Bill Can Hurt Parks

Posted: June 13, 2001

IF YOU CARE ABOUT Philadelphia parks, you have one more reason to protest Bill 629, which would take away the right of "any taxpayer" to appeal zoning decisions, limiting it to those who live closest to the area affected.

The bill, sponsored by City Councilman Frank DiCicco, is aimed mainly at opponents of the politically generous billboard industry, but it would apply to any zoning decision.

So only people who live closest to a park would have the right to appeal decisions affecting it. It wouldn't matter if you used the park every week or volunteered time to it.

. . .Or represented it in Council.

That's right. A city solicitor's opinion suggests Bill 629 could prevent even members of Council from appealing zoning decisions.

Other elected officials, ward leaders and committee people would have an even weaker case to represent constituents in zoning appeals.

Apparently impervious to irony, DiCicco held back the bill from a final vote last week to make sure that City Council members' rights were protected or to offer amendments if they are not. The bill could come up for a vote tomorrow, the last session before the summer recess.

So today, tell Council not to take away your rights while protecting its own. *

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