COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, May 30, 2007 10:30 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DANIEL SAVAGE BILLS 070386, 070396, 070397 and 070398 - - - 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. This is the Committee on Rules. We have a quorum present: Councilman Savage, Councilman O'Neill, Councilwoman Brown, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kenney and Councilwoman Miller. Will the Clerk please read the title of the first bill. MR. McPHERSON: Bill No. 11 070396, an ordinance to amend the Institutional Development District Master Plan of St. Joseph's University by allowing for the expansion of the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, the Campion Student Center and the Learning Center/Library.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Rules Committee. I am William Kramer, Senior Zoning Planner of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here to testify on Bill No. 070396, which was introduced by Councilmember Campbell on May 10, 2007. 3 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. The purpose of this ordinance 3 is to permit the amendment of the St. Joseph's University Institutional Development District Master Plan. The ordinance will allow the University to expand the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, the Campion Student Center and the Learning Center/Library. The ordinance will also allow for the demolition of two small buildings, Flanagan Hall and Barry Hall Annex, in order to accommodate the Fieldhouse expansion. The Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse will be expanded in an effort to modernize the facility and to expand the seating capacity of the Fieldhouse. The Campion Student Center addition will expand the student dining area while also providing for a large function room for banquets. Additionally, the University is proposing a new accessible entrance and elevator. The Learning Center expansion 4 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. will create a 24-hour quiet, secure study space that will be connected to the library. Pursuant to Section 14-1107 of the Philadelphia Zoning Code, "no 7 proposed change in the Plan shall be effective unless approved by the Council by ordinance." The City Planning Commission, at its meeting of April 19, 2007, approved these revisions to the St. Joseph's University Institutional Development District Master Plan. This concludes my testimony. I appreciate the opportunity and would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you, Mr. Kramer. Mr. Kramer, is this land that is already owned by St. Joe's University?
Are there 5 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. any questions by members of the Committee for this witness? (No response.)
There being none, thank you, Mr. Kramer, very much. Any other witnesses to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Just a moment, please, Mr. Kramer. Councilwoman Brown.
Good morning. Can you please speak to the level of community involvement, awareness, participation that took place with regards to the University Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse expansion?
It was my understanding that there were meetings with the community, but I do not have dates and times of those meetings. There are representatives from the University here that may be better able to answer that directly. 6 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC.
What traditionally is the role of the Planning Commission when it comes to interface with the community on matters such as this?
The role of the Planning Commission is -- we do not necessarily go out and require that individual institutions meet with the community. However, as part of our approval process, we certainly request and require the information from the institution. We don't take a position in support or denial of what the institution is proposing, but we do request that the institution meet with the neighborhood associations to be certain that the community is aware of what's going on. And that's pretty much the case in any of these institutions, whether it be St. Joe's or Temple or University of Penn or whomever.
Are they then required to report back to you the 7 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. outcome or yield of those discussions?
We usually are asking them to report that they've at least presented it. And if the community is aware that the amendments are foregoing or are ongoing, then the community has every opportunity to make themselves aware to our area planning organization, as well as it is a public meeting and can present information at that time. There was no representative from the community in opposition to these proposals.
Okay. Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Chairman, I would like to hear from representatives of the institution and/or any community members that might be present.
Absolutely, Councilwoman. Are there any representatives of the University present? And I also believe that there's 8 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. a member of Councilwoman Campbell's staff who wants to make a statement on behalf of the Councilwoman.
Good morning, members of Council. For those who might not know me, my name is Wadell Ridley and I'm the Assistant Vice-President for Government and Community Affairs at St. Joe's University. And to speak to the question of which you asked, Councilwoman Brown, we probably started meeting with the community in August of 2006. We met with a combined group of the Merion Civic Association and the Wynnefield Residents Association, and we had two meetings that were actually combined with both groups. Then we had a separate meeting that we had with the Wynnefield Residents Association as well as the Overbrook Farms Club. In addition to that, we sent out at least two of our publications titled "1927," which spoke to the Fieldhouse and the three phases that the 9 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. Fieldhouse would experience, as well as the rest of the expansion that would be required under the IDD.
