I didn't know caring about the enviroment and the topic of this post were same thing.

Here's the bill: http://webapps.phila.gov/council/detailreport/?key=8163

I can't seem to find any notice of the hearing online.

__________________
---Shosh

That is odd. If there was a hearing scheduled, it would be attached to the link you provided.

I just saw another misstep in this legislation. While the neighborhood has been attempting to limit curb, this law will practically make it open season to allow them as long as its 10ft or less. The planning com. will ignorantly approve any curbcut since it falls within the parameters of the law.

These people are f%&() morons.

What I've got is real official looking, trust me. Xeroxed signature of Anna Verna and everything. The relevant portions are as follows (bold in original):

4. As required by Chapter 14-900, City Council's Committee on Rules will hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment from affected property owners within the District (and any other interested persons). The hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 10:00 AM in Room 400 City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. . . . .

5. Under Chapter 14-900, affected property owners may object to the creation of the District by filing with the Clerk of Council a statement of opposition to the creation of the District, by the date of the June 11, 2008 public hearing. Such statement must be in writing, signed by the property owner or owner of owner-occupied housing units and filed with the Clerk of Council, Room 402, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Please make reference to Queen Village Neighborhood Conservation District in any written objection you file with the Clerk. . . . .

6. Under Chapter 14-900, if, by the date of the June 11, 2008 hearing, 51% or more of all property owners or 51% of all owners of owner-occupied housing units located within the proposed District have failed to register their disapproval of the creation of the District in writing with the Clerk of Council, then Bill No. 080080 may thereafter be enacted into law, which will create the District.

__________________
---Shosh

I wasn't contradicting anything you were saying...I just found it very odd that it didn't show up on the schedule. Thanks for the additional info.

Our city (odd, DiCicco's office didn't return my call today) and our neighborhood association (come to think of it, neither did Carla) don't expect us to put up any kind of opposition to this. We need to show them just how wrong they are.

I know with the primary coming up everyone is tired of people knocking on their door, but after April 22nd we need to start doing the same to make sure people know what's being done behind the scenes at city hall.

Bring copies of the bill with you, bring highlights of what rights its stripping homeowners of, and bring letters for them to sign. None of us chose to move into a planned community in the suburbs - retroactively forcing these rules upon us by way of legislative fiat is simply shameful.

Talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends. If you have friends in the media, give them a call. And by all means, make sure DiCicco's office hears about this from plenty of you. He's the peoples' servant - he has no right to try to force this down our throats by cover of night.

By all means, shoot me an email if you want to help me out with this - darrellhyde@gmail.com.

- Darrell

The point is that when you have options, (guided by legislation or not) peoples choices matter on a number of levels.

Wondering why the discussion is not only focusing on the things that matter only to you is short sighted. Most things in this world are not so simple. The 'point' of the thread is actually commingled with many issues, i was pointing out one in particular that should matter to everyone.

With respect to vinyl, the question is why does common sense have to be legislated? It is a terrible product on many levels beyond aesthetics, and yet people have a complete disregard to the health and well being of others (the production and eventual landfilling of the stuff).

A progressive society should look towards a future without constantly repeating the things we already know are mistakes.

That is also why they are trying to eliminate the garage door typology by forcing people to have habitable space at the front of there house. Since this is about new construction only, we should be building towards a future not shaped by past assumptions of lifestyle that we know are regressive, damaging and irresponsible; rather we should be designing cities with less dependence on the automobile. Enabling the auto-centric lifestyle is unacceptable.

Not everything about the NCD is about turning the clock back 100 years, some of it is about how we want to live in the future by confronting these issues now.

The key words there being "...how WE WANT to live..." - not how Councilman DiCicco or QVNA want us to live.

D.

Dear Environmental Genius,
The computer you are sitting in front of will have performed more environmental harm before, during, and after its consumption, than any vinyl siding on any given house. You better quit using it, and never use one to ever get on phillyblog again.

Meanwhile, rip out all drywall, conduit, and electrical wiring from your house-as these too have an equal possibility of a deleterious effect on your health.

With the land left over from flattening your house, you will be able to grow fresh vegetables, as even organic crops grown for supermarkets can contain carcinogens that could cause adverse health conditions.

Be sure that when you revert only to cave dwelling that you resist the temptation to drink pooling water, as this could have parasitic organisms.

And don't ever use crayons, as they have equally adverse reactions to the environment during the manufacturing process.

I do agree that we should limit people's choices, as you obviously can't digest documentaries from the sundance channel nor IFC without going on some self-righteous campaign while failing to truly understand that you equally cause harm through your own choices in life. Paint, cars, computers, food packages-all contain far more VOC's that will produce more hazardous reactions through their cycle than any siding.

Now can we turn off IFC and get back to the program? Otherwise, I might have to get reallllll nasty, and I've been trying very hard to be nice.

Alesis,

Moderation. I didn't suggest anything that crazy, settle down. In a contemporary lifestyle, we are presented with options for some things, and less for others. In housing, there are lots of high quality options to vinyl. Not everyone is aware of them but they do exist and as peoples expectations for the built environment increase, the options become more plentiful.

Some of your examples are valid. Like not taking a plastic bag when you buy a stick of deodorant and a pack of gum. A few years ago, no one cared. Now, more and more people prefer to bring there own bag or skip the bag for small stuff. I never suggested the elimination of products, but looking for alternatives is a positive thing, not something to just be ignored. You mentioned cave dwelling, that suggest the resistance to change not an interest in living a smarter lifestyle. The argument is not about a desire to move backwards but forwards.

Again, moderation. Make a few small changes and it adds up to a lot. Better air quality, less pollution, the list goes on. These are things we should strive for and find a balance. It is not a have it one way and not the other, but why not have both? The Conveniences of a modern life and being responsible with the things we purchase, use and hopefully recycle. We are not there yet but we do have a lot of options with more on the way. To get there, it will take a concerted interest, not disgruntled pessimism.