The US and Spain’s COVID-19 confirmed cases since the 100th case are now higher than Italy was on the same day since their 100th case.
South Korea has bent their curve while Italy has not. The US and Spain seem to be following Italy’s trajectory, not South Korea’s trajectory.
Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: 3/21/20
I will be giving on January 29th, 7:00 PM at Lovett Library. Flash flooding has been a problem in E Mt Airy and Germantown with Haines and Belfield as the epicenter.
My talk is the 2nd in a 4 part series about Historic Mt Airy (link). I’d like to invite you and your associates to this talk on the history of the Wingohocking, why it was converted to a combined sewer, the resulting reshaping of the watershed’s landscape which allowed extensive development which then lead to our current flash flooding problems.
I am hoping to develop support for a Wingohocking Watershed Zoning Overlay that would require impervious land cover restrictions comparable to those now required in the Wissahickon Watershed Overlay.
You can view my talk slides here.
Posted in General
Posted in General
Councilman Squilla has announced that he plans to introduce a single use plastic bag bill that will reduce bag use in Philadelphia by 80% in first year.
Posted in General, Phila Trash, Plastic Pollution
Here’s the slide show that I am presenting to the East Mt Airy Neighbors zoning Committee on April 16th.
Posted in General, Wingohocking
Northwest Philadelphia’s Wingohocking Sewershed (maps below) is in a serious catch-22 situation because the historic Wingohocking Creek was enclosed into the City’s combined sewers many years ago. Key points:
The City has a dual role in the E Mt Airy – Germantown flooding situation:
In the Wissahickon Watershed, the City has a Watershed Overlay District that restricts impervious cover to 10 – 45% based on land category. There is no comparable Wingohocking Sewershed Overlay district. Properties along Germantown Ave between Cresheim Road and Allen Lane have an impervious cover limit while properties from Allen Lane to Washington Lane in the Wingohocking Sewershed have no impervious cover limit.
Wingohocking flooding in September, 2011 caused the drowning death of a young woman who was trapped in her car in 6-feet of flood water near Belfield and Haines( video here). After initial modeling efforts by Water Department and US Army Corp of Engineers, the Water Department issued a Request for Proposals in the fall in 2015, hired a highly regarded engineering firm and received their draft report in the fall of 2018. We are awaiting the release of this critical report.
The City Planning Commission reports that Germantown Avenue is experiencing “rapid redevelopment today”. This argues for immediate zoning controls of impervious cover in the Wingohocking Sewershed, including properties along Germantown Ave.
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will be holding a Germantown Avenue Rezoning meeting on March 27th. Please contact EMAN, Mt Airy USA, Mt Airy BID and the Planning Commission to ask that the Philadelphia Water Department attend the March 27th meeting and provide information on the Germantown Storm Flood Relief Capital Improvement Plan and address the potential impacts of rezoning Germantown Ave., a new Wingohocking Sewershed Overlay District or other steps they recommend to reduce today’s Wingohocking flooding situation.
We must begin taking steps to protect life and property in the Wingohocking Sewershed.
Posted in General, Mt Airy - Philadelphia, Wingohocking, Zoning
Tagged flooding, stormwater, Wingohocking