Please speak to, if you will, how the parking issue will be addressed with this expansion given the discomfort that that community has experienced in the past with regards to St. Joe expansion activities.
Certainly. One of the things that we've actually done, which is a separate project that's not part of the IDD piece but still is a major project, we have a parking facility that we're building on the 2400 block of North 54th Street that is going to have in excess of 400 parking spaces, and we feel that that's going to more than adequately cover any increase in parking that might be required.
How are the completion dates of this expansion of the Fieldhouse and the expansion of the 10 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. parking aligned, or are they not?
Well, actually, I'm going to allow Kevin Robinson, our Vice-President of Administrative Services, to speak to that.
My name is Kevin Robinson, Vice-President for Administrative Services at the University. The parking facility will be complete by the end of this October, where the Fieldhouse expansion, we're hoping that we can break ground this September or October. So the facility will be completed well in advance of the completion of the phases of the Fieldhouse.
Finally, what questions have been learned in the course of action that was taken by St. Joe's University and this project stacked 11 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. against St. Joseph's expansion three, four, five years ago and how the interface with the community took place?
I mean, one of the things that has been real important for us and has probably been implemented since I came on board was really enhanced communication. We want to make sure that we are letting the community know exactly what we're doing and how we're doing it, which is probably why we increased our publication of that particular newsletter, as well as sent out individual letters that continually update the community of what's happening. The other thing is that we're looking to form an Advisory Council, and we've been meeting regularly with members of the Wynnefield Residents Association, 12 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. as well as Overbrook Farms and Overbrook Farms East Residents Association. So we want to be very active and proactive in sharing information so that people will know what's happening in advance.
And the Advisory Council will be composed of neighbors from all those associations you just mentioned --
Well, actually, there's a couple groups that we did not mention that will probably be a part of that as well. Wynnefield Heights Civic Association, Belmont Village. What we're going to look to do is kind of create a comprehensive Advisory Council of all those who actually touch on our campus so that everyone has an opportunity to share their issues, concerns and be supportive where they need to be.
Well, let 13 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. me close, then, by actually commending you and Ms. Kresta for your presence with those community meetings, and it is an improvement over years past. And if you could just -- do you have a read on when the Advisory Council -- will it be in place prior to the completion of either one of these projects?
We hope to do that. We're probably going to need some assistance of some members of Council for that.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Ridley, I know you've been through a few community meetings over the years in your former job. How would you 14 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. characterize these meetings? Was there a lot of opposition coming in that was solved or were things going smoothly, would you say, generally?
I guess the short answer would be that things went rather smoothly. The long answer would be that at the time when we started to have these meetings, there was a number of different things that were occurring all at once that required a lot of attention and detail. So I think that the community was able to see a lot of effort from a lot of different angles that would let them know that we were serious about trying to make sure that anything that took place on campus would be a comfortable situation.
What was the most serious question people had about this particular plan, would you say?
About this particular project? 15 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC.
The meetings that we had, there weren't a lot of questions, but the major question would be the Phase III of the renovation of the Fieldhouse where we would have a possible increase in seating in the Fieldhouse with the numbers. And I guess that was the question that the community would ask, is how that would actually impact on parking and traffic congestion. And one of the things about that is the increase was probably going to serve -- more than half of that increase would actually be serving the student population. One of the things that a lot of people didn't realize through this entire transition is that the students that go to St. Joe's University could go through four years and actually never go to a basketball game, because there's a lottery and there's a shortage of seats for students. So this is going to allow us to address that. Where if we were to 16 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. have 800 seats, you're probably talking about 300 seats for new people, non-students, and the parking facility that we are actually building will more than accommodate that.
That was my last question. What is the seating capacity increase, just so I'm clear on that?
We don't have an actual number. We're hoping that we have close to 800, but that might change. There are a number of things that will occur that would change that once we actually start talking with L&I and occupancy, talking about occupancy. I mean, those numbers might not be there. It might not be 800.
