Zoning & Development
The Mantua Civic Association grew out of the feedback from the community’s desire to be engaged in making decisions about the zoning and development changes going on in their community. MCA has worked to keep the residents of the Mantua community informed and engaged in the decision-making process through monthly Community Meetings and RCO Public Meetings.
MCA was approved as an RCO (Registered Community Organization) in 2014. As an RCO we have the responsibility to convene a Public Meeting with the owner/developers of building and renovation projects that require zoning appeals. RCO responsibilities include the coordination of Public Meetings for the review of proposed development in our community that require a zoning variance.
These zoning variances many include matters related to:
Height of the proposed development
Type of development – Single Family, Multi-Family, Commercial, etc
Required size of open areas
Required parking for multi-family dwellings
As one of the RCO’s in Mantua, MCA has acted as the Coordinating RCO. We have taken responsibility for scheduling and convening the public meeting in coordination with all other RCO’s whose boundaries overlap the project location.
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic of March 2020, and its impact on City Planning and Development services for over five months, the MCA Executive Board has had to rethink how to continue to communicate and engage its residents in the decision-making process of development in Mantua.
Beginning, August of 2020, we established a MCA Zoning Committee of volunteer residents from the various parts of the community to insure broader resident engagement in shaping the future of Mantua. Allan Johnson, Corine Sapp, Rikiyea Lindsay and Berkley Williams along with the MCA Board - longtime Mantua residents will be leading this initiative.
In addition, to ensure the health and safety of our residents, we have planned and held outdoor RCO meetings for the first several weeks of the month. In response to the backlog of zoning appeal cases, we will move toward earlier notification of upcoming cases, the distribution of materials in hard copy in advance of the meetings and the integration of both audio and visual technology.
We continue to strive to stay true to our mission: “Plan or Be Planned For.”
James Dupree's Studio
To learn more about this influential artist and how his studio space in Mantua will be part of the solution in eradicating a food desert, click on the button below.
Photo credit: David Swanson (Philadelphia Inquirer)