Friends of the Wissahickon has finalized the copy for the new kiosk panel sign to be installed at the end of Sumac Street on Vicaris Street. They did their best to incorporate as many of our comments as possible, particularly in clarifying designated use on the trail and reminders for keeping dogs on leash. The installation will take place the week of April 24th.
SEPTA is hosting an informational webinar on Thursday, April 27 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm via Webex to provide an update on the upcoming construction for the Wissahickon Transportation Center Project.
You must register in advance to attend.
WICA has two cases being heard by the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) at the April 19th 2:00PM session:
Resumptive Hearing – Appeal #ZP-2022-006957 and #ZP-2022-003881
Update 4/19/2023: At the scheduled hearing, the Zoning Board rejected both applications.
Appeal #ZP-2022-007493
Update 4/19/2023: At the scheduled hearing, the Zoning Board granted the requested continuance.
Update 4/14/2023: We learned that the developer for 559 Righter has formally requested a continuance for the 4/19 ZBA Appeal Hearing. We will learn at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting if their request is granted, which it likely will be.
The hearing is hosted virtually via Zoom and open to the public. Instructions to attend the meeting are provided below.
On March 8, 2023, WICA shared a copy of the zoning drawings that the new developer had submitted to L&I, and had provided to us. We also posted project renderings the developer provided to us. You can see those materials HERE >>.
At the appropriate time, WICA will timely schedule a formal RCO community meeting, as we have done previously. The community will be invited and will be able to participate.
Neighbors attended a community meeting via Zoom hosted by WICA on Thursday, March 2nd at 7pm to review the design for the application for the Dog Daycare at 90 Rochelle Ave. After sharing feedback with the applicant and business owner, the community took a vote on the proposal.
Do you support the proposal for a canine daycare, boarding, training, sale of dog related good, ancillary office and administrative space, which would require the zoning variances listed below, as determined by the City?
| Near Neighbors (250 feet + Same Block) | All Meeting Attendees (Including Near Neighbors) | |
| Support | 6 | 48 |
| Oppose | 2 | 6 |
| Abstain | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 55 |
WICA will share the results of this vote at the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) Hearing, which has been scheduled for May 17, 2023 at 2:00pm (Appeal #ZP-2022-013746).
At the scheduled zoning hearing on March 15, 2023, the applicant presented it’s original and revised plans to the zoning board. The zoning board agreed to a resumptive hearing on April 19, 2023 at 2pm so that the applicant can present it’s revised design and amended refusals to the community. This presentation will take place at WICA’s April General Membership meeting on April 12, 2023 at 7pm. WICA will hold a vote at this time on the revised plans, results of which will be sent to the zoning board in advance on the April 19 hearing.
Notice of Refusal: 240 (242A) Kalos Street Revised >>Join us for our next General Membership meeting on Wednesday, April 12th at 7pm. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month virtually via Zoom unless otherwise noted. All neighbors are invited to hear, participate, and learn about neighborhood concerns and current issues.
Please note you must now register in advance to receive the Zoom meeting login information.
Agenda items include:
• 242 A/B Kalos St Design Update and Vote
• 559 Righter St Update
• Committee Reports
Monday, March 20th, 2023, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm (via Zoom Webinar)
During this Transit Talk, SEPTA will:
• Share the Updated Draft Network
• Highlight some of the key changes from the initial
• Draft Network released in October 2022
• Preview what to expect for the next round of public engagement in Spring 2023
• Respond to questions
Thanks to your comments, SEPTA has revised the Draft Network, to address your concerns and make the new bus network more useful for more people. This spring, SEPTA will be holding another series of Bus Revolution engagement events—including in-person Community Meetings, Open Houses, virtual Community Conversations, and pop-ups with their Project Bus at Transportation Centers and other busy locations in the region—beginning with this virtual Transit Talk.
Join us for our next General Membership meeting on Wednesday, March 8th at 7pm. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month unless otherwise noted. All neighbors are invited to hear, participate, and learn about neighborhood concerns and current issues.
Agenda items include:
• 90 Rochelle Ave (Multi-family Building Proposal)
• 242 A/B Kalos St ZBA Hearing
• 559 Righter St Vote Results
• Committee Reports
• Bylaws Update
Join by phone: 929-205-6099
Meeting ID: 852 1405 2363
Passcode: 321480
Neighbors attended a community meeting via Zoom hosted by WICA on Wednesday, February 15th at 7pm to review the design for the proposed project at 559 Righter Street. After sharing feedback with the developers, the community took a vote on the design.
Do you support the erection of a detached structure on the same lot as another existing detached structure (no change to height or area of existing detached structure), size and location as shown on plan/application. For use of business and professional offices within the existing detached structure, for use of multi-family household living (21 dwelling units total) within both the existing and proposed detached structures, with 21 accessory surface parking spaces (including one van-accessible ADA space and one electric vehicle parking space), and seven Class 1A bicycle parking spaces located along an accessible route, all of which would require the variances listed below, as determined by the City?
| Near Neighbors (250 feet + Same Block) | All Meeting Attendees (Including Near Neighbors) | |
| Support | 1 | 12 |
| Oppose | 3 | 39 |
| Abstain | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 51 |
WICA will share the results of this vote at the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) Hearing, which has been scheduled for April 19, 2023 at 2:00pm (Appeal #ZP-2022-007493).
WICA is the Civic Association representing the Philadelphia, PA neighborhood between East Falls and Manayunk at the gateway to the park where the Schuylkill River and the Wissahickon Creek merge.