What's your total now? What do you seat in there now?
Because I 17 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. know that's an issue over the years. I've heard a lot of people that want to see the games can't get in there. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Councilman. One last question. Has there been any discussion about an equal opportunity plan for the construction phase of the project and a neighborhood participation plan, both for short and long term, in terms of job opportunities?
There has been discussion. It has to be revisited, and we are willing to do that as well. So I could not tell you any details about that, but that's something that we would be able to revisit. Right?
Correct. The contractor/construction manager is LF Driscoll, and in my conversations with them, that, yes, there has to be a plan 18 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. and they're going to participate. The University is going to participate, and the neighborhood will be involved.
At what point do you anticipate having that agreement? Because traditionally once the contract is signed, it's a lot more difficult to get the appropriate commitments.
Well, what we have done in the past is write into the contract goals which we want to reach, and that's what we've done with other projects at the University.
Who oversees that process? And I only speak of Temple. Not to compare you to Temple University, but I've worked with Temple University.
We'll take a look at the existing zip codes and try to get as much of the manpower as we can through -- I'm sorry. The University oversees it, the contractor oversees it, 19 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. and in the past, we've used the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition to oversee it.
Monitor the goals and assisting the solicitation of contractors and employees?
And the assumption is that you have that in writing to the District Councilperson?
The assumption is that you have that language in writing to be available to the District Councilperson?
Thank you. Any other questions of these witnesses by members of the Committee? (No response.) 20 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC.
There being none, thank you all very much. I know now there's a member of Councilwoman's staff that would like to read something into the record. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the Rules Committee. I'm speaking on behalf --
Edward Wright, Chief of Staff for Councilwoman Carol Ann Campbell, regarding Bill No. 070396. Councilwoman Campbell is fully in support of this bill and believes that this bill is necessary for St. Joseph's University to develop to its fullest potential. The Councilwoman feels that the community will derive a lot of benefit from this project: the expanded library facility, which has always been available and open to the community; the expanded Fieldhouse facilities, which 21 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. have always played a major role in the people of the surrounding communities personal physical fitness where everyone is welcome to use the track field. Councilwoman Campbell respectfully requests that the Committee on Rules report this bill out with a favorable recommendation so that St. Joseph's University can move ahead with this great project this summer. Thank you.
Thank you. Any questions of this witness? (No response.)
There being none, thank you very much for your testimony.
Any other witnesses on this bill? 22 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. (No response.)
There being none, will the Clerk please read the title of the next bill. MR. McPHERSON: Bill No. 7 070397, an ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, relating to "Zoning and Planning," by amending Chapter 14-700, entitled "Recreational District," by adding new sections entitled "Passive Recreation District" and "Active Recreation District"; by providing for district regulations and controls, including permitted uses; and by making other technical amendments; all under certain terms and conditions.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Rules Committee. I am William Kramer, Senior Zoning Planner of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here today to testify on Bill No. 070397, which was 23 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. introduced by Councilmember O'Neill May 10th of 2007. Bill 070397 proposes to amend Section 14-700 of The Philadelphia Code by adding two new types of classifications under the existing zoning designation of Recreational. It will establish a new district entitled "Passive Recreation District." The uses permitted in this district will include walkways and trails, community gardens and sitting areas. It would also establish several area regulations, including conditions that allow buildings to occupy no more than 600 square feet and must be certified as compliant with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. No parking is to be permitted in the district. The hours of operation are to be limited from sunrise to sunset. Trails shall be constructed of crushed aggregate material. If paving is required, it shall be constructed of porous paving material. Roadways will be 24 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. limited for access of maintenance vehicles and users of the park for pick-up and drop-off. A second designation would also be created entitled "Active Recreation District." This designation would include such uses as public or private athletic fields and associated structures and facilities, including a joint-use site, park or playground. It further provides that any private operation for private profit within this district and within 500 feet of a district boundary will require a certificate from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This bill is scheduled for consideration by the Planning Commission at its meeting of June 19, 2007. The Planning Commission staff is in the midst of preparing GreenPlan Philadelphia, its first ever comprehensive plan for parks, recreation and open space, expected to be completed by the end of this year. GreenPlan Philadelphia will set forth a 25 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. variety of means to implement and/or regulate open space recommendations citywide, which may include new zoning classifications or changes to the Zoning Code or other mechanisms. This concludes my testimony. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Based on your testimony, it's clear that there is no position by the Planning Commission on this particular bill. I do have a question, a couple of questions actually, and the sponsor of the bill may be in a better position to answer this, because I know he's been working on this for some time. By virtue of this being a new classification that would affect all of the parks throughout the City of Philadelphia, could you give me a sense, assuming that you've done some research on this bill, what parks would be affected? Is there a criteria associated 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. with size, acreage?
