Rules committee advances seven zoning bills, including Philadelphia Water Department corrections for Roxborough

The Committee on Rules of Philadelphia City Council on Thursday held a public hearing and public meeting on a package of seven zoning bills and moved the group forward with amendments and a favorable committee report.

Paula Brumbelow Burns, director of legislation for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, told the committee that bill 250947 would rezone land at the corner of Master and Frasier Streets in the Carroll Park neighborhood from RSA‑5 (single‑family attached) to CMX‑3 (community commercial mixed‑use). Brumbelow Burns said the Planning Commission reviewed the proposal at its Nov. 20, 2025 meeting and “recommended the bill not for approval,” arguing that “the proposed CMX‑3 community commercial mixed use zoning district is out of context with the immediate area,” would allow “greater height and massing than is appropriate” and permit uses “incompatible with low intensity residential uses nearby.”

Council Member Jones, the bill sponsor and a native of Frasier Street, countered that the rezoned parcel is vacant and the sponsor’s intent is to create a neighborhood makerspace for nearby schools and youth. Jones said the makerspace would provide tools that “can be leased or lend out so that people can actually make things, in the neighborhood and particularly young at‑risk” residents.

The committee adopted an amendment to bill 250947 and later reported the bill — as amended — out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

Paula Brumbelow Burns also testified in support of bill 250952, which clarifies uses in the RTA‑2 residential two‑family attached‑based zoning district. She said the bill explicitly allows attached, semi‑detached and fully detached building types that were inadvertently omitted when RTA‑2 was created, and clarifies that medical marijuana dispensaries and smoking lounges remain prohibited in RTA‑2 districts. The Planning Commission recommended 250952 for approval.

On bill 250983, which would amend the Neighborhood Commercial Area (NCA) overlay for East Falls, Brumbelow Burns said the proposal adds a maximum building height and a top‑story setback for CMX‑3 properties and changes parking rules so that certain CMX‑2.5 properties must provide one parking space for every two dwelling units. The committee adopted an amendment to 250983 during the public meeting and reported it favorably.

Two Roxborough bills, 250984 and 250987, were presented jointly by Laura Copeland, assistant deputy commissioner for education, community engagement and government affairs for the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), and by Brumbelow Burns for the Planning Commission. Copeland said the zoning corrections would reclassify PWD infrastructure parcels (finished water basins, pump stations, clear wells, storage basins and standpipes) to an SP‑CIB civic/educational/medical district so PWD can maintain and upgrade aging facilities without seeking variances or appeals. “By approving these updated zoning designations, this body is truly directly improving safety, accessibility, and cost efficiency of water for all Philadelphians,” Copeland said, noting outreach to affected Registered Community Organizations including the Upper Roxborough Civic Association and Durnley Park Civic Association.

When Council Member Jones asked about the age of the Roxborough pump station, Copeland said the Roxborough High service pump station dates to the 1950s and offered to provide additional documentation to the chair. Copeland and Brumbelow Burns told the committee these changes are intended to preserve long‑term functionality and to avoid delays that would hamper federally required compliance and funding.

Brumbelow Burns also described bill 250985 (rezoning a parcel in the Winfield neighborhood to CMX‑2) and bill 250986 (creating a West Fairmount Sports Area overlay district, WFS). She said the WFS overlay will apply to a smaller project area than the bill title suggests, will exempt that limited site from steep‑slope protections, heritage‑tree removal rules and certain fence‑height requirements, and will expire one year after becoming law.

During the public meeting portion, Council Member Scuilla opened and moved several amendments (to 250947, 250983 and 250987); each amendment was seconded, put to a voice vote and declared adopted by the chair. Scuilla then moved that the committee report bills 250947 (as amended), 250952, 250983 (as amended), 250984, 250985, 250986 and 250987 (as amended) to council with a favorable recommendation and that the rules be suspended to permit first reading at the next council session. The motion was seconded, the committee voted by voice and the chair announced the motion carries.

No members of the public offered testimony during the public comment portion of the hearing. The committee adjourned after completing its business; the bills will proceed to the next council session for first reading and further consideration.