From 2002 until 2005, Mr. Chapman was Director of the Development Planning and Zoning Division. In this capacity, he supervised a professional planning staff involved in development and environmental review of all development proposals throughout the City. This staff also reviews and makes planning recommendations on all applications before the Zoning Board of Adjustment and prepares and provides City Planning Commission recommendations on all zoning legislation, property legislation, and street ordinances before City Council.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Chapman’s duties included testifying before various City Council committees on legislation referred to the City Planning Commission. In this capacity, he has worked closely with members of City Council to develop various types of land use, zoning, and development-related legislation.

Mr. Chapman chaired City Planning Commission sub-committees (made up of both public and private-sector representatives) responsible for developing legislation controlling and regulating outdoor advertising signs, various community and business-related zoning overlays, and the rewriting of Center City zoning and land-use controls.

He has also directed several comprehensive-planning efforts, working with community and business organizations. For Manayunk, Mr. Chapman developed a plan for the riverfront and new land-use controls, and he participated in the planning of the North Delaware riverfront. Most recently, he has represented the agency on the City’s Gaming Advisory Task Force.

Mr. Chapman has authored or co-authored most of the amendments to the Philadelphia Zoning and Planning Code since the mid 1980s. He also testifies as an expert witness in zoning and planning matters and has been a panel member of several Continuing Legal Education seminars.