Let me answer your question this way: The way this bill was constructed, it left the existing Recreation classification alone, so that the classification that exists today continues to exist and would be applied to all parks that are currently zoned Recreation. In order for you to be designated under one of these new designations, it would require an ordinance of Council to specifically designate a specific park. The bill does not call out any specific space requirements, area. That kind of stuff is not necessarily indicated in that and would probably be a consideration at the time any individual park was considered for rezoning at that time.
So it's similar to the bill that we did recently, the Industrial Transformation District?
Correct. It would 27 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. be the same --
We created the classification, but the Councilmember must introduce a bill to designate a specific location.
Thank you, Mr. Kramer. Anyone else to testify on this bill?
I'd like to make a quick statement to complete the record.
This bill 23 has a companion bill that would place the Benjamin Rush State Park ground at the northeastern end of the City in this 28 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. category. The community, for about four years now, has fully supported this concept at this state park that, one, it be a passive park; two, that it utilize and undertake all of the smart green building that is out there, the construction, that it preserve all the urban gardeners that are there. It's one of the largest urban gardening sites in the United States. And most of those people are not from the area; they're from all over the City that go up there. And the state is responsible for the park because it's a state park. The state has agreed on several occasions to do a passive park like this, which is, first, unlike other state parks that are much more active and, two, other than a very small park in Pittsburgh, it will be the only state park in an urban area in Pennsylvania. I thought four years ago I had an agreement with the Ridge 29 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. Administration and their staff to -- I guess it was a little more than four. It might have been five or six, counting back to when Governor Rendell went in -- to do this kind of park. And I had to strike two streets that had been on the map in that park for years. I did that. The state staff held a press conference in my district announcing a typical state park on the site about three months later, and with help from the Law Department, I unstruck the streets, put them back on the map and had been negotiating with the state under Secretary DiBerardinis to get this passive park done the way the community has asked for it. And they are in complete agreement. My problem is trying to get some guarantee for the community that the same thing that happened once won't happen again, if Secretary DiBerardinis is not around, if Governor Rendell is not around. And we've really, with the Law Department, had a lot of 30 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. difficulty getting something that anybody has confidence in would be binding. The state doesn't want to do any state legislation. They don't want to get that involved in their parks. And we are now in court. The state has actually gone into court and asked the Court to strike the streets, saying, We're going to build this passive park, don't worry, trust us. And working with the Law Department and our litigators, as well as our ordinance 14 writers, we think that we can settle that case and walk away from this if the zoning principles are in place. Our legal department is very confident that we can put this kind of zoning on a piece of City ground that would be a state park. And if the state has an objection to that, they're very free to object, but this will give us, I think, not only the community, the strongest protection possible, but I think it will also enable us to end some 31 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. awkward litigation we're involved with with the state, where we both agree on what we want to do but we can't as a city seem to get the state to agree to give us something we can count on five years, ten years, years from now. 8 This is enough for me that I 9 know I or a successor of mine will have 10 to come in and change the zoning as well 11 and have community meetings to follow 12 that. So that's pretty much where we 13 are, and I ask the Committee to support 14 it. 15 Thank you.
Just a quick question, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Councilman O'Neill, I know you said this would be the first one in an urban area in the state.
