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January 10, 2013 Zoning Board of Adjustment 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Municipal Services Building, 11th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102-1687 F: (215) 686-2565 Philadelphia City Planning Commission ATTN: Alan Greenberger, Chairman One Parkway, 13th Floor 1515 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 F: (215) 683-4630
RE:
Appeal #21324 Permit #492205 2100 N FRONT STREET Applicant: KENSINGTON HOSPITAL
12:00
In the near future you will be hearing case 21324, a request by Kensington Hospital to relocate an existing methadone clinic operation currently operating inside 136 W DIAMOND, approximately 0.1 miles to the subject parcel as part of a MAT clinic expansion. Kensington Hospital wishes to relocate this clinic so it can conduct an expansion project of its methadone dispensary operation. Given its presence space and capacity it is presently has a negligible patient volume. Given that the clinic presently operates within the main building of Kensington Hospital on an upper floor, it is also not disruptive to the community in which it serves. All this is about to change. Kensington Hospital has acquired a significantly sized corner property directly underneath the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line at 2100 North Front property to shunt its
Residents of Hope Street Neighbors For Better Living, NSCA and East Kensington Neighbors Association exist for one reason: to further the betterment of their neighborhoods. They were asked to participate in the zoning process and they will be present on January 22nd to render their concerns to you, which will be in the negative. That is of course, presuming Applicant does not postpone this zoning case yet again, as nettlesome zoning applicants often do to frustrate those seeking to enter testimony into the record should parties which to appeal your decision to the Court of Common Pleas. I have already witnessed prior zoning controversies concerning MAT clinics before the Zoning Board of Adjustment; and Ive also witnessed the last 5 years of the Planning Commission purposely staying silent about this issue. That is why it comes as no surprise to me that Councilman Bobby Henon and Councilman Brian ONeil passed Bill No. 12-077000 which removes medical offices from all but the most remote zoning parcel classifications. Given prior litigation from profitfueled MAT clinic operators using the Americans with Disabilities Act as a defense against zoning control, District 6 and District 10 had to reach for this non-discriminatory measure to ensure that all MAT clinic operators at least meet with the community (something that did NOT occur with the Healing Way case, as L&I had granted permits assuming by-right status applied). I am sure PCPCs opinion over 12-077000 was negative insofar that the new Zoning Code has been poisoned by one-off zoning regulations that are not streamlined into the
Sincerely Yours,