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Minutes

Committee Hearing, May 6, 2004

Philadelphia City Council Committee HearingsMay 6, 2004

People mentioned

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COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, May 6, 2004 1:05 p.m. - - - - BILL 040207 - An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Umbria Street, Paoli Street, Cliff Street, Lodge Street, Livesey Street, Silverwood Street and Parker Avenue. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE, Vice Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER - - - - 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 I N D E X BILL 040207 THOMAS CHAPMAN, Planning Commission... 3 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207

Council President Verna

Good afternoon. This is the public hearing of the Committee of the Rules regarding Bill No. 5 040207. I would ask Mr. McPherson to please read the title of the bill.

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 Umbria Street, Paoli Street, Cliff Street, Lodge Street, Livesey Street, Silverwood Street and Parker Avenue.

Council President Verna

Before we start with the testimony, I would like the record to reflect that we do have a quorum. To my immediate left is Councilman Mariano, to his left is Councilman Kelly, to my immediate right is Councilman Clarke, and also I have appointed Councilman Nutter. Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.

Mr. Chapman

Good afternoon, Madam 4 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207 President and members of the Rules Committee. My name is Thomas Chapman. I am the Director of the Development Planning Division for the City Planning Commission, and I'm here today to testify on Bill No. 040207. Councilmember Nutter introduced this bill on March 11, 2004. This bill rezones an approximately 4.3 acre parcel of land located at the northwest corner of Umbria Street and Parker Avenue from the existing L-3 Limited Industrial to R-10B Residential. This rezoning has been requested to allow for the construction of 56 single family dwellings at this location. The Planning Commission at its meeting of April 20, 2004, considered Bill No. 18 040207 and also considered a final plat of development for this property and recommended that both that plat and this rezoning be approved. That concludes my testimony. I'll be happy to answer any questions of the Committee.

Council President Verna

Thank you, 5 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207 Mr. Chapman. What are the current uses allowed in is this area?

Mr. Chapman

Madam President, L-3 is a light industrial zoning classification. It would allow some manufacturing. It would allow, for example, storage buildings would be a permitted use. All work would have to be conducted within the building as opposed to some of the heavy industrial DISTRICTS like G-2 and lease restricted.

Council President Verna

And we're changing the zoning to allow for --

Mr. Chapman

Residential development.

Council President Verna

For 56 single-family dwellings. I believe it's on a parcel that's 4.3 acres?

Mr. Chapman

Yes. And the development of this site is consistent with the zoning of the adjacent properties in the area. Immediately to the northeast of this site, most of the zoning is R-5 and R-4 Residential, and both of those classifications 6 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207 allow for single-family homes. So this rezoning consistent.

Council President Verna

Thank you. Do you have any indication as to the approximate sales price for the properties?

Mr. Chapman

No, I don't. I thought perhaps maybe the developer or his representative would have been here today.

Council President Verna

Councilman Nutter.

Councilman Nutter

Councilman Kelly, the gentleman that we've been working with in the community, the Ridge Park Civic Association, working with the owner of the property is Mr. Jerry Bowes who is also the owner of Penn Distributors which is a business located in Roxborough. It's Carol contractors and the primary contact with has been a gentleman by the name of Lance Rothstein who's been working with the community. And I believe in general terms these homes are anticipated to go somewhere in the $200,000 range, somewhere in that neighborhood. It's a corner parcel on one pretty big street, Umbria 7 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207 Street. And then parker, it's a pretty decent-sized street as well. There's residential up the street, as Mr. Chapman has indicated and also across the street. There's been an extensive community process here. And later on I'd like to read into the record actually a deed restriction, part of the deed restriction language that the developer and the civic organization have agreed to.

Councilwoman Verna

Excuse me. I would also like to reflect that Councilwoman Miller has joined us. Councilman Kelly, has that answered your question.

Councilman Kelly

Yes.

Council President Verna

Councilman Nutter, did you want to be recognized?

Councilman Nutter

Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you very much. I obviously won't go into all the particulars of this Covenant of Deed Restriction that has been filed with the appropriate entity. I think it's the Department of Records. I do want to read into 8 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207 the record one part of this. This document is dated April 20, 2004. The particular issue that was of great importance to the community is this particular section that "No structure or building built on that property shall be built with a height greater than 4 stories from grade and shall be no higher than 40 feet in height from grade, whichever is the lesser height restriction." And that was signed by Mr. Gerald J. Bowes who's Chairman of Penn Distributors and is involved in this project, and it was notarized and filed with the appropriate entities. And I would like to make that a part of the record in this particular matter.

Council President Verna

The record will also reflect that Councilman Cohen has now joined us. Councilman, did you say that that's four stories?

Councilman Nutter

Four stories.

Councilwoman Verna

That's rather large, isn't it, for a single family? I assume the basement is included? 9 05/06/04 - RULES - BILL 040207

Councilman Nutter

Yes.

Council President Verna

Are there any questions or comments? (No response.)

Council President Verna

No 7 questions of Mr. Chapman? Any comments? (No response.)

Council President Verna

Anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)

Council President Verna

Seeing no 14 one, that will conclude our public hearing. - - - - 10 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - - Thursday, May 6, 2004 - - - - Public meeting conducted by the Committee on Rules, held in Room 400, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILL 040207. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE, Vice Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER 11 05/06/04 - RULES - PUBLIC MEETING

Council President Verna

We will now go into our public meeting. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.

Councilman Clarke

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that Bill No. 8 040207 be reported out of committee with favorable recommendation and request for a suspension to Rules, as to allow reading at the next session. (Duly seconded.)

Council President Verna

It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 040207 be reported out of committee when a favorable recommendation, also a recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council Session. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Council President Verna

Those opposed? (No response.)

Council President Verna

The ayes 12 05/06/04 - RULES - PUBLIC MEETING have it and the motion carries. Thank you all so very much. (Council adjourned at 1:15 p.m.) 13 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, May 6, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE ON RULES _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR