COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, September 28, 2006 9:30 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN BILL 060580 - An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by W. Coulter Street, Stokely Street, Midvale Avenue and McMichael Street. - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good morning, everyone. This is a public hearing of the Committee on Rules. I would ask Mr. McPherson to please read the title of Bill No. 060580. MR. McPHERSON: An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by West Coulter Street, Stokely Street, Midvale Avenue and McMichael Street.
Thank you. Do we have someone here from the Planning Commission?
Good morning, Madam President, members of the Rules Committee. My name is Martin Gregorski. I'm a Zoning Planner in the Development 3 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 Planning Division of the City Planning Commission. I'm here today to testify on Bill No. 060580. Bill No. 060580 was introduced by Councilmember Nutter on June 15th of this year. This Bill is a zoning change bill for the East Falls area of the City. This is a request to change the zoning designation for an area bounded by West Coulter Street, Stokely Street, Midvale Avenue and McMichael Street. The area is currently zoned R-3 Residential and this bill will rezone most of that area to a designation of R-2 Residential. The purpose of the change is to strengthen the residential nature of these blocks. The initial bill changed the zoning designation of both sides in total. At the request of the community, the bill has been amended to allow for the properties facing Midvale Avenue to retain the R-3 zoning designation. This reflects the fact that several properties along Midvale Avenue are semi-detached 4 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 single-family dwellings which would not be permitted in the R-2 designation. I respectfully submit the amendment for consideration and further request the suspension of rules to allow for the first reading at Council's next session. The Planning Commission --
These graphics will replace the B proposed map in the current bill.
The Planning Commission at its meeting of July 20, 2006 considered Bill No. 060580 and recommended approval. I'll be happy to answer any 5 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 questions of the Committee.
Thank you very much. For the record, can you tell us what distinguishes properties that are zoned R-3 from those that are zoned R-2?
Generally speaking, for the purposes of this, the R-2 zoning district requires larger properties with longer setbacks. Additionally, twins are not permitted in R-2, as they are permitted in R-3. And one of the reasons for this bill is, there are certain non-residential uses permitted in the R-3 zoning designation which are not permitted in the R-2, such as churches, schools, police stations and the like.
Do we know by retaining the existing zoning of the R-3 along Midvale Avenue what future uses the properties would be allowed that would not be allowed under R-2 zoning designation? 6 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580
While they're being used residentially today, the R-3 would permit such uses as fire stations, police stations, schools, churches, hospitals, sanitary and the like.
Do you know if there are current plans to change the current uses of any of the properties?
Are there any questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Mr. McPherson, it is my understanding that we have received copies of letters of support from the community, along with petitions. I would simply ask you to read who the letters were signed by and what vicinity the petitions were signed. MR. McPHERSON: Gordon Morewood and Natalie Rintoul, 3006 West Coulter 7 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 Street; Ann Norton, 3008 West Coulter Street; Bruce Ficken, 3012 West Coulter Street; Kenneth Blank, 3016 West Coulter Street; Ashfaque Beg, 3026 West Coulter Street; Robert A. Prentice, 3030 West Coulter Street; David Fetkewicz, 3032 West Coulter Street; Robert J. Hunt, 3001 Midvale Avenue. We have a Margaret Lockwood, 3100 to 3110 West Coulter Street; Cynthia and Kumar Kishinchand, 3114 West Coulter Street; Jeffrey and Julia Hayes, 3116 West Coulter Street; Richard Lampert, 3122 West Coulter Street; Ellen McGlynn, 3126 West Coulter Street; Mary Lee and Thomas Horner, 3128 West Coulter Street; John P. and Mary V. McGeehan, 3130 West Coulter Street; Donna M. Boling, 3132 West Coulter Street.
Would you just tell us the names of the individuals who have written letters of support? MR. McPHERSON: They have signed a petition which I have here. 8 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580
Very well. Thank you very much. Do we have anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Do we have anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Seeing no one, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam President, I move for the adoption of the amendment to Bill No. 17 060580. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendments be adopted. All in favor will please say aye. (Aye.)
Those 9 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it and the amendments have been adopted. Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I move that Bill 060580 as amended be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and request for a rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of --
I don't think anybody asked for a rules suspension. Did you ask for a rules suspension?
Marty Gregorski, City Planning Commission. 10 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 We did ask for a suspension of the rules.
If you said it, I didn't hear you. However, we will consider it. Thank you. Is there a second? (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 11 060580 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation as amended. Further, that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this concludes the public meeting of the Rules Committee. Thank you all very much. (Committee on Rules adjourned 11 9/28/06 - RULES - BILL 060580 at 9:40 a.m.) - - - 12 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on September 28, 2006, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)