Mission
The mission of the Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association (BSCCA) as a Registered Community Organization (RCO) is to reinforce and strengthen the positive characteristics of the built environment in the BSCCA area. BSCCA’s Zoning Subommittee meets to review projects that are subject to RCO review within the BSCCA boundary area. We then provide a monthly public forum for neighbors and applicants seeking variances to the zoning code to discuss proposed construction projects and consider the impacts of the projects on their surroundings.
Boundaries
The boundaries of the Brewerytown Sharswood neighborhood coincide with that of the Philadelphia Planning Commission. The geographic area includes 19th Street on the East, 33rd Street to the West, Cecil B Moore Ave to the North and Girard Ave /North College Ave to the South.
Community Zoning Meetings
Community Zoning Meetings will be held online via the Zoom platform on the third Thursday of each month, 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Attendees will be required to register for the meeting in advance using a registration link. :
You can register:
- online using the following link: http://tinyurl.com/BSCCAZoning
- by emailing brew.sharsnas@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and residence address
- by calling the BSCCA NAC office at (267) 858-4246 and providing your name, phone number, and residence address
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please note that there is one registration per person, and one vote allowed per person for each presentation heard, and one vote per device. Please note that if you call in to the meeting by phone, we will provide instructions on how to vote in the meeting. Votes provided after the meeting will not be counted
Zoning Committee and Protocols
The Zoning Subcommittee meets every first Tuesday of each month to review the applications before community meetings and to provide a committee vote on applications. Projects requesting zoning variances will not be added to the monthly community meeting agenda until the applications have been reviewed by the subcommittee for accuracy and to ensure all required documents and information are attached (please see below for additional
details).
Applicant Notification to BSCCA / Scheduling of Meetings:
Applicants are required to notify BSCCA Zoning Subcommittee by email regarding a variance and/or special exception request within seven (7) days of: (a) filing an appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for approval of a special exception or variance; or (b) being notified by L&I that an application will require review under the Civic Design Review Process. BSCCA Zoning will only consider requests received by the last Friday of each month. Any requests received after 5pm on the last Friday of any particular month will be considered for the following month.
After reviewing applicant requests, the Zoning Subcommittee will schedule an appearance at the monthly community zoning meeting. The community meeting allows residents of the Brewerytown-Sharswood area to provide direct neighborhood input into this important civic decision-making process.
Presentation Requirements
Applicants must email all required documents and information to brew.sharsnas@gmail.com of the Zoning Refusal and/or Referral received from L&I and/or plans, zoning submission drawings, and Petition to Appeal to the BSCCA no later than 5pm on the last Friday of the month prior to the BSCCA Zoning Subcommittee meeting on the first Tuesday of each month for consideration by the zoning subcommittee. Applicants will not be placed on the meeting agenda if this requirement is not met.
In addition to zoning submission drawings required by the City of Philadelphia, applicants are required to submit the following materials to the Zoning Subcommittee (with the initial zoning submission materials):
- Site / Location Plan
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
- Site Photos
- Renderings are strongly encouraged
- Neighbor sign-off sheets are strongly encouraged
- Additional Materials as required by the zoning code
Public Notice
The applicant is required to distribute leaflets notifying neighbors of the proposed zoning project in accordance with the Planning Commission’s requirements. The leaflet or letter must include the registration link for the Community Meeting where the applicant will present their
application.
Committee Meeting Procedures
The Zoning Committee Chair will introduce each applicant, read aloud the refusal explaining the variances and/or special exceptions sought, and ask the applicant to present their proposal to the community. A minimum of one property owner must represent the applicant property at the Zoning Committee Meeting. The applicant is strongly encouraged to have his/her architect and/or attorney present. Each applicant will have a maximum of 15 minutes to present their proposal.
After the applicant has completed their presentation to the community, the Committee Members shall have first opportunity to ask questions and or comment on the project presented. When the Zoning Committee has no further questions, questions and comments from community members will be encouraged and will be moderated by the Zoning Committee Chair. Questions and comments should be limited to two minutes per community member and the floor should be relinquished after the initial questions or comments are presented. If a question or comment has not been addressed to the satisfaction of a community member, he or she should request the opportunity to speak again and not engage in dialogue with the applicant. Interaction between community members and applicants is expected to be conducted in an orderly manner at all times and not to become argumentative. The Zoning Committee reserves the right to ask persons to leave the meeting if he/she is unable to adhere to these procedures.
At the conclusion of each presentation and discussion, the applicants and any interested parties associated with the proposed project will be asked to depart the room and the Zoning Committee and community members will vote on their positions regarding the application.
Meeting Outcomes
After the meeting, the BSCCA Zoning Committee will provide a tally of the votes then send a letter to the ZBA and/or the Civic Design Review Chair and other parties as deemed appropriate with a copy to the applicant that outlines the position of the Zoning Committee and a summary of the Zoning Committee’s meeting. The recommendation of the Zoning Committee is not the final outcome. ZBA makes the final decision with respect to all variances and special exceptions appeals. Members of the Zoning Committee, or counsel to the committee, may appear at ZBA hearings to reinforce BSCCA’s position on applications. In addition, any citizen who would be impacted by the proposed variance has the right to appear at the ZBA hearing to speak for or against an application.
Download this page BSCCA Community Zoning Protocols.
Download Zoning Tips for Community Organizations.Brewerytown
See video describing the community’s role in the zoning process