by Brendan Sample

At its April meeting, the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee discussed a number of ongoing projects in Chestnut Hill, among them a trash compactor fence, possible new streetlights on Germantown Avenue and construction on the Engine 37 firehouse.

The compactor in question is located in Parking Lot 2 on East Evergreen Avenue. An earlier fence proposal had been turned down by the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections since it exceeded the 6-foot limit necessary for approval. The LUPZ still wanted to ensure that residents did not have to look at the compactor at all, and so a motion was approved to support a fence that went up to 6 feet with an additional 3 feet of latticework to cover the top.

In discussing the possibility of new streetlights on Germantown Avenue, the main concern among members was concerning the color temperature of the lights themselves. Some were concerned that the white light of LEDs would create a different kind of nighttime atmosphere as opposed to a warm, yellow light. With many people in the community who walk around during the evening, ensuring that any new streetlights create the right kind of ambiance is something that the LUPZ will pay attention to going forward.

With construction underway on renovations to the Engine 37 firehouse, representatives from Cecil Baker + Partners were not at this meeting as they had been before. Instead, the firm will be providing its next update at the LUPZ meeting in May. Other than confirming that Engine 37 was being redesigned as a modern firehouse, no action was taken regarding that during the meeting.

An East Highland Avenue resident who had been refused a zoning variance by L&I for his garage was also present at the meeting. The reason for the refusal was that the garage had initially been mistakenly classified as a shed for tools and work, which was not an allowed structure . Because it was intended to be a full garage for a vehicle, there should not have been a need for a zoning variance. The committee advised the owner to go through the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment to change the listing. Depending on what the final variance would end up being for, the committee would consider granting it themselves.

Several LUPZ members emphasized the need to refresh communication with the neighborhood. A notice concerning updates about the zoning code, fences and parking was being revised at the meeting, and it is currently set to be available online, included with Chestnut Hill Community Association welcome packages and in the CHCA office. There was also mention of possibly sending the notice out to people in the neighborhood who are either currently or set to be in violation of the outlined regulations. Ultimately, the LUPZ wants to encourage people who have questions to come out to these meetings.

With April traditionally being the month when new positions are filled, the committee began discussing potential nominations. Chair John Haak is set to move out of Chestnut Hill in the near future, and so the LUPZ will have an important decision to make about whom it will want to fill the position. While no formal nominations were made for a new chair, Brad Flamm was elected to become a new co-chair.

Jenks Academy dumpsters, often left on the sidewalk, have been a point of contention for many people in the neighborhood, and the LUPZ is no exception. The reasoning behind the dumpsters being left in that spot is that it has been necessary to move them out of their alcove to allow delivery trucks to come in. With a new ramp installed, this should become irrelevant with the exception of kitchen deliveries, though the ramp has yet to be officially used yet. LUPZ members continued to express their frustration over this, and will continue to look for ways to ensure that the dumpsters will not block people walking on the sidewalk.

The next LUPZ meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at the Chestnut Hill Hospital.

Brendan Sample can be reached at brendan@chestnuthilllocal.com