Fox Chase: Zoning in on Home Ownership

A zoning debate in Fox Chase is casting a dark cloud over renters. As a matter of fact, the Fox Chase Homeowners Association (FCHA) has promised to fight any effort to convert single-family dwellings into duplexes, fearing an increase in renters. After all, some owners of single-family houses see a novel way to bring in some extra income by subdividing their properties, creating duplexes and then charging rent to whoever moves into the second part of their house.

There is “already a tremendous amount of rental properties,” said Matt Braden, the president of the FCHA. “This decreases the value of homes.” The former president of the Fox Chase Homeowners Association, Craig Turner, went even further than Braden. Renters “increase the transient and non-owner occupant makeup of the neighborhood,” said Turner. “They don’t care as much about the quality of the neighborhood, police, and schools.” Braden added that homeowners generally take better care of their properties.

Both Turner and Braden are content with the efforts of their 10th District councilman, Brian O’Neill, to combat the increase in renters. “O’Neill’s office is in agreement with our position,” said Braden. It is a good ally with the FCHA, and cares about quality of life. Turner echoed support of Councilman O’Neill’s stance on single-occupant zoning. While Turner admitted he did not support O’Neill all the time, he said the councilman’s views are in-line with the average Fox Chase homeowner.

Councilman O’Neill is a good person to represent when it comes to zoning issues. When City Council President Anna Verna had the choice of choosing any council member to serve on the committee, she went with O’Neill. The councilman has shown his concern by attending the majority of Zoning Code Commission meetings and actively participating in them.

Braden had a clear message to convey to Eva Gladstein, the executive director of the  Zoning Code Commission. “It’s important to be sensitive to the needs of the existing community,” said Braden. “Fox Chase already has a lot of rental properties.” For her part, Gladstein said she is not familiar with any zoning issues in Fox Chase.

The issue of Fox Chase residents turning single-family houses into duplexes is one that is very relevant to the zoning code reform occurring citywide. After all, one of the four main tenets of the reform is that it maintains the character of neighborhoods. One of the biggest complaints of the FCHA is that renters tarnish the character of their community.