Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration is planning a suite of changes intended to make the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) function more smoothly. Although Philadelphia’s zoning board has never been known for smooth functioning, during the pandemic wait times for a hearing ballooned and it became a substantial obstacle. Applicants could wait for half a year before their cases were considered by the zoning board. For small operators, the months-long wait times could be devastating — especially as rising interest rates made it harder to afford delays. In some cases, cafe owners or other small businesses had to abandon deals, while larger developers said that it added to the costs of construction and the cost of rents in the city. “When interest rates are high, it’s a significant hurt on your carrying costs,” John Mondlak, the city’s interim chief of planning and development, said in April. “If you can get people through the permitting a lot quicker, that saves them money that allows production to increase.” Read more in the Inquirer.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/13/2024