DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
WELCOME
WHAT’S NEW
Consolidated Annual Plan 2008-2009
DBHD announces 2008 citizen participation schedule for funding housing & community development entitlement programs.
DBHD announces Request for Proposals (RFP) for its 2008-2009 entitlement from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG).
Walnut Street Corridor Redevelopment Planning Study
The Walnut Street Corridor study is a project being completed jointly by the City of Harrisburg, the Borough of Penbrook, Suquehanna Township and Lower Paxton Township, to look at conditions and issues along the roadway known sequentially as State Street, Walnut Street, Jonestown Road, and Allentown Boulevard. The study also includes Herr Street from Cameron Street to its intersection with Walnut Street. The four municipalities have a cooperation agreement, have sought joint funding from federal, state and county levels, and have hired McCormick Taylor to lead a consultant team to seek solutions. McCormick Taylor, Inc.
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Current Zoning Maps Available Online
Downloadable versions of the base zoning map and overlay districts are now available in Planning. Interested persons may download copies of the standard zoning districts, special intensity districts, historic districts, and flood plain. While these are unofficial copies, they are of great use for referencing the situation for a particular property—you can “zoom in” to where you can see property addresses and building forms.
NOTE: Property lines are approximations and NOT surveyed. Building footprint information is based upon aerial photography taken in 2003 and does not include updates since that time.
Application Forms Now Available Online From The Bureau of Planning
Downloadable versions of applications for the City’s Land Use Boards are now available. Interested persons may download copies of the latest application forms for Harrisburg’s Planning Commission, Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) and Zoning Hearing Board requests. The application forms include Land Development Plans/Subdivisions, Right-of-Way Easements, Street Vacations, Historic District work, and Special Exceptions/Variances. When necessary, instructions regarding the completion of the forms are included.
The regular meeting and application deadline schedule for the land use boards is also available for downloading.
About DBHD
The Department of Building and Housing Development has been in existence over 30 years for the purpose of planning, implementing and enforcing codes and programs to maximize the use of land and natural resources for the safety, use and enjoyment of the public. The Department has generally been organized under the Office of the Director including the Bureaus of Housing, Planning and Codes. In 1992, the department was reorganized involving the relocation of the Bureau of Planning so that all three Bureaus were centrally located in Suites 205 and 206 of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. City Government Center. The reorganization was designed to improve communications between the bureaus, reduce the response time to property owners and businesses, expand the citizen participation process and community outreach, and maximize the efficient use of resources. A new Plans and Permits Unit was established to link all phases of the development process, providing a single point of contact for planning development projects, reviewing plans for compliance with all applicable codes, and synchronizing approvals from the various Boards and Commissions. The Unit, which meets on a regular basis, also includes representation from the Bureaus of Police and Fire, and the Office of Engineering.
In spite of the reorganization and the fluctuation of staff from its highest complement of 54 to the current number of positions, 41, the Department has been able to maintain the same service level through the use of volunteers. New programs, resources and procedures have been developed to supplement basic services, to provide maximum efficiency and cost effectiveness, and to produce measurable results.
The Department has maintained a high level of service in its housing production programs, code enforcement, and minority contracting opportunities. The department also conducts a wide variety of plan reviews, permitting and inspections in the areas of new construction, rehabilitation, health, flooding, zoning accessibility and historic preservation.
Contact DBHD
The Department of Building and Housing Development may be contacted as follows:
Department of Building and Housing Development
City Government Center
10 N. Second Street Suite 206
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone
717.255.6480
Fax
717.255.6421
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