COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, April 21, 1998 11:26 a.m. - - - BILL NO. 970592 - An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps, by changing the zoning designation of certain areas of land located within the block bounded by Glenwood Avenue, Second Street, Tioga Street, and Phillips Street BILL NO. 970692 - An ordinance amending an ordinance approved June 25, 1997, Bill No. 970047, entitled "An Ordinance granting permission to National Fiber Network, a Delaware Corporation, registered to do business in Pennsylvania, and its successors, assignees, and agents, to construct, maintain, and operate and replace and remove a telecommunications system in, under, and across the public rights-of-way on City streets and/or to place such telecommunications system within the existing facilities owned by Bell Atlantic-PA, PECO Energy Company, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Consolidated Rail Corporation, CSX Corporation, or other entity holding a grant pursuant to other City ordinances, all under certain terms and conditions" by listing additional permitted locations for such telecommunication system, under certain terms and conditions. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY, Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILWOMAN ANNA CIBOTTA VERNA COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 I N D E X Bill No. 970592 Richard Lombardo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Philadelphia City Planning Commission. Andrew Toy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 City's Commerce Department Bill No. 970692 Michael Longshore, Chief Permit Officer . . 7 Philadelphia Streets Department 3 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970592 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning. The Council Committee on Rules is now in session to hear testimony on -- first Bill No. 970592, which is an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps, by changing the zoning designation of certain areas of land located within the block bounded by Glenwood Avenue, Second Street, Tioga Street, and Phillips Street. Before you start, we're going to make sure that people in the room know that Bill No. 13 970567 will be held, and we will hear testimony on Bill 970592 and 970692. Please identify yourself for the record on Bill No. 970592.
Yeah, good morning Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee.
My name is Richard Lombardo. I'm from the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I'm here today to speak on Bill 23 970592. This bill was introduced by Councilman Mariano on September 25, 1997 on behalf of Erie 4 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970592 Steel. It involves a small site bounded by Glenwood, Second, Tioga, and Phillips Street. The site is approximately 6700 square feet in area. It is proposed to be rezoned from Class R-10 Residential to Class G-2 Industrial. This site is made up of a series of properties that have been acquired by Erie Steel, either directly or through sheriff's sale or through the Redevelopment Authority. The site was a series of vacant buildings and vacant lots. It is all vacant today. They propose to -- along with an agreement with surrounding neighbors, to pave and fence this lot and use it as part of their business. Andrew Toy, from the Commerce Department, is also at the table, who can speak to the business of how long it's been here, the number of employees, and its relationship with the surrounding neighbors. For the record, in the Planning Commission's meeting of September 4, 1997, it recommended approval of Bill 970592.
Thank you very 5 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970592 much. Mr. Toy, please identify yourself for the record.
Sure. Good morning. My name is Andrew Toy, and I'm here representing the City's Commerce Department. I'm here in support of Bill No. 970592, the proposed zoning change for an area located within the block bounded by Glenwood Avenue, Second Street, Tioga Street, and Phillips Street. The proposed zoning change will allow Erie Steel, a long-standing company within the American Street Enterprise Zone to finally develop the lots across the street from its factory over the past ten years, the City has been working with Erie Steel and its neighbors to improve these vacant lots. Erie Steel, with the support of its neighbors and Councilman Mariano, is now ready to pave and secure the lots for truck and car parking. The final parcels of ground comprising the lot were acquired by Erie Steel last year through the Redevelopment Authority and were approved by City Council. 6 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970692 By changing the zoning of these lots, we allowed and encouraged the improvement of this site for the benefit of Erie Steel and its neighborhood. Again, we support the passage of Bill 7 970592, which helps to us retain and grow a local enterprise-zone business while improving the area. Thank you for your consideration on this matter.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Are there any questions of these witnesses? (No response.)
Seeing none, thank you very much. Is there anyone else in the room to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Seeing none, we will move to Bill No. 970692, which is an ordinance amending an ordinance approved June 25, 1997, Bill No. 970047, entitled "An Ordinance 25 granting permission to National Fiber Network, a 7 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970692 Delaware Corporation, registered to do business in Pennsylvania, and its successors, assignees, and agents, to construct, maintain, and operate and replace and remove a telecommunications system in, under, and across the public rights-of-way on City streets and/or to place such telecommunications system within the existing facilities owned by Bell Atlantic-PA, PECO Energy Company, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Consolidated Rail Corporation, CSX Corporation, or other entity holding a grant pursuant to other City ordinances, all under certain terms and conditions" by listing additional permitted locations for such telecommunication system, under certain terms and conditions. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Michael Longshore. I'm the Chief Permits Officer, representing the Streets Department. I'm here to 8 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970692 testify today on Bill No. 970692. This is not an administration ordinance 4 but an ordinance requested by National Fiber Network Incorporated, currently known as "Metro Media Fiber Network Incorporated," located at One North Lexington Avenue, White Plains, New York, 10601. The purpose of this ordinance is to acquire from City Council the legal authority and permission to construct and maintain a fiber optics network and telecommunications system at three additional locations that were omitted in the original route, which was approved by Council on June 25, 1997. This ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets, and is recommended to your committee for favorable action.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Are there any questions for this witness? (No questions.)
Is there any urgency to have this bill done? 9 RULES COMMITTEE - BILL NO. 970692
I would ask, Mr. Chairman, that the rules be suspended on this bill.
I mean, what's the purpose? Can you elaborate on the need for the urgency?
Sure. This company has been working with the Streets Department for at least the last two years to try to get this telecommunication system started basically in Center City, and then moving to the South Philadelphia area. Due to unforeseen telecommunications laws that are pending, there has been quite a few holdups. And at this point right now, they're waiting for approval.
Okay, hold on. Is there anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
That will conclude 10 RULES COMMITTEE - PUBLIC MEETING the business of the Rules Committee public hearing. - - -
We will now convene a public meeting. And the Chair recognizes Councilmember Verna for a motion on Bill No. 970592, with a rules suspension.
Thank you. Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 970592 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended to as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor? There are none opposed. Bill No. 21 970592 will be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and a request will be made for rules suspension to allow for a first reading the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember 11 RULES COMMITTEE - PUBLIC MEETING Verna for a motion on Bill No. 970692.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 970692 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation.
Second. All in favor, say aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 9 970692 will be reported out of this committee favorably. That will conclude the business of the Rules Committee. Thank you very much for your attendance. Again, as read before, Bill No. 970567 will be held. (Adjourned at 11:30 a.m.) - - - 12 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Tuesday, April 21, 1998, were reported and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON RULES BILL NO.'S 970592 and 970692 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, RPR