COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, April 14, 2025 10:10 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS, CHAIR COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA, VICE-CHAIR COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON
Good morning. This hearing is called to order. Members and guests will please take their seats. The hearing is now called to order and the Clerk will now take roll for the Rules Committee. Today is Wednesday, April -- today is Monday, April 14, 2025. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Present. A quorum of the Committee is present, and this is the public hearing of the Committee on Rules regarding Bill Nos. 250207, 250242, 250243, 250244. The Clerk will now read the titles of the bills.
Bills No. -- or Bill No. 250207, an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Federal Street, 13th Street, Wharton Street, and Broad Street. Bill No. 250242, an ordinance repealing in its entirety Bill No. 240972 (approved December 23, 2024), entitled "An Ordinance 8 amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by revising certain provisions of Section 14-906, entitled "Market Street East Sign Regulations," all under certain terms and conditions." Bill No. 250243, an ordinance repealing in its entirety Bill No. 240971 (approved December 23, 2024), entitled "An Ordinance 19 amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled Zoning and Planning, by amending certain definitions relating to signs; creating an "Arena Area" within the "/CTR, Center City Overlay District" overlay; and making related changes, including a master plan requirement and changes to accessory sign controls; all in connection with zoning rules for a proposed arena in Center City; and approving a master plan for the Arena Area; all under certain terms and conditions." Bill No. 250244, an ordinance repealing in their entirety, the following ordinances all approved December 23, 2024: Bill No. 240966, (granting the necessary authorizations for the City to help facilitate development of a new arena for the Philadelphia 76ers); Bill No. 240967 (authorizing the execution of a Service Agreement between the City and PAID); Bill No. 240968 (authorizing striking Filbert Street from 10th Street to 11th Street from the City Plan); Bill No. 240969 (authorizing striking certain aerial portions of 10th Street between Market Street and Filbert Street from the City Plan); Bill No. 240970 (authorizing the construction and maintenance of various right-of-way encroachments in the vicinity of the proposed arena); Bill No. 240963, (amending the existing Gallery at Market Street) -- excuse me, (Market East Tax Increment Financing District in the area of the proposed arena); and Bill No. 240973 (approving the amendment of a neighborhood and improvement district in the area of the proposed arena). There are no other bills under consideration today.
21 Thank you. And the Clerk will 22 please call the first panel we have 23 to testify on Bill No. 250207. 24
Paula Brumbelow Burns, Director of Legislation for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. (Witness approached Witness table.)
It's all right. All good. Please state your name for the record and proceed.
7. Thank you. Good morning, Chairperson Bass and members of the Rules Committee. I am Paula Brumbelow Burns, Director of Legislation for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I'm here to testify on Bill No. 250207, introduced into City Council on March 13, 2025, by Councilmember Squilla. Bill No. 250207 amends the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations for land located within the bounded area of Federal, 13th, Wharton and Broad streets and is located in the Passyunk Square neighborhood of the South Planning District. This bill will change the zoning designations of property located on Juniper and Clarion Streets located south of Federal Street. The properties will change designations from I-2, Medium industrial, to RSA-5, Residential Single-Family Attached. The properties are currently being used as 14 single-family homes and has the support of the RCO who requested this map change. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will consider Bill No. 250207 at its public meeting on April 17th and recommend the bill for approval. I'll be happy to answer any questions at this time.
Thank you. Any questions from the panel? (No response.)
Seeing none, is there anyone else here to testify on Bill No. 250207 whose name has not been called? (No response.)
And seeing none, I want to thank the witness for her testimony today.
Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you please call the witnesses for Bill 4 No. 250242.
Paula Brumbelow Burns, Director of Legislation for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
Good morning. I'm still Paula Brumbelow Burns, Director of Legislation for the City Planning Commission. I am here to testify on Bill No. 250242, introduced into City Council on March 20, 2025, by Council President Johnson and Councilmember Squilla. And I'd like to correct that. I believe it's Councilman Squilla introduced for Council President Johnson. Okay. Just want to make that correction from my testimony. Bill No. 250242 repeals Bill No. 240972, approved December 23, 2024, which amended the Philadelphia Zoning Code by revising Section 14-906, entitled Market Street East Sign Regulations in the Market East area of the Central Planning District. The Philadelphia 76ers have notified the City that they will not be moving forward with their plans for an arena in the ten-hundred block of Market Street. With this action, the City would like to repeal this bill 16 that was put in place to facilitate this specific development. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will approve Bill No. 20 250242 as an item in accord with the previous policy at its public meeting on April 17, 2025.
