FYI
Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:03:03 -0400 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Parks Threatened by Proposed Council Bill Dear Members and Friends, A seriously mind-boggling piece of legislation (see full text below) was introduced last Thursday, May 7, 2009 in City Council proposing the following new uses on parcels of public land zoned recreational: Catering Facilities, including accessory live entertainment and dancing; Conference centers; Detached single-family dwellings; Meeting facilities; Museums; or Public or private parking lots. We are all aware of the City's serious budget deficit and the understandable preoccupation of the Mayor and City Council to find additional revenue sources. However, once any of the proposed uses are built on public land, our park land will be gone forever. Fairmount Park is the nation's largest urban park. It is a source of pride among citizens of Philadelphia and it should be protected and preserved for all future Philadelphians. PLEASE FORWARD TO FIVE OF YOUR FRIENDS AND INVITE THEM TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM SCRUB, THE PUBLIC VOICE FOR PUBLIC SPACE! Thanks, Mary Tracy Executive Director Full Text of Bill 090380 Below: BILL NO. 090380 Introduced May 7, 2009 Councilmember Krajewski Referred to the Committee on Rules AN ORDINANCE Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Chapter 14-700, entitled "Recreational Districts," by amending the uses permitted in the District, and by adding provisions with regard to signs. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows: TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING. * * * CHAPTER 14-700. RECREATIONAL DISTRICTS. §14-701. Classes. (1) Recreational Districts shall be designated as: "Recreational (REC)", "Passive Recreation (REC-P)", and "Active Recreation (REC-A)". §14-702. Designation. (1) Parcels of public land under the jurisdiction of the City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation, FairmountPark Commission, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the National Park Service of the United States Government which are devoted to park and/orrecreational purposes and permitted related uses may be designated on the zoning maps as Recreational (REC), Passive Recreation (REC-P), and Active Recreation (REC-A). §14-703. Recreational District (REC). (1) Use Regulations. The specific uses permitted in this district shall be the erection, construction, alteration, or use of buildings and/or land for: (a) [a]Any type of recreational use or activity, including recreational activities related to the use of creeks and rivers; [provided, that any private operation for private profit located within this district at a distance of 500 feet or less from any district boundary shall be permitted only if a certificate from the Zoning Board of Adjustment is obtained.] (b) Catering facilities, including accessory live entertainment and dancing; (c) Conference centers; (d) Detached single-family dwellings; (e) Meeting facilities; (f) Museums; (g) Public or private parking lot, accessory to any use permitted in the district; (h) Public or private parking area, accessory to any use permitted in the district, limited in use to special events or special occasions. Such parking areas shall be unpaved, due to the occasional use of such parking areas; (i) Accessory uses, customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses; (j) All limitations on multiple buildings on a lot, whether stated or implied, shall not apply in this district. (2) Area and Height Regulations. Where a Recreational District is in the same block with any other district, said Recreational District shall comply with the area and height regulations of the most restrictive district which abuts upon said Recreational District. (3) Signs. Accessory signs shall be permitted upon approval by the Art Commission. * * * SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately. Donate to SCRUB Please contribute to SCRUB at www.publicvoiceforpublicspace.org or by sending a check payable to SCRUB at 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1605, Philadelphia, PA 19107. SCRUB, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is Philadelphia's public voice for public space. 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