New Zoning Code approved, Council zoning round-up, Philly’s ‘pied piper’ parks, PA redistricting, building-scale ads

City Council approved the new zoning code at Thursday’s meeting, and the new code will take effect in eight months. PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey recaps the proceedings and what’s next: remapping.

City Council also resolved, for now, three controversial zoning-related bills yesterday: Amy Z. Quinn reports for PlanPhilly/NewsWorks, Council approved the controversial rezoning of Chestnut Hill’s former Magarity Ford property for a large mixed-use development; and without votes yesterday bills to strike Bodine Street for Finnegan’s Wake and to remove zoning approvals for David Grasso’s proposed Fishtown music venue both died, reports Kellie Patrick Gates.

In the design magazine Metropolis, Inga Saffron considers Philly’s new Lenfest Plaza and the Race Street Pier as “pied piper” parks that draw people through the city in new ways.

Is Pennsylvania’s congressional redistricting  “the best possible map,” as Daryl Metcalfe, Republican chair of the state government committee, said or is it “the gerrymander of the decade,” as Real Clear Politics suggests. Azavea analyzes the newly drawn districts, focusing on the redrawn 7th District, a particularly snaky. The Pennsylvania Senate approved the new map and the House is next.

Mayor Nutter vetoed the controversial bill to wrap the Electric Factory in giant advertisement, and Frank DiCicco did not call for a vote to override the veto in City Council yesterday, reports PlanPhilly’s Kellie Patrick Gates. Tom Ferrick’s piece in Metropolis recounts the history of illegal ads on this building at 7th and Spring Garden since 1999, and how DiCicco’s spot zoning bill was a “parting gift.” This plan might be dead, but the conversation on building-scale ads isn’t over yet. Darrell Clarke wants Council to consider selling ads on City Hall.

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest.