News & Resources
Government Affairs Report
With the 2027 primary election set for May 18, campaign season has already begun to shape the pace of work in City Hall. Although City Council remains in session until December 10, only four session days are scheduled in November and December, and we expect Council to take up fewer issues than usual as members turn their attention to their campaigns. A slower Council calendar does not mean a slower advocacy calendar, however. Much of the BIA’s current work is taking place with City departments and at the state level, where decisions affecting our industry continue to move forward.
City Council
1. The BIA continues to press City Council to consider the proposed 20-year property tax abatement for residential conversions, which would encourage the reuse of underutilized buildings as housing.
2. With the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) overlay now law, its benefits depend on which areas Council designates. We are urging Council to designate transit stations in neighborhoods across the city, including along South Broad Street.
3. We are working with Councilmember Squilla and other stakeholder groups to bring greater transparency to the historic preservation nomination process.
4. We are pursuing refinements to the recent tenant rights legislation that would reduce unnecessary compliance burdens for property owners.
5. We are reviewing Bill No. 260689, which would allow the Planning Commission to waive the requirement to obtain Zoning Board of Adjustment approval to remove heritage trees when an applicant provides the required tree replacement or pays an in-lieu fee.
City Departments
The BIA is meeting with the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) and the Streets Department about a proposed change in how the City sets conditions of approval for development projects. The City’s stated goals are to reduce the impact of construction on neighbors and road users and to create a more predictable path to project completion. We are working to ensure that any new approach is practical for builders and developers.
State Level
Through the Pennsylvania Builders Association’s UCC Committee, the BIA is helping prepare comments on the 2021 International Codes as part of the review by the state’s Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council (RAC). The RAC’s recommendations will shape the codes our members build to across Pennsylvania, and this process is one of the most important opportunities for the industry to weigh in.