Information for Developers

Policy and Procedures - For Developers Zoning Committee & Community Voting Meetings

Dear Developer/Homeowner,

Thank you for your interest in investing time and resources into our neighborhood. To protect the interest of the residents of Francisville and to keep order at community meetings we have identified criteria that must be satisfied prior to proceeding through the variance/ community support process. You will not be scheduled on the agenda of a community voting meeting until these items have been received and reviewed by the Francisville Zoning Committee . This protocol is followed for all new construction and/or total rehabilitation projects. This letter will include a detailed description of the information below and will enable Francisville-ZC to take action if the actual development varies from the details presented to Francisville-ZC and the community. Below is a bulleted list of the required items.

• Complete list of materials being used for the facade of the building and or any portion of the structure visible from the street, specifically the type masonry materials and architectural accents.
• Details on all windows, doors, and garage doors which are visible from the street. These details should include manufacturer, color, dimensions and type of material (aluminum, vinyl, wood, etc.) A photograph of the exact garage door must be presented within this information if applicable.
• A complete description of the roof capping or cornice structure and materials to be used in its construction. This should include a conceptual drawing, sketch or photograph of a similar cornice which will be matched and should include dimensions.
• Scaled drawings of both the interior and exterior of the property including scaled elevations of any facade with street frontage.
• Photograph of the location showing both neighboring properties
• Map of the location showing at least a one block radius of the project
  
  

1. We subscribe to the Housing Association of Delaware Valley to receive the zoning hearing listing for zone 7. We monitor this list weekly for zoning hearings for projects in Francisville. If a hearing is listed and the applicant has not allowed the community to review the project, our zoning committee chair attempts to contact the applicant with a request that he or she meet with our zoning committee. The zoning committee meets the last Tuesday of every month at the Fairmount Health Center, 1412-22 Fairmount Avenue.
   
   
2. If the applicants zoning hearing is too close to schedule a community meeting we send a letter to the ZBA requesting a continuance. Once the applicant has met with our Zoning Committee they will then be put on the agenda of our Community Voting Meeting held the 2^{nd Monday of every month at the Francisville Playground Recreation Center,} 12800 Wylie Street. We then make a flyer and give a copy to the applicant instructing them to make copies and distribute to residents within a 1 block radius of the proposed project. This must be done not less than 1 week before the scheduled community meeting. Our organization sends the meeting announcement to residents via the Francisville Information Network or FIN.
   
   
3. In addition to monitoring the zoning hearing list, occasionally applicants are instructed to meet with our organization by the 15th District Councilman or individual’s familiar with Francisville NDC. In any event the above procedure is our standard policy.
   
   
4. At the community voting meeting residents are separated into two groups. The residents that live within a 1 block radius are asked to sit on one side of the room, while residents representing the general Francisville Community are on the other side. After announcements & introductions the residents present are informed all our meetings are video and or audio taped for the purpose of keeping minutes. Residents are then instructed to read the voting meeting rules and asked if they understand the procedure. The meeting chair then gives a brief explanation of the project being proposed and what the applicant is seeking a variance for. The applicant is given 10-15 minutes to make a presentation and the floor is opened for questions and comments with consideration given to residents within a 1 block radius first. This segment is limited to about 20 minutes.
   
   
5. After all questions and concerns have been thoroughly addressed a vote is taken first from the residents within a one block radius followed by the general Francisville Community. Residents are instructed to raise their hand and signify by saying (I) if they support the project being presented. The result of the vote is verbally stated by the meeting chair for the record and to allow residents to oppose the result if they feel the result is not accurate. To schedule a meeting with the Francisville Zoning Committee contact William Horoschak, whoroschak@comcast.net