TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING
CHAPTER 14-1600. MISCELLANEOUS
§14-1624. North Delaware Avenue Area Special District Controls. [428]
(1) Legislative Findings. The Council finds
that:
(a) Major public and private investments have been made and
continue to be made in this section of the City to preserve and protect the
residential communities and the economic development potential of this area, to
encourage investment, and to protect and promote the economic vitality of this
area of Philadelphia;
(b) Public expenditures have included significant
street and sidewalk improvements;
(c) Private investment within this
area includes new residential construction, the restoration and rehabilitation
of many existing residential properties, and significant retail
investment;
(d) The Delaware River waterfront positively contributes to
the economic vitality and to the diversity of Philadelphia. The area south of
Spring Garden street consists of a strong residential, commercial, and family
entertainment area that now extends further up the waterfront to the area north
of Spring Garden street;
(e) Unfortunately, the positive effects of
this growth may remain short-lived for the residents and respectable businesses
in the area. Some bars and nightclubs along the waterfront have become a
nuisance to nearby residential communities by contributing to more crime, public
intoxication, vandalism, litter, and other anti-social forms of behavior and by
reducing parking spaces available for residents and patrons of more reputable
establishments in the area;
(f) Several murders and shootings have been
committed as the result of disputes that have arisen in some of the nightclubs
on the waterfront;
(g) In response to these growing crime rates, the
City increased its police activity in the area. In fact, the police responded to
disturbances at one establishment over 50 times in a two-month period. But
problems that begin at some of these establishments more often hurt the
residents of the nearby neighborhoods who suffer the brunt of the late night
violence and destruction;
(h) The City should protect these residential
communities from these negative influences by enacting legislation that creates
a positive environment for future residential and commercial
development;
(i) By implementing special land use and zoning controls
that prohibit certain uses, the City will protect the residential communities in
the area and will enhance and promote future development
opportunities.
(2) District Boundaries. For the purposes of this
Section, the North Delaware Avenue Area Special District Controls shall apply to
the area bounded by Vine street, Second street, Wood street, Fifth street,
Girard avenue, Frankford avenue, Lehigh avenue, the Delaware River, Spring
Garden street, and Second street.
(3) Prohibited Uses. Within the area
subject to the North Delaware Avenue Area Special District Controls and
notwithstanding any other Chapter of this Title, the following uses shall be
prohibited:
(a) Dancehalls;
(b) Entertainment of guests and
patrons as a main use;
(c) Nightclubs;
(d) Private
clubs;
(e) Restaurants;
(f) Cabarets;
(g) The
expansion or extension of any use listed in (a) through (f)
above.
(4) The provisions of Section 14-508(11) that refer to commercial
uses permitted in the "G-2" General Industrial District shall not be applicable
in this district.
(5) Conflicting Regulations. When the provisions of
this Section conflict with other provisions of this Title, the more restrictive
provisions shall control.