When City Council adopted a new zoning code two years ago,
after more than four years of work, the new system of Registered Community
Organizations—which formalized the practice of meetings between developers and
community groups when zoning approvals were needed—was trumpeted as one of the
document’s major achievements.
Soon, though, the trumpets gave way to a sad trombone.
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell amended the rules after they
were in effect only six months, putting in place a new system which was intended
to be more inclusive, but which many community groups and members of the
Planning Commission found burdensome and confusing.
Over the summer, the Planning Commission solicited feedback
on the new code from developers, community groups, and other code users; much
of the criticism was related to the amended RCO process.
In the fall, Councilman Bobby Henon introduced a bill,
drafted in cooperation with Planning, that would restore much of the process
initially adopted along with the rest of the code. Councilwoman Blackwell
balked; a contentious hearing ensued, and Henon held the bill.
On Wednesday, the Rules Committee will take up a deeply
amended version of the bill. The meeting will be a meeting only, not a hearing,
which means there will be no testimony from the public. Henon said he intends
to bring the bill to a vote at committee. Because Council’s last session of the
year is Thursday, however, the bill won’t be able to come to a full vote until
January, at the earliest.
The latest version of the bill is wholly rewritten, though
it keeps the basic structure of the RCO process intact. Developers seeking
zoning variances or going to the Civic Design Review Committee will still need
to notify and meet with local RCOs about their projects before a hearing takes
place.
Some of the changes are likely to be crowd-pleasers. For
example, arguments about whether or not issue-based RCOs should exist could be
muted by one change in particular: under Henon’s amendments, any group or
individual can sign up for electronic notification from the Planning Commission
when projects are proposed in their areas of concern.
Other changes are head-scratchers. In the amended bill,
there are seven qualifying criteria to become an RCO. The first states that
RCOs must be a nonprofit group, an unincorporated association, a special
services district, or, among other things, a political committee or ward. The
other criteria include things like requirements of regularly scheduled, open
meetings; land-use-related statements of purpose; and member-chosen leadership.
But political committees do not have to meet criteria 2 through 7.
Henon said that provision is intended to be inclusive of the
gamut of organizations that care about neighborhood development issues.
“[Political groups] are a part of the community, and they’re
elected and things like that, so I’m just trying to make sure that people who
weigh in on community matters are thought about,” Henon said.
Another amendment would require District Council members to
select a “coordinating RCO” in situations where a project falls within the
boundaries of more than one group. If the Council member fails to do so within
five days of notification, the Planning Commission will select the coordinating
RCO. The coordinating RCO would be required to host a single, public meeting
with the developer and invite all other overlapping RCOs.
The bill maintains a provision requiring developers to
notify not only each RCO and District Council member affected by a project, but
also every property on the blocks surrounding the project. A list of those
properties that require notification—by mail or door-to-door delivery—will be
provided by the Dept. of Licenses and Inspections and the Planning Commission
within a week of the date the application is filed. Meetings must take place
within 45 days of the date of application.
Other provisions:
RCOs will be
required to re-register every two years—currently the rule is three years;
initially, it was one year.
Coordinating RCOs
will also be required to provide a meeting summary to the Planning Commission
and the District Council member after meetings take place.
The composition of
the Civic Design Review Committee will stay the same: up to two representatives
of local RCOs, as well as one seat for a District Council member’s
representative.
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell could not be reached for
comment on the bill on Friday. Henon said he is still working with her office
on amendments. They haven’t agreed on everything, he said, but he plans to
bring the bill to committee on Wednesday regardless.
“Although zoning may not be a sexy topic, or sexy pieces of
legislation, they certainly have a great impact on our neighborhoods,” Henon
said. “Clarifying the zoning code to create a framework for responsible
development and community input is extremely important.”
Source: PlanPhilly.com
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