New Zoning Code to Keep CRE Professionals Busy

A new, comprehensive Zoning Code for commercial and residential real estate was adopted this week by the Philadelphia City Council. The product of four years of work by the Zoning Code Commission and hundreds of hours of public meetings and testimony, the new Zoning Code brings sweeping changes to how development of property will proceed in Pennsylvania’s most historic city.

Philadelphia landowners and developers, design professionals, and attorneys will need to understand the requirements and procedures of the new Zoning Code, including as-of-right permits and vested rights; changes to base zoning districts; civic design review; community involvement; form and design standards; overlays and transit-oriented development; variances; and special exceptions. The new Zoning Code will go into effect in August 2012. It consists of an Ordinance adopting the Final Report of the Zoning Code Commission and an Ordinance containing amendments.