So, we have the refusal right here, dated 524 from L&I, and essentially…
You are sat back because of the bump out, right, on the second floor?
Correct.
And that's basically what it is.
So I would ask that, oh, let me also go to the tax clearance.
By the way, this is a posting of the zoning notice today.
this is the tax clearance for uh the owner the record owner of the property
and i would ask that although we don't have a letter of support we also have a letter of no
opposition and it specifically says that there's no after two community meetings they didn't have
any concerns. We would ask that this variance be granted. And we would open it up for any
questions that...
Harris, could you have your testimony adopted?
Sure. Ms. Flores, could you raise your hand so you can be promoted?
Ms. Flores, if you're in the virtual audience, please raise your hand.
i know she said she was having some internet problems about i see no hands here
harris you're you're an officer of the court we will take your testimony
i thank you for your consideration questions from the board
uh i do um question uh how much of an addition was this i mean what were the dimensions of this
edition was it they were pretty minimal hold on let me see if i can see that in the plan
hard to tell it's not dimensioned yeah yeah it's not it's not yeah it's not dimensioned
yeah go back let me go back to the picture itself it looks like it's about from the from the just
from the scale looks like it's about five or six feet yeah but let's go let's go back to the
picture significant bay yeah you know as a significant oh yeah significant camp you have
is two what's what's to say there's two foot left 2.5 feet yes correct yes so that's the only
about six five six foot and what's what's under the addition i mean was it
what's under the addition is the first floor which is essentially yeah yeah no but i mean
it it's overhanging so it bumps out it's right it's a backyard yes the rear yard all right
i mean that's it's a significant overhang which is yeah well i guess what
concerns me is even beyond the zoning if if they i wonder if they got permits building permits
to do this thing which is a you know a concern look like it i don't because they would have
had to have zoning right they would have to have zoning and they would have to have zoning in order
to get the permit uh clearly and i would imagine also a structural engineer would have since the
work is already done i would imagine i would imagine a structural engineer would have to sign
off on it before the permit could before it could be designated and uh in my experience if they don't
feel that it's uh a structural engineer is not going to tie his name if he feels like it it's
not safe the loads doesn't the loads aren't what they're supposed to be right right so so go ahead
and that's my concern here um it it i'm not sure how it's structurally supported here
And you're adding quite a bit of weight here to this.
And that is a big, you know, a big problem.
So even if you get the variance to get a building permit, because I'm sure they're going to want you to.
you to get a building permit because i'm sure they're going to want you to um also get the
building permit there's going to be uh more uh some kind of approvals the further approvals are
going to be a problem oh yeah i i am i am certain that with this kind of construction that's already
been done that the city that ellen i is going to require
uh a um structural engineer to determine whether this is appropriate if it's not then how would it
how can it be made appropriate whether it has to be scaled back and what have you what we're
looking for is just the zoning to be able to um allow it to be able to happen and then the permit
that's a whole nother as as you already know there's that's a whole nother process right right okay
questions from the board
questions or comments more attorney hillary emerson
mr harris do you have the site plan that would have been reviewed by l and i handy
that might be helpful for the board members i don't have a i don't have a site plan for
i don't have a site plan uh for this particular project okay there was one reviewed by ellen i
but you said you don't i don't have it yeah okay because the application
right the application was submitted by the architect yeah i i don't have it i'm sorry
okay that's fine thank you that would be helpful definitely rear yard depth is and what this
overhanging. If you're only
three feet from the property line or two feet from the property line, you've got a window that's a fire
issue. I don't know.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
I see no hands here.
Planning Commission. Good morning, Amy Ford
with the Planning Commission, A-M-Y-B-O-Y-D. Do you swear or
Confirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.
Please proceed.
The comprehensive plan recommends no change in zoning at this location from the existing residential multifamily, RM1.
The work was completed for the proposed changes without the benefit of permits.
The appellant has not demonstrated unique physical circumstances or conditions that would prevent the property from being used in conformance of the zoning code.
Therefore, the Planning Commission recommends that the Board deny the requested variances for rear yard setback and maximum occupied area.
Hillary, can we proviso, structural engineer, before permit?
Normally, that tends to go with building permits.
um i have to i have to talk to ellen i about that if the board would like to
to hold this i can discuss um discuss that with ellen i
that's on the board relative to that uh i would i would like that or some kind of way to
make sure that our approval doesn't mean that this is going to get used yes without the further
Hillary, why don't we do what you just said?
You'll talk to Ellen.
Okay, let me, yeah, let me just talk to Ellen and I.
This will be closed, am I correct?
Yes, Mr. Chair.
This will be closed and council, we will get back to you, okay?
Okay, sounds good.
Thank you very much.
We should be able to vote on this next week, Mr. Chair.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to go first, and I appreciate it.
Have a good day.
Number four.
MI 2024-003-552-2001 South Redfield Street.
Yosef Kroma is the owner applicant.
This is a pro se.
Yosef Kroma, please raise your virtual hand.
He's coming back in as a panelist now, Chair.
Thank you.
Mr. Chair, I just want to note for the record, we did receive a letter of support from the Southwest Philadelphia Consortium of RCOs.
There was a request for a temporary five-year variance.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yosef?
Yosef?
Yes, good morning, sir.
Good morning.
Could you please state your name?
