Opinion: City Planning Commission

Slaps Councilwoman Miller

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission took a most unusual step October 15 when in an extended discussion it unanimously voted against the zoning change proposed by Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller which would accommodate Chelten Plaza developer Pat Burns in erecting a massive Dollar Tree on the corner of Chelten and Pulaski Avenues.

After a community generated appeal which caused the Zoning Board of Adjustment to refer permits back to L & I under a proviso that they be corrected, Councilwoman Miller took immediate action to modify her own Zoning overlay designed to limit dollar and variety stores in the over-saturated Germantown business corridor.

Members of the Commission are not the only ones outraged by what appears to be a clear attempt to achieve spot zoning favoring Burns and  his goals for development at this site — goals that are in direct opposition to what he promised Germantown when he got special accommodations when acquiring the property in 2006.  The Community and the city were promised a Fresh Grocer consistent with the seven other stores Burns operates in this city and near suburbs.

A Dollar Tree and a Sav-a-Lot have been offered as an alternative with Burns claiming Germantown does not qualify for the promised Fresh Grover.

Discussion at the City Planning Commission was protracted and reflected serious concerns that due process and was being subverted in Germantown with regard to Chelten Plaza. Director Alan Greenberger was on the record that he has had “sleepless nights” over how this project is being handled and other board members spoke at some length about their opposition to Donna Miller doing a special modification of her own restriction to these kinds of developments in central Germantown.

Although the change still has to pass through the Rules Committee before going to a vote in City Council, Miller wants to grant an exception for Dollar Stores that exceed 7500 square feet. Reportedly this one would be approximately 10,000.

Outrage that has accompanied the entire process this developer and city officials have followed brining development to the last open space in central Germantown continues as standing compliance and regulations seem to be bypassed with special accommodations at both the state level with regard to financing and now within city government.

Despite frequent questioning on the subject at her listening tours, Councilwoman-elect Cindy Bass is non-committal about the proposed major zoning change.

 

Jim Foster

Editor