The Upper Northwest District Plan is part of Philadelphia2035, a project that begin in 2011 as a collaborative effort to establish long-term and comprehensive goals for the growth and development of the City of Philadelphia, with topics ranging from transportation, housing, the preservation of parks and open spaces, environmental resources, to historical preservation. After over a decade of planning, the Upper Northwest District Plan was adopted by PCPC on October 16, 2018.

Philadelphia2035 is made up of of 18 District Plans, covering all corners of Philadelphia. At the heart of the the Upper Northwest District Plan lies our community of Chestnut Hill.  The Conservancy’s comments and a joint memo by Chestnut Hill RCOs and organizations have been submitted to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the public comment period on the Draft Plan has now closed. Thank you for your participation and comments. We expect the Planning Commission to finalize the Plan and vote some time in October.

Chestnut Hill Conservancy‘s Five Priority Draft Suggestions (in addition to many others!)

  • Limit subdivision of large lots in areas with limited road access, environmental sensitivity, or incomplete water, sewer, gas and electric networks, and that wouldn’t add to the city’s supply of affordable housing, perhaps through securing conservation easements, or down-zoning.” Add City Agencies to “Implementing Agencies & Partners”
  • Encourage conservation of publicly – and privately – held land in watershed communities (or, “as identified as priorities for conservation”).
  • Create regulatory, financial, and other incentives for reuse of historic properties. Encourage Allow a wider range of uses, additional housing units, and relaxed size dimensional requirements for properties listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.” Add nonprofits to “Implementing Agencies & Partners”
  • Utilize and support other tools to protect significant resources including conservation districts (in conjunction with preservation of individual), demolition moratorium, preservation easements, or (if created) preservation districts.
  • Make active use of the Neighborhood Conservation District Overlay tool, in conjunction with efforts to protect individual historic buildings, to promote urban design objectives in residential neighborhoods.

Draft Recommendation on Zoning to Advance the Plan

Existing Zoning

RSD-1-3

Proposed Rezoning

RSD-0

Reason for Rezoning

Limit subdivision with a new large-lot zoning district where development would do environmental harm and would not help to achieve equitable development.

2018 District Plan Timeline
  • OCTOBER 16 The Upper Northwest District Plan was adopted by PCPC
  • SEPTEMBER 21 End of open comment phase.
  • AUGUST 8 Public meeting to discuss the draft plan be hosted by the Registered Community Organizations of Chestnut Hill at  Chestnut Hill Hospital from 6:30pm-8:00pm. LEARN MORE
  • JULY 23 Final Draft public meeting will be hosted by the Registered Community Organizations of Chestnut Hill. Community Room at the Chestnut Hill Hospital from 6pm-7:30pm.
  • JULY 17 – SEPTEMBER 21 Open comment phase. Feedback on the draft plan can be submitted by email to Ian Hegarty, Community Planner, at ian.hegarty@phila.gov (or by regular mail to One Parkway Building, 1515 Arch Street, 13th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102).
  • JULY 17 The draft plan has been released by the Planning Commission. Read it HERE.
  • JUNE 18 Third and final public meeting. View the guide for this meeting.
  • MARCH 26 Second public meeting. Read the summary.
  • JANUARY 29 First public meeting. Review the presentation of the first meeting and read its summary.

Looking to do some further reading on this project? Check out this handy recap of the Plan, a 21 page slideshow that breaks down the Plan’s highlights simply, or this page recently published by the City Planning Commision with highlights and an outline of what they consider to be the priorities. We also recommend the Planning Department’s interesting technical memo, which summarizes some of the key issues, existing conditions and opportunities for improvement for the Upper Northwest District. The Philadelphia’s Historical Commission’s Historic Preservation Recommendations for the Upper Northwest Planning District also provides some essential background for the Plan.

The Upper Northwest District Plan is the last of 18 district plans to be created through this process. See below for preservation and related excerpts from the completed plans.

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