Mt. Airy Quality of Life

Handbook

A complete guide to maintaining and improving the quality of life in Mt. Airy

For block captains, activists and residents

Dear Neighbor,

Successful communities like Mt. Airy depend upon residents to take leadership roles on their blocks and local neighborhoods to maintain and improve the quality of life for all of us. You are holding a booklet which we hope will be a helpful resource to you in solving a wide range of community problems.

East and West Mt. Airy Neighbors, along with our elected officials, stand read to help you make the most of City resources. Please contact us at the numbers below should you need any assistance.

This booklet is divided into five sections:

• Helpful phone numbers and contact information for city and other agencies which deal with the wide variety of issues affecting communities;
• Guide to Public Safety;
• A Complete Guide to Zoning for Mt. Airy;
• Street Trees in Mt. Airy, and;
• The HELP Line: A Guide for Block Leaders. This is a step-by-step guide for dealing with a variety of issues on your block.

We hope you will find each one a helpful resource for community problem-solving.

This booklet contains much information which was made available to us by Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller and her staff, and we are grateful for their assistance. The “Complete Guide to Zoning in Mt. Airy” and the section on street trees are derived from a 2003 West Mt. Airy Neighbors publication, “Working the System,” and we acknowledge members of the committee who compiled the information and wrote that booklet: Sara Allen, Bruce Herndon, Liz Kozart, Mia Mengucci and Alan Metcalfe.

Our deep gratitude also goes to Elfant Wissahickon Realtors for sponsoring the publication of this booklet.

Thank you for being a leader. With your active involvement, Mt. Airy will be a better community for all of us to live, work and raise our families.

Sincerely,

Derek S. Green, Esq. President East Mt. Airy Neighbors Contact EMAN at: 7301 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119 (215) 242-4170 (215) 242-4189 fax janercosby@yahoo.com

Jarma J. Frisby President West Mt. Airy Neighbors Contact WMAN at: 6703 Germantown Avenue Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19119 (215) 438-6022 (215) 844-9167 fax wman@wman.net www.wman.net

Table of Contents

General City Agency Contacts

City of Philadelphia

Police Department

Department of Licenses and Inspections

Fairmount Park

Street and Parking Issues

Automobiles, Abandoned

Automobiles: Improper Business Activity on the Street

Flooded Intersections

Litter

Loitering

Missing Manhole Cover

Oil Spills on the Street

Parking Permits

Handicap

Loading Zone

Residential Parking Permit

Temporary Permit to Prohibit Parking

Parking (Improper) on the Street

Plowing and Salting

Pot Holes

Sidewalks: Dangerous or Unshoveled

Snow

Trees – see section on Trees beginning page __

Street Signs and Traffic Signals

Malfunctioning Traffic Signal

New Street Signs and Traffic Signals

Prohibiting Trucks from Parking on a Residential Street

Speed Limit Signs/Pedestrian Crossing Signs

Street Sign Broken or Missing

Watch Children Signs

Street-Related Permits

Permit to Block the Street

Block Parties

Trash

Bulk Trash

Christmas Tree Removal

Hazardous Waste

Recycle Hotline

Trash Collection

Water, Sewers and Storm Drains

Building and Lot Issues

Abandoned House

Appliances Left on Porch or Yard/Trash Strewn Yards

Dangerous Sidewalks

Dilapidated Structures

Dumping

Heating Assistance

House in Disrepair But Occupied

Tenant Issues

Utilities

Other Quality of Life Issues

Animal Complaints

Cruelty to Animals

Barking Dogs

Dog License

Insect Information Program

Rat Control

Child Abuse

Drinking

Elder Services

Foul Odor

Gas Leak

Loud Music or Car Alarm

Poison

Leaflets

Underage Drinking

Guide to Public Safety

14^th District Police

Mt. Airy Safety Network

Safe Streets

Good Shepard Mediation Services?

Northwest Victims Services

Mt. Airy Neighborhood Alliance

Complete Guide to Zoning in Mt. Airy

What is Zoning?

Philadelphia Zoning Code

Zoning Districts and Maps

Wissahickon Watershed

Variances and Certificates

Philadelphia Zoning Classifications

[add info on EMAN and WMAN?]

Types of Zoning Issues

Zoning Protocol

Street Trees in Mt. Airy

Rights and Responsibilities

The Fairmount Park Commission and Trees

The Property Owner: Rights and Responsibilities

Utilities: Rights and Responsibilities

The Pruning Process

Pruning Problems

What Residents Can Do to Avoid Tree and Utility Conflicts

The HELP Line: A Guide for Block Leaders

Graffiti

Cleaning and Organizing Your Block

Crime and Safety

Dangerous, Dilapidated Properties

Beautification

General City Agency Contacts

• City of Philadelphia
• City of Philadelphia Website: www.phila.gov.
• City of Philadelphia Hall Main Switch Board: (215) 686-1776

8^th District Council Office

Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller: (215) 686-3427

Police Department

14th Police District: (215)-686-3140 (covers Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill and parts of Germantown)

See Guide to Public Safety on page __ for more information about the police department.

Department of License and Inspections Services and Operations Unit

Call (215) 686-2463 or use the L&I Online Service and Complaint System. To get to the Online Service and Complaint System, go to www.phila.gov and follow the link to “City Departments.” Choose “Licenses and Inspections” and then choose “Online Service Request.” The address is http://66.179.23.19/DP1/Metroplex/Philadelphia/customerservice/selectbyservno.asp.)

Or, send email to services.and.operations@phila.gov.

Call to request an inspection or register a complaint regarding property maintenance (buildings that are abandoned, falling down, in need of repair or hazardous) and building, fire, or zoning codes.

The L&I North District Office is at 5700 N. Broad St. and can be reached at (215) 685-2856, (215) 685-2859, or (215) 685-2860

Fairmount Park (215) 685-2575

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Street and Parking Issues

Automobiles, Abandoned

Call the 14th District Police, (215) 686-3140.

-- and --

Call the Abandoned Auto Hotline, (215) 683-CARS ((215) 683-2277.) This is the phone number of the Chief Inspector, Abandoned Vehicle Unit.

Report the address of the vehicle's location including, make, model, color, state license plate tags, any inspection stickers on vehicle, and any damage to vehicle.

The police will give the rightful owner (if located) time to remove the auto before it is towed.

Automobiles: Improper Business Activity on the Street

(For example, auto repair being done on the street)

Call the Department of License and Inspections Services and Operations Unit, (215) 686-2463 or use the L&I Online Service and Complaint System.

Flooded Intersection:

• Call the Streets Department's Customer Affairs Unit, (215) 686-5560
• Or call the water department emergency number, (215) 685-6300

Litter

Lots: Department of Licenses & Inspections, (215) 686-5560

Loitering

If you see people loitering, call 911 and the Mt. Airy Safety Network, (215) 438-6018.

Missing Manhole Cover: Water Dept., 215-685-6300; PGW, 235-2050; PECO, 215-841-4141 (depending upon who owns it)

Oil Spills on the Street