Seeing none, okay. Anyone else here to testify on this bill whose name has not been called? (No response.)
Seeing none, can we have the clerk please state the next -- call any witnesses for Bill No. 250243.
Paula Brumbelow Burns, Director of Legislation for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
Hi. I'm Paula Brumbelow Burns. I am here to testify on Bill No. 23 250243, introduced into City Council on March 20, 2025 by Councilman Squilla for Council President Johnson. Bill No. 250243 amends the Philadelphia Zoning Code by repealing Bill No. 240971, which created an "Arena Area" within the "/CTR, Center City Overlay District" overlay and included a master approval for the Arena Area. The Philadelphia 76ers have notified the City that they will not be moving forward with their plans for an arena in the ten-hundred block of Market Street. With this action, the City would like to repeal this bill that was put in place to facilitate this specific development. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will approve Bill No. 250242 as an item in accord with previous policy at its public meeting on April 17, 2025. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
Okay. Great. All right. Thank you. Any questions from the panel? (No response.)
No, okay. Thank you for your testimony. And is there anyone else here to testify on Bill No. 250243 whose name has not been called? (No response.)
Seeing none, I want to thank you for your testimony on 250243. And can we now have the Clerk call the witness for 250244.
Paula Brumbelow Burns, Director of Legislation for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
I'm Paula Brumbelow Burns, and I am here to testify on Bill No. 250244, introduced into City Council on March 20, 2025, by Councilmember Squilla for Council President Johnson. Bill No. 250244 repeals in the entirety ordinances approved December 23, 2024, that would have facilitated the development of a new arena for the Philadelphia 76ers that would have been located on Market Street East in the Central Planning District. The Philadelphia 76ers have notified the City that they will not be moving forward with their plans for an arena in the ten-hundred block of Market Street. With this action, the City would like to repeal the bills that were passed to facilitate this specific development. This bill repeals the following bills that were approved on December 23, 2024: Bill No. 9 240966, granted authorizations for the City to help facilitate development; Bill No. 240967, for the execution of a Service Agreement between the City and PAID; Bill No. 240968, authorized the striking of Filbert Street from 10th Street to 11th Street from the City Plan; Bill No. 240969, authorized the striking of certain aerial portions of Tenth Street between Market Street and Filbert Street from the City Plan; Bill No. 22 240970, authorized various right- of-way encroachments in the vicinity of the proposed arena; Bill No. 240963, amended the existing Gallery at Market East Tax Increment Financing District; Bill 4 No. 240973, amended a neighborhood improvement district in the area of the proposed arena. I'll be happy to answer any questions at this time.
Are there any questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Seeing none, is there anyone else here to testify on Bill No. 250244 whose name has not been called? (No response.)
Seeing none, I want to thank the witness for her testimony. Thank you very much.
Being that there are no further witnesses, I will ask if there's anyone else here in chambers that wishes to testify on any of the bills before committee today? (No response.)
And seeing none, this now concludes the public hearing. We will now go into a public meeting shortly to consider the action to be taken on the bills before the Committee today. Madam Clerk, will you do a quorum check please.
Present. Okay. Thank you for your patience. We'll now go into a public meeting to report out on Bills Nos. 250207, 250242, 250243 and 250244. Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on the above-mentioned bills.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill Nos. 240207, 250242, 250243, 250244 be reported with this committee with a favorable recommendation and further moved that the rules of Council be suspended to submit the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill Nos. 240207, 250242, 250243, 250244 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of these bills at the next session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. And if there's no 23 further remarks from the Committee, this concludes the business of the Rules Committee for today. Thank you all very much for your attendance.
Great job. (Committee on Rules concluded at 10:25 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. __________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL