Registered Community
Organization (RCO)

HACE seeks to elevate the voices of the community whenever possible. As a Registered Community Organization (RCO) in the Fairhill and St. Hugh areas, we host public meetings to ensure community members have an opportunity to inform decision-making for their neighborhood. Our RCO service area is bound by Lehigh Avenue to Glenwood Avenue (south-north), and B Street to 6th Street (east-west).

As an RCO, we receive notification of development proposals in our area that do not conform to the existing zoning due to use and/or dimensions. It is our role to be in direct communication with applicants seeking zoning variances in our community and to ensure that residents have an opportunity to affect the changes proposed in their neighborhood.

As we continue to incorporate the voices of local residents and stakeholders into the development processes of the neighborhood, we prioritize supporting projects that demonstrate direct benefits to the community we serve.

Virtual RCO Process

HACE prioritizes an inclusive and consistent Community Zoning Review process. HACE’s RCO has adopted the following process:

1. City of Philadelphia sends RCO Notification email to HACE, Zoning Applicant, and relevant parties
2. Communications between Applicant & RCO commence:
   1. Per the City of Philadelphia, the Applicant is required to contact the RCO within 20 days of RCO Notification email send date
   2. HACE sends letter to Zoning Applicant establishing meeting dates and materials to be reviewed. All Zoning Applicants are expected to submit the following documents no later than their Preliminary Meeting date:
      1. Site Plans and any other documents specific to the project
      2. Photographs of the current property conditions
      3. Documentation reflecting the property’s current owner
      4. Documentation of the applicant’s tax status
      5. All correspondence with the City of Philadelphia regarding this project (e.g. Zoning Appeal application)
      6. Certificate of Mailing & copy of Near-Neighbor Notification Letter (to addresses identified using the RCO Notification Site)
      7. A petition of support that explains the nature of the proposal, signed by residents of the affected addresses (including printed name, residential address, phone number, and signature; Address List provided via RCO Notification Site: https://www.phila.gov/rconotification/)
   3. Zoning Applicant confirms receipt of letter and meeting schedule
3. HACE holds Preliminary Meeting at least 1 week in advance of virtual Community Meeting
4. HACE holds virtual Community Meeting for presentation and discussion only
5. HACE’s Zoning Committee holds a meeting to cast a final vote on the project informed by discussion within the Community Meeting
6. HACE submits an RCO Summary Letter that includes a summary of the Community Meeting discussion and Zoning Committee vote at least 5 days in advance of ZBA Hearing

If the Zoning Applicant does not provide sufficient information and/or communications for the project, HACE’s RCO may request a Continuance to allow appropriate time for the Community Zoning Review process to take place.