City planning a top priority, Nutter says

September 19, 2007

Developers and builders heard him disparage approval procedures and waterfront progress.

By Patrick Kerkstra
Inquirer Staff Writer

Democratic mayoral nominee Michael Nutter offered a comprehensive critique of the city's approach to development yesterday and said that, if elected, he would make zoning and planning a priority of his administration.

Nutter told an audience of developers and builders that Philadelphia, once a national leader in urban planning, had become a city where projects were approved or rejected haphazardly and where knowing "the right people" was paramount.

"It's all about the deal. It's all about being connected in a way that allows you to get done what you need to get done," said Nutter, who is heavily favored over GOP challenger Al Taubenberger.

Fixing that would be complicated, Nutter said. But at the top of his list is elevating the role of the City Planning Commission. "Planning will be valued. It will be utilized. It will be a very robust and respected organization with the right people on it," Nutter said.

Though he stopped short of saying the wrong people had been appointed to the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment, he had few kind words for either entity's work. Appearing before the Zoning Board "is painful. It is at times torturous and, for others, incomprehensible," Nutter said. He likened its proceedings to those on the television program Judge Judy.

Nutter was also clearly frustrated by the lack of progress along the Delaware River waterfront, wondering aloud why Camden and many other cities had managed to do more with a similar resource.

"We have an inability to get out of our own way with regard to our waterfront," he said.

As mayor, Nutter said, he would press for a quick start to waterfront development regardless of unresolved objections to two casinos proposed on the river. "It is a great economic-development opportunity for us, notwithstanding anything else that might go on the waterfront that some of us may not like or may not agree with," Nutter said. "We need to get on with it."

Nutter was optimistic about bringing order to the city's development plan. He said the new Zoning Code Commission, created to rework the Eisenhower-era zoning code, could deliver "one of the greatest reforms this city has seen."

The 31-seat commission is not yet at full strength. Mayor Street has not named any of his five appointments, but intends to make them before leaving office in January, Street spokesman Joe Grace said.

If Nutter replaces Street, Street's signature program - the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative - will get a hard look. Responding to a question from a member of the Building Industry Association yesterday, Nutter expressed skepticism that NTI had done much to accelerate development in the city, and said that during his years on City Council the program had failed to speed up the cumbersome process of acquiring vacant properties.

Nutter's other development-related plans include:

Trying to reduce construction costs to stimulate new low- and moderate-income housing by streamlining approvals and negotiating with labor unions.

Revising the 10-year tax-abatement program to stimulate residential development outside Center City and other hot spots.