There's rumor that a fast-food Chinese restaurant wants to open at the end of my street at 9th and Ritner. As a property owner who doesn't want to deal with the smell, the litter, possible vermin, etc. created by such a restaurant, does anybody know if I have any recourse? What can one do? Is it a lost cause?

What is there now? There may need a zonning variance

There very well could be a zonning hearing. You could attend to oppose. You can argue all those reasons, but the question is why you are different then other residents that live near a Chinese restaruant or any other resturant.

this is the definition of "not in my backyard." im sure youd be the first to support a nice little Chinese Restaurant if it were a few more streets away though...city's arent about what is best for you, it's about what is best for the city. and if having a little Chinese spot is good for the city and neighborhood, you shouldnt have a say in it--and if you dont want stores or restaurants opening up in your immediate vicinity, move to the burbs.

Wow Londoner, that was quite harsh. I personally support the neighbors being involved every step of the way in the zoning process.

Don't wait for the orange sticker. Go to zoning meetings now, whether at the ZBA or the informational zoning meetings where the builder presents to the neighborhood with the hopes of their community organization issuing a letter of support.

Go now to your community groups general and zoning committee meetings. There is much to familiarize yourself with, and if you are lucky, you will see examples of good presentations of good ideas by good builders with input from the neighbors, and the other kind.

In the interim, read up on zoning. Although not in the catchment area, there are info and links on the www.southofsouth.org website under zoning. They have a good short intro to zoning link. Thanks LB and David Hanley for that, and Gary Schaeffer.

Also, the OHCD has a nice website with information that can be relevant to this situation.

The only reason we have out of control carry outs is because the neighbors were not informed, prepared, and part of the approval process with clear expectations regarding trash, drugs, other crime, hours, exhaust, you name it in writing in their approval letter and in writing in the variance.

Must have that stuff written out specifically in the variance! Or else, as you can see, enforcement can be less effective.

You can fight for and win a good restaurant that will add value to your property, but I promise it will only be if one is involved every step of the way.

Please keep us posted.

There could be plenty of reasons not to want a Chinese Take Out nearby.

Obviously, the closer it is to OP's own block the more relevant those concerns become.

On of the reasons is that in our neighborhood (south-central Northwest South Philly, how's that for a description?) the Chinese take-out tends to be a drug magnet.

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Thanks, ljLong - that was very helpful and informative. Very much appreciated.

Gladly. Have you emailed Vern Anastasio? I think you are in the BV catchment area. Go to www.hallwatch.org and read one of Vern's articles on a zoning matter, and email him with your questions about which zoning committee meetings and such are going in your area of SP.

There is an SP zoning issue featured in the front page Hallwatch article now, on billboards, but the same basic knowledge of the process is required for a one as for the other. A good read for how to win the toughest of community zoning input wrestling matches.

Is that the way things happen in London?

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I did a quick check of the the zoning map for the area around 9th & Ritner. Most of that area is designated for single-family dwellings (R-10A), with some of the corner properties allowing modest commercial use (zoning designation C-1). As far as I know, restaurants are not allowed in a C-1 district. So this may be an instance where the not-in-my-backyard sentiment actually corresponds to what the zoning code says about restaurants in that area. Of course, if the matter comes up in a neighborhood zoning meeting, or goes before the Zoning Board, you should voice the nature of your objections (smells, vermin, etc.). In addition, you should point out that restaurants are not permitted in a C-1 area.
To view the City zoning maps, go to to www.phila.gov, City Maps, select Zoning Maps, and then search by address. To review what is allowed in a particular zoning district, check Title 14 of the City Code. Go to www.phila.gov, City Code and Charter. Title 14 deals with Zoning and Planning.