handling zoning appeal issues for properties in it’s own area. The NAC encouraged EKNA to make progress in that direction. Questions were- should EKNA have a zoning committe at all? Should that committee stand on its own or participate with the NAC process? How many members would participate with NAC? How would they be chosen / what knowledge would be essential etc? If EKNA was to create its own procedure- how would it compare to the procedure cuurently in place by Fishtown Neighbors (FNA), or Norris Square Civic Assoc.

Dan Scholnick agreed to lead the effort to organize an interested group. Calls were made for volunteers at several general EKNA meetings. Duane Wilcox (NAC co-ordinator) facilitated meetings of interested EKNA members as a Zoning Focus Group. Basic Zoning appeal procedures were discussed.

Conclusion/ Recommendation: After 6 meetings, the group made the following recommendation to the EKNA general membership and officers.

EKNA should begin to have a say in local zoning appeals, by contributing to the existing NAC zoning commitee for appeals in the EKNA area. 3 members of EKNA would be invited to contribute to the appeal process- including appearancs at the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings. The intention is to 1) Increase EKNA’s exposure and credibility with the ZBA by appearing with a reputabe NKCDC NAC representative. 2) Groom interested EKNA members to be knowledgable of the entire process. 3) Take advantage of the NAC’s paid staffing resources for handling Zoning files/research 4) Pave the way to a future where EKNA may want to be completely responsible for Zoning Appeals in its area.

 The recommendations were made to the General Assembly and Officers and were approved.