Hearing scheduled on consolidation of planning and development agencies

Tomorrow, City Council’s Committee on Law and Government will hold a hearing on a proposal from Council President Darrell Clarke to create a cabinet-level Department of Planning and Development. The proposal is an amendment to the city charter that would have to be approved by voters.

The proposal, which was first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, would create three divisions in the new Dept. of Planning and Development. The Division of Planning and Zoning would house the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Historical Commission, which is not currently included in the City Charter. The Division of Housing would replace the Office of Housing and Community Development with an Intergovernmental Housing Commission, and would also include the Housing Trust Fund.

The third division—Licenses, Inspections, and Enforcement—would take on the responsibilities of the current Dept. of Licenses and Inspections. It would split up licensing and permitting and inspections and enforcement into separate subdivisions, and would also include the Board of Building Standards and the Board of L&I Review.

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. If you want to testify, click here.