Three Schools Agree to Land Use Planning

By Tom Sauerman

Goal

The East Falls Community Council (EFCC), with the participation of Drexel University, Philadelphia University, and the William Penn Charter School, plans to develop a plan for the institutions' land use in East Falls.  The Plan, when completed, will be presented for acceptance to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC). The community and the three educational institutions will identify and plan together for anticipated land use changes, including institutional expansion. The planning process includes the following:

1. Development of land use planning criteria to reflect the needs and goals of the institutions and the land use concerns of the community.

2.  Development of land use plans for the three campuses based on the identified institutional and community needs and concerns.  If any of the institutions is considering development beyond its current boundaries, that development will be discussed and included.

This planning process will be informed and guided by PCPC Community Planning Guidelines and the Philadelphia Citizens Planning Institute’s Neighborhood Planning Workbook.  Matt Wysong, a resident of East Falls, and PCPC Planner for Northwest Philadelphia, will provide planning guidance.

All three institutions are in the early stages of developing or updating master plans for their campuses. Therefore, this planning project is particularly well timed and it is expected that the master plans will be informed by this community project in which all three will participate.

Timetable

Matt Wysong will talk about the benefits of this planning process and its relationship to the City’s upcoming planning and zoning code changes at the February 14 EFCC General Membership meeting. 

The February 14 EFCC agenda includes a request for community endorsement of this planning project, the goal of which is to assure that future institutional development reflects the concerns and needs of the entire community of which the institutions are an integral and important part.

The institutions have agreed to respond to a questionnaire designed by EFCC to gather baseline information about each school.  The information will be made available to the community at the March meeting and on the EFCC website after March 5.

At the March 14 EFCC General Membership meeting the three institutions will discuss their expected future land use needs and ways the community can support their efforts.  Residents will identify the benefits the schools bring to the community and their concerns and vision for future institutional land use.  Together, we will develop criteria and apply the criteria to create the plan to be presented to the City.

Why this is important

Our lives are intertwined. Each school effects all East Falls’ residents, Students live and park cars throughout the community. Neighbors are welcomed to the campuses for events, to use some facilities, to enjoy their green space, and to collaborate with them on various projects.

Planning collaboration between EFCC and the schools will result in the greater community understanding and support for the institutions and help to assure that the impact of development on the community is addressed and understood. Once the plan is accepted by the PCPC, it will inform and guide future development.

How to participate

The February and March meetings are open to the entire community. To have an opportunity to participate in one of the ongoing Work Groups that will focus on the details for each institution, residents must be an EFCC member ($10, application form at eastfallscommunity.org). The Work Groups will be composed of residents and institutional representatives.

“These groups will require 3 or 4 hours a month for at least four months,” said EFCC member Ted Swenson who is a member of the planning team. “This is an important venture for East Falls to undertake. It is the first step in the development of a plan for all of East Falls.