Developers, the Public, and the Zoning Code

The PPCE, collaborating with the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects (under its umbrella organization the Center for Architecture) conducted a series of deliberative workshops to provide input to the Zoning Code Commission (ZCC) in their effort to define the public engagement process that will be part of the new zoning code.

These workshops provided an opportunity for the development community and civic leadership to meet, first alone and then together, to help formulate the basics of how communities will have a voice in development decisions in their neighborhoods. For the first time, neighborhoods and developers helped define how the process should work. And by building common ground up-front, they’re more likely to have a project review process that will be transparent, effective and enriching to the neighborhoods and the city as a whole.

The first workshop, on January 19, 2010,was for the the development community. This group included developers who have presented a project to the ZBA (Zoning Board of Adjustment) within the last two years and professionals (architects, planners, engineers and lawyers) whose involvement in development includes interacting with the ZBA. CDCs (Community Development Corporations) and NDC’s (Neighborhood Development Corporations) with development arms that have initiated or completed construction within the last two years are included here.

The second workshop, on January 23, 2010, was for community leadership. This group included neighborhood based organizations such as civic associations, CDC’s, NDC’s, and NACs (Neighborhood Advisory Councils), BIDs (Business Improvement Districts), neighborhood business associations and geographically-based chambers of commerce.

The final workshop, on January 27, 2010, was for representatives of the first two workshops. At that time, we worked to consolidate outcomes from the first two sessions, identifying areas of common ground that could lead to a process in which both sides have constructive roles. Where possible, we identified trade-offs people are and are not willing to make as well as tensions that need to be resolved.

All workshops were invitational. Organizations were invited to send one person and identify a second to be an alternate, should the first person not be able to participate.

The project served an advisory function, developing a set of common ground principles and outlined a model for the project review process. For its part, the ZCC responded to the common ground principles by acknowledging the substance of the report and the ways in which it would and would not address that substance. This does not mean that the ZCC agreed to apply all of the principles that emerge from these deliberative workshops. The ZCC did, however, explain which principles it adopted and how and why, and which it decided not to adopt and what it would do instead and why.

The results of the workshops are available on this web site, as well as on the zoningmatters.org, AIA, and WHYY websites.

In finding common ground among developers and citizens, we accomplished two things. First, we set the stage for a process where all those concerned could act to realize a vibrant vision of our city. Second, we modeled a process that might resonate in other large cities where the citizens and developers have common goals, and how they could structure a processes that encouraged creativity and collaboration, not conflict.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Harris Sokoloff, Executive Director
Center for School Study Councils
University of Pennsylvania
215-898-7371