Chestnut Hill is a special neighborhood nestled in the Wissahickon valley in Northwest Philadelphia – a National Register historic district with charming buildings, mature trees and parks, century-old businesses, walkable streets, and a strong sense of community. For decades, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, the Chestnut Hill Community Association, and the Chestnut Hill Business District have worked toward preserving Chestnut Hill’s historic character while carefully reviewing proposals for new construction within the existing context. Collectively, we care deeply about all aspects of Chestnut Hill, from its residents and business owners to its visitors, historic buildings, open space, and community history. Today, we all serve as Registered Community Organizations (“RCOs”) under the Philadelphia Zoning Code, which allows us to provide advisory review and comment on proposed projects that require special permission from the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Building on this shared responsibility, in response to years of community feedback, we have partnered to design a one-year collaborative pilot, called the Zoning Review Committee (“ZRC”), to improve efficiency and broaden community participation without sacrificing careful review of significant development proposals in Chestnut Hill.

The ZRC would not be significantly different from the current RCO review process, which incorporates public comment, together with rigorous analysis by neighbors who volunteer their time and expertise in fields ranging from architecture and landscape architecture to city planning, engineering, and other disciplines. The Community Association has historically served as the “coordinating” RCO, managing a Development Review Committee and a Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee (among other committees), with the Conservancy participating through a Historic District Advisory Committee, the Business District involved via the Parking Foundation and representation on the Development Review Committee, and the process concluding with a Community Association board vote.

Unfortunately, based on feedback received from the public over the last three years, this complex review process has become too unwieldy, resulting in confusion, redundancy, and uneven representation among community groups. In some cases, projects have proceeded “by-right,” without going through the advisory RCO review process at all.

In response, the Zoning Review Committee pilot initiative would commence this fall and be reevaluated after one year. As outlined at a March 30 public meeting, the ZRC would include five representatives from each of our organizations, would review projects monthly, and would create project working groups for complex projects that require more intense review. These working groups (composed of project applicants, relevant experts, and neighbors) would, if needed, conduct informal working sessions to improve the design and function of projects before reporting back to the full ZRC, with all decisions being made at that public forum (consistent with the current DRC process). You can learn more about the proposal at chconservancy.org/zrc or chestnuthill.org/community_toolkit.php.

We believe that the ZRC will make the RCO review process more efficient, without sacrificing the rigorous level of project review that has been a hallmark of Chestnut Hill for decades. As a pilot initiative, the ZRC is intended to be evaluated and refined over time. Ultimately, the new process will allow more community members to engage in the careful review of projects that affect our daily lives, leading to better outcomes for Chestnut Hill. We welcome continued public feedback and encourage community members to stay engaged as the process evolves.

Bill Webster, President, Chestnut Hill Conservancy

David Gest, Executive Director, Chestnut Hill Conservancy

Richard Snowden, President, Chestnut Hill Business District

Courtney O’Neill, Executive Director, Chestnut Hill Business District

Laura Lucas, President, Chestnut Hill Community Association

Anne McNiff, Executive Director, Chestnut Hill Community Association