Are there 32 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. other cities -- I know New York, I can think of something called a quiet zone or something.
Well, this was taken -- our staff in the Law Department and other agencies actually looked at other cities that have these separate designations of this. We pulled it from best practices in other areas.
Thank you. Anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
There being none, will the Clerk please read the title of the next bill. MR. McPHERSON: Bill No. 23 070398, an ordinance amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designation of certain areas of 33 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. land located in or in the vicinity of Benjamin Rush State Park.
Good morning, members of the Rules Committee, Mr. Chairman. I am William Kramer, the Senior Zoning Planner of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here today to testify on Bill No. 070398, which was introduced by Councilmember O'Neill May 10th of 2007. Bill 070398 proposes to amend the Zoning Maps of the City of Philadelphia by changing the zoning designations of the Benjamin Rush State Park from a designation of Recreation to a designation of Passive Recreation District. This park is located along the Roosevelt Boulevard in the Far Northeast section of the City and contains 238 acres of land. The bill is scheduled for consideration by the Planning Commission at its meeting of June 19, 2007. This concludes my testimony. 34 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you. Any questions of this witness by members of the Committee? Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you. Mr. Kramer or Councilman O'Neill, does this park currently have like playgrounds and stuff like that?
Nothing. It's basically a wooded area with a lot of area that just needs to be cleaned up. It was part of the old Byberry State Hospital. It was designated for state park purposes in 1976, and this will be the first time a capital project would be done on it. The urban gardeners are there and there's a small area in addition to the urban gardeners that had model airplane flyers -- they have a designated area. I think they're there on Sunday 35 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. afternoon -- that use it. And they will be grandfathered into everything and their exact locations as well.
So the park is basically for running, walking, sitting, gardens?
Yeah. The park will be primarily for walking reflection, but also there will be a lot of restoration of the horticulture from -- this ties in a lot to Dr. Benjamin Rush. Dr. Benjamin Rush was the father of American psychiatry, but he learned about survival medicine from the local Indians, and he taught it to Meriwether Lewis before the Lewis and Clark expedition, taught it to him for six months. They lost one person on that entire expedition because of what they had learned first from the Indians, to 36 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. Dr. Rush and then to Mr. Lewis. And so there's going to be a lot of educational markers the state has agreed to develop, teaching children and others, adults, about the Indians that lived in this area, American Indians, long before anyone else did, and also trying to bring back some of the horticulture from the era that people can understand, because apparently some of it still exists in both the Fairmount Park and the -- there's a horticultural center in your district and I can't think of the name of it, but apparently they're willing to help out as well. Penn State, Temple have agreed to help out, Lincoln High School.
Morris Arboretum. Thank you. So it will be a lot more, I think, than just what you think of as a place to walk around. Hopefully it will 37 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. be a place where teachers will want to bring children and learn things.
And the ecological and environmental aspects of it will be state of the art hopefully.
Thank you, Councilman. I think in the future any further designation should have such a wonderful historical perspective attached to it. You are to be commended. Thank you. No other questions for this witness? (No response.)
Thank you very much. Anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
There being none, will the Clerk please read the title of the next bill. 38 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. MR. McPHERSON: Bill No. 3 070386, an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designation of certain areas of land located within area bounded by Burholme Avenue, Napfle Avenue, Burholme Avenue, Hartel Avenue, Hasbrook Avenue, Central Avenue and Shelmire Avenue.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Rules Committee. I am William Kramer, Senior Zoning Planner for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here today to testify on Bill No. 070386, which was introduced by Councilmember O'Neill May 10th of 2007. Bill No. 070386 amends the Zoning Maps of the City of Philadelphia by changing the zoning designation of the Fox Chase Cancer Center from a designation of R-3 Residential to a designation of IDD Institutional 39 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. Development District. The Center is located in the block bounded by Napfle Avenue, Burholme Avenue, Hartel Avenue, Hasbrook Avenue, Central Avenue and Shelmire Avenue and encompasses 20.58 acres of land. The campus of the Fox Chase Cancer Center contains over a million square feet of gross floor area and occupies over 363,000 square feet. The purpose of the change in the zoning designations is twofold. First, it will allow the construction of a six-story patient care facility with 117,000 square feet of gross floor area and an eight-story garage, which will contain parking for a thousand vehicles. Second, it represents the first step in the Center's long-range development plans for this site. It is expected that future growth of the cancer research facility will require both zoning changes as well as amendments to the IDD Master Plan. Bill No. 070386 was considered 40 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. and approved by the Planning Commission at its meeting of May 22, 2007. At the same meeting, a Master Plan of development for the institution was also adopted. At the request of the Law Department, copies of the Master Plan are to be added to Bill No. 070386 as an exhibit. This concludes my testimony. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. And these are the exhibits that need to be added.
