City Council overrides Nutter’s veto of changes to zoning code, P.2

1/31/2013 | Real Estate Blog

In our last post, we began speaking about the city’s councils recent decision to override Mayor Nutter’s veto of proposed changes to the Philadelphia’s new zoning code. The major sticking points for those who are opposed to the changes are the expanded notice requirements, the possibility of needing to have multiple meetings, and the weak requirements to be a registered community group.

The expanded notice requirement, as we noted, require developers to inform residents within one block of a project, as well as those on adjacent blocks. In his veto letter, Nutter said the bill doesn’t make it clear how residents will be reached who live in multi-occupant buildings, and that the notice requirement could well lead to litigation over noncompliance, since even good-faith compliance will be difficult.

The possibility of multiple meetings before a project can go forward is another problem for opponents of the adopted changes. The bill, opponents say, allows registered community organizations to avoid the need to work together. With each meeting having the potential to derail a project, developers may be reluctant to start up new projects.

Under the new zoning code, registered community organizations were required to hold regular meetings, have an elected leadership and have within its bylaws defined geographic boundaries. The changes do away with those requirements, allowing less defined groups to have their say.

The effects of the changes will certainly not make things easier for developers. We’ll keep our readers updated for any developments on this issue.

Source: CBS Local, “City Council Overrides Nutter’s Veto Of Zoning Code Changes,” Mike Dunn, January 25, 2013