Philadelphia’s physical form affects the health of its residents and communities. A robust and growing body of scientific literature continues to identify associations between the built environment – streets, buildings, parks, and other human-made components of cities and places – and a variety of health determinants and outcomes, including physical activity, nutrition, obesity, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.1

This report explains the steps Philadelphia is taking to become a healthier, active, and more livable city through its new Comprehensive Plan, Philadelphia2035, and the subsequent zoning map revisions that the plan will guide. Our new integrated planning and zoning process presents enormous opportunity to educate residents on the health impacts of different land use policies, and to promote the consideration of health in planning, zoning, and development decision-making.

http://phila2035.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Phila2035_Healthier_City_Report.pdf