Thank you very much, Mr. Kramer. Any questions of this witness by members of the Committee? (No response.)
Good morning. My name is Ronald Patterson. I'm with the law firm of Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg and Ellers in Philadelphia. With me is Dr. Robert Young, who is the 41 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. President, and Mr. Thomas Garvey, who is the Vice-President of Fox Chase Cancer Center. Fox Chase Cancer Center has existed for about a hundred years and at this location since 1949 on acres, and 8 so, therefore, it predates the Zoning 9 Code. This property, along with Jeanes 10 Hospital that's located on the adjacent 11 parcel, is, as Mr. Kramer stated, located 12 in an R-3 Residential zoning district. 13 Hospital uses in R-3 are not permitted by 14 right, but you have to go to the Zoning 15 Board to get a use certificate for any 16 expansion, including any change in use or 17 even one square foot of additional floor area of a building. And it also does not permit multiple structures on the lot. It also does not permit buildings greater than three stories and has also setbacks and zoning and dimensional requirements that are more akin for housing there. The Cancer Center has grown in the last 15 years, and most recently, 42 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. they're able to secure funding for long-term expansion, because patients have increased twice fold and science and technology has been moving at a fast pace. Most currently, we're seeking to expand on the existing building and on our property to create a cancer research pavilion, a clinical expansion and a parking garage having about 605 parking spaces, for a total of about 300,000 square feet of additional floor area at a cost of about 70 million and which will also create 300 new high-tech jobs. Again, however, in light of this expansion and the future expansions, we think it no longer makes sense, as well as the Planning Commission, to have this zoning district still designated as R-3 and we believe this should reflect the hospital use, and the IDD would be the perfect zoning district designation for that. I don't think that anyone would argue that there probably no longer would be houses built on this R-3 43 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. location. So, accordingly, Councilman O'Neill introduced this ordinance. It encompasses the boundary perimeters of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, as well as a portion of the Jeanes Hospital property, on which the garage will be constructed and connected with the Fox Chase Cancer Center. And with that said, if Dr. Young has anything to add.
Well, we appreciate the opportunity to present this and talk about it. Fox Chase Cancer --
I'm sorry. I'm Dr. Robert Young, President of Fox Chase Cancer Center. Fox Chase now cares for about 7,000 new patients a year, about 70,000 outpatient visits, and the volumes are growing about five to seven percent a year, and we're trying to keep up with 44 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. the need that patients in this region and in this community have for cancer care and also maintain the standard of excellence for discovery-related science that's been a part of Fox Chase Cancer Center for over a hundred years. This expansion will all take place on land currently owned by Fox Chase and having been owned since 1949, except for a small portion that will include the garage, which has been long-term leased from Jeanes Hospital. This will not involve any aspect of Burholme Park.
Dr. Young, when you say "long term," we're talking long term?
Is it fair to say that none of this proposed expansion encompassed by this ordinance will encroach anywhere near the Burholme Park?
Mr. Patterson, could you mention the original intent was to do one large IDD hopefully, which is now at best scheduled for September, with some work to be done over the summer?
But that you and the hospital had planned and did actually go to the Zoning Board with support from both civic associations, Fox Chase Homeowners and Burholme Civic and Town Watch, and my office. Could you explain the variance procedure that you went through and are in the midst of and what the impact of this bill will be? 46 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC.
