Zoning Map Changes Proposed

Members of the Philadelphia Planning Commission met with the Central Roxborough Civic Association on Monday to discuss proposed changes to the zoning map.

“A lot of developers are buying up older, larger properties, and then demolishing the home and chopping up the land,” said Matt Wysong from the planning commission.  “They can take one house and turn it into four or five lots.”

A large number of residents have opposed the demolition of several old buildings in the area, and they started this process as a way to help preserve these buildings.

The new plan hopes to make that process harder for developers.

Wysong used the Roxborough home for women located at 601 Leverington Ave. as an example.

“Right now, if the home sold its land, a developer could come in there and turn that one lot into 10 lots,” Wysong said.  “Under the new plan, they can only divide it into three lots.”

Several residents were concerned about property values, and how limiting develop could diminish property values.

“That’s all speculative,” Wysong said.  “We try to strike a balance with what will do the community good, and how it affects people’s property.”

Wysong added that the current plan is a first draft, and that if they have concerns they should contact him or Josh Cohen at Councilman Curtis Jones’ office.

Paula Brumbelow, who also works for the planning commission, said that the new zoning map could go into effect as early as Thanksgiving. 

According to her timeline, the new map would be presented to Councilman Jones in the first week of October. 

By the first week of November it would go through the city council’s rules committee, and then be passed in council by Thanksgiving.

“As soon as the mayor signs the bill, the new zoning goes into effect,” Brumbelow said.  “Everything happening now would be legal and grandfathered in under the old rules.”

Brumbelow added that if a home’s zoning changes the current zoning rules would remain in effect until the house was sold.

“It’s not a silver bullet,” Wysong said referring to the new map.  “But it’s a start.”