PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council passed several bills that will impact development during its final session of the calendar year.
Council gave final approval to a bill that would revamp the Zoning Board of Adjustment, if voters say yes in a referendum on the May primary ballot.
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The Zoning Board rules on developers’ requests to go outside of what’s allowed in the city code, such as constructing more floors on a building.
Council President Darrell Clarke proposed a revamp after community groups complained the board ignores their concerns. He sought a larger board with wider representation and council approval of appointees, but that requires a charter change.
There was much debate about the bill during public comments. Would it hamstring development or simply give communities a greater voice in what is built around them? Clarke said voters would be the ones to answer those questions.
But since most voters reflexively approve ballot questions, Council passage makes it close to a done deal.
Council approved other bills that will impact development.
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One would require affordable units to be included in new, large developments in certain parts of West and North Philadelphia. Another imposes a demolition moratorium in parts of Roxborough.
Council approved another bill that requires affordable housing to be included in any large development in parts of the districts represented by Maria Quinones Sanchez and Jaime Gauthier.
Gauthier noted that more than 3,000 units have been developed in her district in the last three years, none of them affordable.
"We all want to see Philadelphia grow, but not at the expense of low income and working-class residents who are seeing their options for safe and stable housing shrink with each passing year," said Gauthier.
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Gauthier also introduced a bill that would help non-profits and community groups lead development on city-owned vacant property.
Council faces one huge task in the new year. It must redraw the boundaries for district council seats, to be in line with the 2020 census.
It also got some new bills to consider when it returns in January, including legislation to limit outside employment, in the wake of Councilman Bobby Henon’s conviction that found his salary from the electricians union amounted to a bribe.
In its final session of the calendar year, it also extended the eviction diversion program to the end of 2022 and approved the purchase of new and better surveillance cameras around rec centers.
