Press Release
Neighborhood Defense.org kicked off its effort to repeal Act 193 today at a press conference at City Hall.
Neighborhood Defense.org is an alliance of Philadelphia community associations and civic groups working to protect their longstanding rights to appeal decisions of the Zoning Board and other city agencies that regulate land use.
On Monday, Neighborhood Defense.org launched a website where individuals and community organizations can register their support for the repeal of Act 193. The website will be used to fax and email state representatives and senators and create local networks of community activists who will contact and lobby their legislators.
Marc Stier, one of the coordinators of Neighborhood Defense.org, and a co-founder of Neighborhood Network—began the event by praising neighborhoods as the strength of Philadelphia. He said that “ Community groups and neighborhood organizations help make our city livable, and the key activity of these groups is to shape future development through the zoning process. Having the standing to appeal erroneous zoning decisions that harm neighborhoods is critical to this effort. “
Mary Tracy, executive director of SCRUB, pointed out that Act 193 is another example of sneak legislation added to an existing bill in the waning hours of the state legislative session. She added that “While Act 193 was aimed at SCRUB, it harms every community group in this city. Standing to appeal unjustified zoning decisions is the most important tool community groups have to safeguard neighborhood character and quality of life. Without the right to appeal, civic associations will no longer be able to leverage the laws that protect neighborhoods.”
Lou Coffey of the Center City Resident’s Association, pointed out that Common Pleas Judge Dych and Judge Glazer interpreted Act 193 as taking away the standing rights of taxpayers and community groups in two recent decisions. Though he believes the Commonwealth Court will reverse their decisions, Coffey says “The simplest and best way to resolve this issue is to Repeal Act 193 which will remove any threat to standing.”
William Ewing, a former member of the Zoning Board, pointed out that “Act 193 is a full employment act for lawyers. Until the act is repealed, community groups “will have to go to the courts twice to overturn decisions of the Zoning Board, once to establish their standing to sue, and a second time to address the merits of their claim that the Zoning Board has violated the law.” “This, “he added will “make it much more expensive for community groups to challenge decisions of the Zoning Board and will thus give developers more influence over development in Philadelphia neighborhoods. “
Joe Menkevich, of Northwoods Civic Association also pointed to the difficulties faced by community groups when faced with developers who want to do projects that are “inappropriate” in Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Jethro Heiko of NABR, said that efforts to ameliorate the problems associated with Casinos will require the city to retain zoning control over those casinos. However, even if the city does retain zoning authority over the casinos, “Act 193 will undermine the effectiveness of community groups in using zoning to protect themselves from the casinos.”
Rob Stuart, president of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, described the “fair process” by which his community group makes zoning decisions. “The process works well now,” he pointed out. “But,” he added, “Act 193 will weaken community groups and strengthen developers.”
Other community and civic leaders who came out in support of Neighborhood Defense.org were Brett Mandel of Philadelphia Forward, Terry Gillen of South Street West, Karen Allen of Cedar Park Neighbors, Sue McGarry of SCRUB, Fred Maurer of the Friends of Tacony Creek Park, Reverend Jesse Brown of NAAAPI, Joshua Vincent of the Henry George Foundation and Bonita Cummings of Strawberry Mansion Neighbors.
Neighborhood Defense.org will be contacting over four hundred community groups in Philadelphia to ask them to endorse the campaign to Repeal Act 193.