Sure. That application was filed last year to construct a six-story addition to the existing building for use as a radiology outpatient treatment center as part of the cancer research pavilion, which is what we're designating here on this exhibit. Because, again, it was located in an R-3 Residential zoning district and because, as I said, one square foot of expansion or expansion of this use triggered a zoning review, that we had to go to the Zoning Board for both a use certificate and for variance relief. And in summary -- I'll look at the refusal here. We received a referral for the extension of the existing use hospital, which requires a use certificate granted by the Zoning Board after a public hearing. There is an open space requirement that you had to have a 70 percent maximum -- or minimum. We were at 53 percent. There is a building 47 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. height limitation of 60 feet. We were proposing 74 feet. And there were a number of story limitations of three feet, and we were proposing six. We did go to the Zoning Board. The Zoning Board granted a variance, and certain members of an organization that is supposedly affiliated with Burholme Park filed an appeal of that Zoning Board decision. At the same time, we've also filed the application to construct the garage having 600 spaces. That is within the Department of Licenses and Inspection right now. And we would expect that if the IDD is not passed, that that would generate a similar refusal and we'd have to go to the Zoning Board for variance relief for the garage as well.
I want to make the record clear, Mr. Chairman, that when those appeals were filed, I asked the hospital if they were going to be fighting those appeals, both the standing 48 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. issues and the legal issues. They said yes. I asked them to have the Planning Commission prepare above Shelmire Avenue, which is that cut-off line between the City ground and their own, as the IDD and make it a Part A and a Part B, because I didn't think it was fair that people who were clearly and legitimately, they have their democratic rights to oppose the larger expansion that will be discussed at some future time, and we've always said we don't care what they do on their own ground, to stop the will not only of Fox Chase Hospital but also two community organizations that overwhelmingly supported this on the ground of Fox Chase Hospital. There is a general contractor who is ready to go. There's a $55 million patient care pavilion. There's a $15 million parking lot. And this has been going on now in delay mode since about February. So I told them if their legal hands were tied time-wise -- and they 49 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. are -- then nothing will happen until the fall at least on the zoning variances, that I thought this was the right thing to do. And I've been to both civic associations with this legislation and they have overwhelmingly supported it almost unanimously, very close to it.
And I may add or clarify that the Zoning Board hearing date and the date of the decision was November 20, 2006, and since that time, we've had our hands tied.
Thank you. Let the record reflect Councilman Kelly has joined the Committee. Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Young, how many employees are at Fox Chase?
Could you describe some of the types of work that 50 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. they do, other than the physicians?
Well, there are physicians and nurses. There are laboratory technicians. There are basic scientists. There are maintenance people and grounds people and mechanical individuals who support the infrastructure of the Center.
And you have a couple Nobel laureates, I believe, there, too, also?
I don't know of any other entity or company in the City that has any Nobel laureates, let alone two. What's your alternative to expansion?
Well, our 51 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. alternative to expansion primarily is to have to seek a long-term strategy to move the Center. It's critical for there to be an interaction between the scientific discovery aspects of what we do and the patient care delivery aspects of what we do. We can't split those two. No major cancer center in the United States splits those two and we're not going to be the first. They need to interact in order to produce the synergy that benefits patients.
Could you talk a little bit about the number of positions that the expansion will bring?
It will bring about 400 positions, and it will be across the spectrum that I mentioned earlier.
There will also be obviously construction positions as a 52 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. result of this.
Doctor, are you referring to what's in front of us today or the larger expansion in the future?
And if you would just give a preview for what has been in the news for two years now, your --
Well, the full expansion over a to period of time 18 will create about 4,000 new jobs for the 19 City. 20
And how 23 much development is contemplated if the 24 whole plan -- 25
Well, over that 53 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. 25-year period, about a billion dollars worth of expansion.
