Zoning still a hot topic with Fox Chase Homeowners Association
By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer
Joe Adams didn't attend the bimonthly general meeting of the Fox Chase Homeowners Association and Town Watch on March 9.
But he did attend the group's Jan. 12 meeting. Adams' presence there, along with the Northeast Times' written report of his appearance, became key factors in a recent zoning hearing regarding Adams' property, according to Bob Barilli, a legislative aide to City Councilman Brian O'Neill.
Adams lives at 7454 Rockwell Ave. The property has a single house and a detached garage. The original, legal garage measures 10 feet by 20 feet. According to the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections, Adams has built a 10-by-20 addition to the garage without a permit.
Neighbors claim that Adams also has built two smaller additions to the garage, again without permission from the city, although L&I has not documented those alleged additions.
Neighbors further claim that the garage additions infringe upon property lines and force storm water into a yard next door, causing flooding. When they complained to the city last year, L&I inspected the property, saw the undocumented primary addition and ordered Adams to seek retroactive legalization for it.
Adams attended January's Fox Chase Homeowners meeting to ask for the civic group's backing on the issue, but a majority of residents voted to oppose his zoning appeal. The civic group's zoning chairman, Craig Turner, said then that the organization frowns upon anyone who attempts to build without permits.
Despite that setback, Adams still had an opportunity to make his formal case to the Zoning Board of Adjustment during a March 1 hearing. His neighbors also showed up at the hearing.
Seeing the neighbors there, Adams asked the board for a postponement, claiming that he was unaware of community opposition to his application, Barilli said.
But neighbors pulled out a Jan. 20 Northeast Times article that reported the neighborhood's vote of opposition and even quoted Adams directly.
The ZBA refused to postpone the hearing.
Adams had other problems with his zoning application, according to Barilli. Neighbors showed the board photographs of the two undocumented smaller additions, which were not included in Adams' application for legalization.
Further, the primary addition extends onto a SEPTA railroad easement at the rear of Adams' property, Barilli said. To build on SEPTA ground, Adams would've needed permission from the public transit organization.
According to Barilli, Adams had 30 days from the ZBA hearing date to appeal the board's decision.
If he chooses not to appeal or if the ZBA decision is ultimately upheld, Adams would have to wait at least one year to re-apply.
In addition to rejecting Adams' application, the board also ordered an immediate enforcement of Adams' property — meaning that L&I will inspect the site for further zoning violations.
Only a court of law could order Adams to tear down the illegal construction, Barilli said. But in such a case, the property owner could find himself in a potentially costly legal battle against the city.
• City Councilman Brian O'Neill reported that improvements are on the way at the Fox Chase Recreation Center and in Pennypack Park.
Following discussions with neighbors of the rec facility, which is one of the city's largest and busiest, plans have been drawn to remove fencing from the "lower fields" along Ferndale Street and to create a more-passive park environment.
Most of the rec center's activity occurs at the opposite end of the facility near Rockwell Avenue and adjacent to Fox Chase School. Work will be done within four to six months.
"It's long overdue," said O'Neill.
O'Neill also plans to co-sponsor a new air conditioning system for the Eddie Polec Gymnasium at the rec center. The gym opened in 1997.
Meanwhile, the councilman is planning to introduce zoning changes to Pennypack Park that would further protect it from private-sector development, like that proposed recently by the Go Ape organization. An "environmental overlay" would be patterned after one in place in the Wissahickon Valley Park, O'Neill said.
Another overlay was created for Fox Chase Farm to prevent commercial farming there. The publicly owned farm spans the Philadelphia/Montgomery County border and offers numerous rural-style community programs each year.
In a separate project, O'Neill expects that a special needs children's playground will be open to the public by the end of the school year at Verree and Susquehanna roads. It will be designed for "universal access," so that children with physical and developmental disabilities can play alongside those without those challenges.
The project will cost $700,000 or more and will be funded by Council's District 10 capital budget, along with the city's park system.
• Several neighbors from the 7700 block of Verree Road reported to Town Watch president Steve Phillips that they wanted to form a Block Watch in response to a recent rash of burglaries.
Mark Mroz, the 2nd Police District community relations officer, said that burglaries had begun to decline in the northern part of the district, near Rhawn Street, in the last month following an upsurge in December and the early part of 2011.
Three break-ins occurred on the 7700 block of Verree Road on Feb. 10, Mroz said. Police are looking for a white van with gray primer painted on the side, covering what appeared to be the letters "SH," in connection with the crimes.
Residents should call 911 if they see a van matching that description. Those interested in joining Town Watch or Block Watch should call Mroz for the 2nd district at 215-686-3020 or community relations officer Rich Simon for the 7th district at 215-686-3070.
• The next Fox Chase Homeowners and Fox Chase Town Watch meeting will be on Wednesday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m., at Cpl. John Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave.
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@bsmphilly.com