|
|
05-04-2008, 04:03 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Advice for attending a Zoning Board meeting
Hello, I'm wondering if anyone out there has advice on what to expect at a Zoning Board hearing. I plan to attend as an objector to a planned project adjacent to our house. I'm not opposed to the project in general--would much rather have something there than an empty lot for trash--but the developers involved have been so rude and incommunicative so far that I am really concerned about how the project will go and impact the houses and yards abutting the property.
The phila.gov website basically says that the objectors need to present "compelling evidence" that the project will have a negative impact on the quality of life. Well, it already has had a negative impact. And since the developer as far as we know has had any neighborhood zoning meetings to explain what they intend, it's hard to imagine they'll have any regard for the neighbors in the future. So, I have written a statement I intend to read, and am also trying to get neighbors to sign it with me or provide their own letters which I will bring (because honestly, who can go to a zoning meeting at 2pm on a Wednesday? People have jobs.) Any thoughts on presenting a successful case for a person who is about as far from being a lawyer as possible? Does the Zoning Board care about what the developers have done in the past, or whether the building is going to be an eyesore totally inappropriate to the neighborhood, or are they really only concerned with use and size? 
|
|
05-04-2008, 10:45 PM
|
|||
|
|||
has the developer been to the local neighborhood association yet? Typically, the ZBA will reject their first proposal and send them back to the neighborhood. The neighborhood either writes a letter in support or in opposition. The ZBA may or may not take that recommendation into consideration.
|
|
05-06-2008, 12:28 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
don't know--
Not sure if they've been to a meeting. I'm trying to find minutes posted from other CRCA meetings but they don't seem to be posted online. No one on our block knows anything about it from what I can tell. I've posted on this issue in the Roxborough list and got no responses.
The CRCA website does list the ZBA hearing on their list of upcoming activities though.
|
| Advertisement | |||
|
|
05-06-2008, 05:23 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
05-06-2008, 06:51 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
This philadelphia process of handing out variances like penny candy has got to stop. Either change the zoning laws or live with them, but the existing process of a planning vacuum filled by a bunch of mayoral appointees deciding on ad hoc variances for just about everything should have ended a long time ago. In the end it is not fair to adjoining landowners like you. You have no way to determine in advance what might possibly be built right next to you, with those decisions far too routinely made by appointees who are not accountable to you. That sort of crap shoot is not the way to run city planning.
__________________
The only reason I can sleep soundly every night is comfort in the knowledge that the police are out there keeping me and my family safe. The only reason I can walk down the streets alone at night in a reasonably peaceful state of mind is comfort in the knowledge that I carry a gun and know how to use it. "Training is the nutrient. Practice is the digestion" Freedom isn't free. Join the NRA. http://membership.nrahq.org/default....aignid=nranews Last edited by random : 05-06-2008 at 06:53 PM.
|
|
05-07-2008, 07:50 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I just found out that they did attend a CRCA meeting a few months ago. Didn't get any detail on what was presented, just that they will "build on the same footprint". Whatever that means. So what they are building (storage units) will be the same as what was there before. However, they did rip down half our party wall so it won't be exactly the same...unless they're going to put up another stone wall, which would be great. Not so great if it's orange corrugated steel. The point is, we don't have any idea what's going on and the developer hasn't bothered to let us know, of course. (Other than coming into our yards and leaving surveying flags, stakes, and spray paint marks all over our property).
So I don't know that they would be seeking a variance--it's for the same use as before. But we are very concerned about safety and what these things are going to look like. And if they are going to be noisy, 24 hour, be used as meth labs and storage of hazardous materials, etc. Whatever they put up will be our view for the next 30+ years... [quote=random;766487]Actually, the person seeking the variance must show non-economic hardship justifying the variance and that granting the variance will not adversely affect health, safety and welfare (including density, traffic, light and air, etc., etc.). You might remind the zoning board of that standard at the outset.
|
|
05-07-2008, 02:00 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
The City Won't Help You unless You Join with others
[quote=newbie2006;766832]
So I don't know that they would be seeking a variance--it's for the same use as before. But we are very concerned about safety and what these things are going to look like. And if they are going to be noisy, 24 hour, be used as meth labs and storage of hazardous materials, etc. Whatever they put up will be our view for the next 30+ years... Quote:
The local Community Group East Mt Airy Neighbors and City Council Donna Reed Miller’s office represented the idea at CITY PLANNING. The Developer was friends with the President of the local CDC Mt Airy USA. The real estate agent is the local Democratic Ward Leader. City Planning IGNORED the hazardous environmental history of the site and granted approval. Land had well known history of dumping of chemical, gasoline station and more. There was a deliberate attempt to hide this information from the local neighbors. CITY PLANNING and ZONING IGNORED the health and welfare of the adjacent neighbor. They did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PROTECT ME. I was poisoned by the fumes released during excavation. I was displaced from my home for about 10 months. I have been in the hospital at least 3 times because of this. NO dust control for protection of my house has ever been enforced. Illegal demolition cracked and bent my house and Zoning had contempt for me when I sent a lawyer to report the problem. I have a chronic cough and my balance and focus is disturbed. from chemical exposure. I may have a concussion right now because of a recent accident. I have to go to the hospital again to check it, but I’m tired of going to the hospital and I always have to drive myself there alone-- which is hard when you are injured. I have many accidents since the exposure to the chemicals because of the way it affected my focus and balance. City Planing has NEVER investigated the environmental complaint in a honest way. They deny deny deny and ignore ignore ignore in spite of ongoing health problems. EPA AND DEP are useless and in the city’s pocket. The Ward leader Vernon Price who used to own my house and stood up in front of Planing requesting approval, spread rumors about me in the street and the community turned against me. I have been burglarized at least eight time and the Police didn’t pay any attention because they were listening to City Council who spread the rumors that I was crazy. No- I wasn’t crazy- I was poisoned by contaminated dust. I’ve been the target of the CITY that wanted to cover up the environmental hazards on this site that they had blessed and approved. The City NEVER CARES about YOU the citizen. They care about COVERING their A.......and their friends. On June 10, 2006, at a environmental workshop in Northern Liberty with Hilary Regan, I told some of what was happening. Two City Planners were there and DEP was there . Within three days I end up in the hospital because big excavation vehicles came in and dusted my house with contaminated dirt. Within the next month the Water Department came and gave violations for environmental hazards. The City never informed me of this violation or that my neighborhood was exposed. One of the presenters at that workshop told of the hazards of dust. Construction dust is well known to have many health hazards, especially construction dust from a hazardous site. But the City never informed me of this violations or let me know the contamintion that I or my neighborhood was exposed to. The CITY basically LEFT me to DIE- and has never taken responsibility. If there was a former meth lab, there is a real hazard. This kind of thing has happened to others in the city and nobody ever gets any help and lives are destroyed. City Planing, Zoning and City Council take care of their own. They don’t care about you unless you are one of them. You have NO RIGHTS. I wrote up a list of 11 Rights for Citizens and the Environment that can help protect people in my position . I don’t want to make this post too long, so I will put it on another thread. I still have to go to the hospital today. I think I might have a concussion. The toxic fumes that inhaled for so long have had far reaching effects on my balance and focus. The City’s actions and non action toward me have been, in my opinion, criminal. Here is a phone number you can call to leave a complaint. I don’t know what I can do, but at least a record of similar complaints and concerns might force some change to happen to protect us and make the City more accountable. Also go to Hallwatch and start to complain. Too many lives have been destroyed by the partnership of developers and the CITY. Citizen Voice of Philadelphia 216 525 1176
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