I'd be remiss at this time if I didn't thank the Council Chairman of the Committee on Parks and Recreation who took a morning out of her life last year -- I don't know if she's still here, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown -- and she had breakfast with me up at our favorite diner and did a nice tour of the whole area to get a real good feel for what the issues were, both pro and con, and what we would be looking at when it finally gets to Council. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. One last question. You referenced construction jobs and long-term jobs. Is there a plan to create a diversity program and a residential component to ensure that there are opportunities for people in 54 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. that community and people in the City of Philadelphia?
Yes. The long-term agreement we established with the City of Philadelphia actually contains that written language.
Is that with MBEC? You said the City of Philadelphia. What department?
My name is Tom Garvey, Vice-President at Fox Chase. And that was worked with -- I forget the proper name of the committee, but it was with Cheryl Gaston.
MBEC? Okay. And you've submitted a plan that reflects those commitments?
Do you want us to supplement the record; is that what you're asking? 55 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a comment to make. I know that there are probably a lot of people that use your facilities. In fact, I've had some family members who unfortunately had to use your services. And I'll tell you right now that you provided an excellent care that I think of any facility or any institution in this country, and I think that I would love to see you not only stay there but expand. And I think that your services and your care is tremendous for not only the community in the Northeast but the entire city or the entire state. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. 56 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd be remiss not to comment on Councilman Brian O'Neill's offer for me to have an up-close-and-personal look and tour of that area well over a year ago. So I need to comment, all of the stakeholders who started early on to work through and work out legitimate community concerns regarding this initiative and to see where you've ended up is commendable. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
You're welcome. Any other questions of these witnesses?
No, Mr. Chairman, but I would like to submit a letter from Paul Andris of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association, which explains their yes vote on this and overwhelming positive response. And I'm looking for the Fox Chase letter. I know 57 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. I have it. I'll have it by the end of the hearing. Thank you.
Anyone else to testify on this bill? Please come forward.
Good morning. My name is Mike Nakowski. I'm a 22-year resident of the Fox Chase area. My older sister, Dori, is one of the success stories of Fox Chase Cancer Center. My kids play organized sports and organized sports on Burholme property. We play football, baseball. They sled there in the wintertime. Fox Chase, in my opinion, Cancer Center is a success story for the neighborhood. The grounds are 58 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. immaculate. The property is kept immaculate. They're going to put a thousand car garage, I hear, there. I don't know anybody of my immediate neighbors that would be against it. They're all for it. I'm speaking for this proposal. I think it's great for the City. There's going to be no 10 impact where my kids go play football, baseball and sled. I see it's a win-win-win for everybody in the City of Philadelphia. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, Council. My name is Bernard Griggs. I'm a representative of the Building Trades Council. I work for Pat Gillespie. Basically I'm here to testify 59 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. today because the Building Trades Council represents many men and women that live in the Fox Chase area and really, quite honestly, when we look at the issue here, it's unfortunate when you're in the construction industry that every day that our men and women go to work, they're basically working themselves out of a job. So one of the many things that we do as Building Trade representatives and representatives of other unions is create the next job for our members. So we see this as an opportunity to create more jobs for local people and see Fox Chase Cancer Center expand. But just as equally important to the jobs that it would create, for Fox Chase Cancer Center to remain on the cutting edge of both cancer research and treatment, I mean, they desperately need this proposal to go through here. So I just wanted to say on behalf of the Building Trades Council that we fully support it and that we would really like 60 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. to see this get done. Thank you.
And how long have you been a member of the Building Trades?
A member 11 years of the Building Trade unions. I've been with the Building Trades Council for a little over four years.
And what was your entry into the Building Trades? Where were you prior to the opportunity to be a member of the Building Trades?
I was a tradesman in the field working for the Bricklayers Union.
And 61 5/30/07 - RULES - BILL 070386, ETC. process for entry was what? A test? Just walk me through how you were able to get an opportunity --
Well, there's an apprenticeship process that you fill out an application, you get accepted into the program and then -- I think back then when I did my apprenticeship program, it was 2,000 hours of training you had to complete to receive your journeyman card.
And so you were an apprentice -- the procedure or process is apprentice, then journeyman?