It's spelled for the court stenographer.
Yes, my name is Yosef Kroma.
That's Y-O-U-S-S-E-F, last name K-R-O-M-A-H.
You swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, sir.
So this application is for use as a business and professional office on the first floor
with previously approved existing single-family household living above.
The proposed use, business and professional office, is prohibited in the RSA 5 zoning district.
Our vice chair has a few questions here.
Good morning, Mr. Cromer.
Have you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits that's needed to proceed with this case five days in advance of this hearing?
Yes, sir.
There was a document that was submitted later, which is the tax variation that was supposed to come from the website.
And that's with a GRB law, so that'll be submitted.
Thank you so much. Please proceed and share your screen.
Yes, sir.
Yep, we can see it now.
Excellent.
Yeah, so essentially, let me just make this larger, is it full screen on your end, sir?
So yeah, this is a proposal for rezoning of 2001 South Redfield Street from residential
to commercial usage.
And the proposal seeks approval from the Zoning Board Association to rezone a property at
2001 South Redfield Street. From residential to commercial use, the intent is to lease the
property to the African Cultural Alliance of North America for use as a satellite office.
This satellite office will function solely as an administrative workspace and meeting place for
ICANA staff and strategic partners. No public services will be provided at the location,
ensuring that the operations remain discreet with minimal impact to the surrounding areas.
The office will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, staffed by six-person personnel.
So the purpose, as previously stated, is for administrative tasks related to the management of ACANA programs, internal staff meetings, and planning sessions, collaborative meetings with strategic partners and stakeholders by appointment only.
And the main partner that will be present is the Juneteenth organization for the planning of their festival and other yearly events that happen.
And our operating details are, as stated, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Six employees will work on site within occasional partner meetings, and it will be closed to the public.
Again, I want to emphasize there will be no walk-ins, no public services, or large gatherings at the property.
In terms of community impact and considerations, one, no concern is traffic and parking.
Traffic is limited to six-person staff members, occasional visitors.
Parking employees and visitors will utilize available street parking.
As I'll show in the coming pictures, across the street from the property is Myers Park.
So there's a long line of parking that's normally completely vacant during working hours of the day.
So it'll be low to minimal impact on the local residents, as well as there will be no large events or client interactions that will take place at the office, keeping traffic levels low.
In terms of noise and environmental impact, it will be quiet operations. All activities will occur indoors with no significant noise generation. Property maintenance, the property will be kept in excellent condition, contributing to the upkeep and appearance of the neighborhood.
And number three, preventing vacancy and blights. So the repurposing of this property for the office will prevent it from remaining vacant, ensuring that it continues to contribute to the neighborhood's vibrancy and value.
The rationale for the rezoning request is efficiency used for the vacant property, where number two, supporting community programs through internal operations, number three, aligning with the city planning goals.
and compliance with the zoning regulations, activating a vacant property for a productive,
low-impact purpose, ensuring the property's use remains compatible with the character of the
neighborhood, and maintaining quiet operations with limited traffic or parking concerns.
The timeline for the office setup is we're in November through December,
completion of the rezoning approval and lease agreements, and January office setup including
furnishings and equipment. February 2025, staff relocation and soft launch. And in March 2025,
a full operation of the satellite office begins. So I'm going to show some pictures.
This is the front of the property, the residential property that's not being discussed in this current meeting, but I just want to give you a picture of what we're looking at.
This is the front of the property, the residential property that's not being
This is the residential side on South Redfield Street, where the residents will go through, and this is the main street of Redfield, and this is the discussed property here today that's going to be on the opposite side of the property.
So, currently, there's an awning there. When I purchased the property, there was an awning there for a hair salon, and we would like to request that we repurpose the awning for the satellite office.
I do want to be forthcoming and say that the original zoning
the awning that was approved was a bit smaller than the current one
so we would like to just sort of repurpose that one
for all uses and purposes of the office space
this is a
larger picture of the property
the street
this is the back of the property
this is the alleyway of the property
and this is an aerial view of the 2001 south redfield street so redfield is here as you can
see where my arrow is across the street this is myers uh myers facility so usually the street
parking here is usually completely empty so we refrain from parking here this is the front of
the property parking is also available there but across the street all throughout here there's
parking and lastly this is the envision layout of 2000 south rightfield street um so this is
the entrance of the building as you walk through you have the waiting area here and you have one
two three four five desk space you have a restroom and you have a file storage area
and over here this is completely un-excavated this is under the residential part which will
there's no entrance or it is not in usage at all
so this is yeah this is the front of king sessing avenue so a person could walk through here
a waiting area for for uh five person personnel files in a restroom and closet space
so uh i'll open it now if there's any questions there's an exit in the back too am i correct
yes sir so yeah there's a door in the back am i correct yes yes sir yes sir so you walk through
here and then the exit is to the left
here. Yes, sir.
Questions from the board.
Are there interior
pictures
of the space?
Yes, there are interior pictures. I sent
them. I could pull them up now.
Yeah, so it's
one big room, but I'll
pull the picture up now so you can see it.
Thank you.
I do have that picture of the interior.
Is the owning part of the refusal?
No, sir, it wasn't. It wasn't cited in the refusal.
so that would need to be a separate application uh as a that's a question
not not to that not to the applicant but to right it would be okay