COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:45 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN BILL 060159 - An ordinance to amend the Institutional Development District Master Plan of Holy Family University by allowing for the construction of a new student residence building. - - - 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. Can I please have your attention. Thank you very much. This is a public hearing of the Committee on Rules. To my extreme left, we have Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Councilman Goode, Councilman Clarke, and I would ask Councilman DiCicco if he would please give us a quorum. At this time, I would ask Mr. McPherson to please read the title of the bill. MR. McPHERSON: Bill No. 16 060159, an ordinance to amend the Institutional Development District Master Plan of Holy Family University by allowing for the construction of a new student residence building.
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning, 3 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159 Madam President and members of the Rules Committee. My name is William Kramer. I am the Senior Zoning Planner in the Development Planning Division of the City Planning Commission. I am here today to testify on Bill 060159, which was introduced by Councilmember Krajewski on March 2, 2006. This bill will permit the amendment of the Institutional Development District Master Plan for Holy Family University. The amendment is for the erection of a three-story 18,900 square foot structure to be used as student residence housing for 48 students and for a new surface parking lot with 44 spaces. The City Planning Commission at its meeting of February 16, 2006 reviewed and approved the proposed changes to the Master Plan of Holy Family University. Accordingly, the Planning Commission recommends that Bill 060159 be approved. I would be happy to answer any 4 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159 questions of the Committee.
Thank you very much. Are the parking spaces that you referred to primarily for residential students or are they available to anyone?
These particular parking spaces on this amendment are for the residences. They're adjacent to the residential building. The campus does have 861 spaces on campus, some of which certainly are available for public parking.
Well, of the 861, how many are provided for the students?
It is primarily for the students, but if you just pulled in off the street and parked there, there would be no way for them to actually stop most of that. Most places in this particular campus, parking is not really an issue. There's quite a lot of available on-street parking, so it 5 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159 doesn't generally present a problem.
I'm not familiar with the area, so you'll have to forgive me.
How many students attend Holy Family University and how many live on campus?
I do not have that information. Their engineer is here in the room today. He may know that. I do not know that.
All right. Would you approach the witness table, please, identify yourself and give us some information.
Good morning, members of the Committee. My name is Peter Tantala. I'm an engineer for Holy Family University, and I'm here on their behalf to answer any questions you may have. 6 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159 In reference to your most recent question, the school has approximately several thousand students. Living on campus at this time, there are less than 200 students living on campus.
In your opinion, there is no shortage of parking at the University?
Correct. It's our professional opinion that there is no 12 shortage of parking here. As Mr. Kramer stated, there's in excess of 150 parking spaces on campus. It is widely a commuter school at this time, with very little, very small percentage of matriculants that actually live on campus.
Are there plans for future expansion at the University?
There are. Within the next year, we'll be seeking approval, applications, from the Planning Commission for yet another dormitory 7 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159 building, with expansion of parking as well.
Very well. Are there any questions from members of the Committee? The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Kramer, normally the change or the amendment to Institutional Districts are done with simply affirmatively responding from the Councilperson. Is this a new regulation that Council passed that requires an ordinance?
That is correct. This is the first amendment to a Master Plan that has been done since the passage of Bill 050831, which changed Section 23 14-1121, I believe it is, that now requires a bill of Council for an amendment to a Master Plan be approved. 8 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159
Thank you. Any other questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Do we have anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
I believe there's a request for a suspension of the rules; is there not?
Yeah, I believe that they would. I have not heard specifically from Councilwoman Krajewski's office, but I believe there would be.
I am told by a member of the Councilwoman's staff that there is a time element involved here, so I think we'd be better off doing the suspension. 9 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159
Thank you. This will conclude our public hearing and public meeting, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion on Bill No. 060159.
Madam President, I move that Bill 060159 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for a rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 19 060159 be reported out of Committee with 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 say aye. (Aye.) 10 3/30/06 - RULES - BILL 060159
The ayes have it. The motion carries. And this concludes our public meeting. Thank you very much.
Thank you. (Committee on Rules adjourned at 9:50 a.m.) - - - 11 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 March 30, 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.)