MWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA – ZBABot Watches You Sleep

It comes as no surprise that reading the ZBA Calendar is a major pain in the ass.

The itinerary sheets are basically the only thing the taxpaying public has to clear notification that a zoning change is coming.

The zoning placard is a slight upgrade from the town crier

Of course the City requires a property owner seeking an appeal to a permit or use refusal to post that bright orange placard on each side of their structure, but let’s be honest:   those things magically “disappear” on their own.

Some people seem to think if they rip a ZBA placard down, it will stop a zoning hearing from commencing.  Sorry, it never works like that.

So–what to do?   Well, starting now we’ll be stripping the information off the ZBA calendar on a regular cycle:

The ZBA may be stuck in the 20th century, but at least I know how to scrape their data and put it in the 21st.

ZBABot is a new tool that is coming that will allow Philadelphians a better look at what’s going on in the ZBA Calendar.   As of today the bot is now checking daily for any changes the clerical staff at L&I is making on the published ZBA calendar itineraries.

Coming soon after that will be a public website where you, dear readers, can look at anything on the ZBA calendar to your heart’s content.   Beyond that, you’ll also be able to request to be notified of ZBA calendar entries that appear on the docket in any zip code.

I know, I know… civic organizations were promised that going forward after RCOs register with the City, proactive notification will follow.    Well, that’s all nice and dandy, but waiting is something I’m not really fond of.

When the City is better about electronically blasting zoning and use permit appeal announcements to the public; we’ll update ZBABot to pull from the new data.

ZBABot will be ready this week for your enjoyment.   Stay tuned.