for the appellant uh if you're on and you agree with the continuance please let us know
okay hands okay mi-2020-0002575327 locust street is continued
here on number three on your list it has no date is i'm sorry no address is 2319 north 2nd street
request for the continuance by the applicant and it's continuing a little bit i'm sorry
is it okay now no i'm getting feedback i don't know if it's you or me
I'm breaking up real bad to you.
Go out and come back.
how about now
that's good thank you good thank you you were saying 2319 north second is a request for
continuance yes that has been continued until january 13th at 3 30 okay so mi that's 2020
does 000255 2319 north second street is continued and then we have a request on number 13 we
received um an email from joe consol's office requesting um to withdraw this appeal
pardon me mi-2020-0008292036 east madison street is withdrawn
any other requests for continuances or withdrawals i'm sure i have here number 11 on your list
request from the attorney of record olav sakalov to continue as the attorney moving party
okay mi-2020-000828 3319 north 17th street
there's a request for attorney moving party is there anyone who wants to speak on this case
i have charles richardson charles richardson you're gonna meet yourself
uh good afternoon mr richardson you're still under oath please identify yourself on the record
please identify yourself for the record good afternoon mr chair uh charles from the office
good afternoon mr chair uh charles richardson from the office of county
of councilwoman bass um i was actually uh calling on behalf of 59 59 51 kimball which is another one
but uh 3319 north 17th street uh we have no objection to it being continued
attorney moving party uh okay the other one was kimball avenue kimball avenue 59 51 okay this is
number 10 on your list. Number 10 on our list. And I have it marked as not having received any
exhibits. That case will be continued. Well, they have not reached out to the RCO. I know
Sandra Brodus is trying to get on and she said that no one has reached out to her and no one
has reached out to our office. So would you like it continued or we would like to see it dismissed
if they're not going to respond well in deference to everybody because of some of the challenges
we're having and reaching out we've been giving everybody a little extra time so I think again in
the interest of fairness we'll continue this case okay MI-2020-0001465951 Kemble K-E-M-B-L-E
avenue is continued no more hands chair um but i do i don't know if it was mentioned number 16
on your list but we call that one i don't think we did our attorney steve masters has requested
a continuance to amend the application he's continued until january 13th at 9 30 okay mi-2020
i'll repeat that number again mi-2020-000830 1344 north 5th street is continued what is that date
january 13th at 9 30 a.m january till january 13th at 9 30 a.m thank you all right and chair have
you already read number 18 into the record there was a continuance request from Alan
Nockamson. No we did not but I'll do it now. MI-2020-000841-1041 South 53rd Street. It's
continued. That's all on my end. Okay let me get my paperwork straight here again.
I think I got it right.
So number five, I think we read the 3248 North Carlisle.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Scratch that.
All right.
Bob, with that, we can begin the first case, Mr. Viplaza.
Okay. MI 2020-001212-9165, Rajav.
uh chair we have michael malloy michael are you the attorney for this
yes hi good evening good afternoon this is Michael Malloy of Obermeyer Redmond Maxwell
Hipple for the applicant Michael are you swearing a firm to tell the truth the whole truth for
nothing but the truth I do and do you agree to waive the reading of its refusal and stipulate
to its accuracy? I do. Have you emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents,
proof of ownership, proof of tax compliance, copy of the refusal or referral, photos and plans
five days in advance of this hearing? We have. Also, have you met with the RCO and have a letter?
It is in the exhibit packet, yes. Thank you. You may proceed. Thank you very much. So we're here
today on a relatively easy zoning variance application for 9165 Ridge Avenue. And 9165,
if I could share my screen here, let me see. 9165 Ridge Avenue is an existing
9165 Ridge Avenue is an existing police and fire credit union building located right on the border of Philadelphia and Montgomery County at Northwestern, on Ridge Avenue, between Northwestern Avenue and what's called Pep Boys Avenue.
And I think that's what I'm saying.
it's an existing police and fire credit union and the signage that you see in front of you
this existing 20-foot police and fire credit union sign is already installed and we're here
today to talk about the three by ten illuminated portion of that sign the illuminated portion of
sign conflicts with the ordinance or the the code i'm sorry in a couple different ways first it's
within 200 feet it's about 100 feet away from northwestern avenue and it's about 150 or it's
about 125 or within 150 feet of the residential areas across the street from the police and fire
credit union. So there are concerns about illumination. So we met with the RCO and the
RCO agreed to support the application with some conditions and that would be that the
illuminated portion of the sign or whatever message the bank intended to send would only
change once every 30 minutes. And that was in deference to concerns that Ridge is a busier
Street and we don't want to cause any sort of distraction for customers or potential drivers
going along Ridge Avenue. Further, that it would dim at dusk. So as the day gets longer,
the illumination will die down. And then finally, it will turn off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
So the community was in support of this. And as you can see, it's a relatively commercial area.
that's the pep boys that you see at pep boys avenue um and then as we if i can scroll down
here scroll down that's uh looking um toward the east uh up pep boys avenue um the residential uh
is beyond that thick uh border of of trees so you have a significant buffering from the residential
across the street and the proposed sign.
And it's worth noting that the sign location
makes the sign perpendicular
and not facing the residential area.
So there will be no glare.
And then that's the view from the sign
facing Northwestern Avenue.
And that's about a hundred feet.
So the community was in support of the variances.
And that is the information.
I have Jeff Carson, who is a representative of CitySign, and I'm sorry my dog has decided
to howl a little bit of the background, is a representative of CitySign, who's here on
behalf of the applicant, the Police and Fire Credit Union, and he can verify what I've
said today is true.
Would you please raise your hand so we can acknowledge you?
Okay, as an officer, Court will take your word that your client would adopt your testimony.
I apologize about that. I'm sorry. I thought Mr. Carson would be joining us.
No problem. No problem. Questions from the board?
No. No. No.
I just want to make sure I have this straight, Mr. Malloy.
He said illuminate the signage.
The message will change once every 30 minutes.
That is correct.
and uh illumination uh from was that the illumination will be restricted uh dim at dusk
yeah i'm not sure how we can do that i'll get that in but the other one was 10 10 p.m to 6 a.m
that's correct sir is that completely off or is that just yeah yes yes they they felt it
they wanted it off in the in the later part of the evening yes okay sharon do we have any issues with
the dusk.
I don't know if Sharon's on.
i don't know if sharon's on yeah no i am on um i'd like it to be a little more specific could we just
Yeah, no, I am on.
I'd like it to be a little
pick a time well you know it's my understanding that the the sign adjusts to the actual light
during the day so uh so as the as the day gets um and and jeff jeff is has confirmed that he is
on he may be on the phone um i don't know if we want to take a look or we can't if there's any
way to take a look at who's on the phone joined us but but uh the the sign actually reacts
electronically to the the lighting so it will automatically start to dim and adjust um and that
depends you know i on the on the various times of the year because that can that can vary but the
sign is programmed, I believe, to do that. So it sort of adjusts anyway.
Can you repeat to me the exact language that you were requesting?
The community group wrote,
will begin dimming at dusk so i believe you could you could write it in in a sense that the um uh
you could say the uh the illumination um will lower in accordance with the
sunlight or the seasonal light
it's sunlight you may have a cloudy day um i don't know i think it's just too ambiguous for
us to do that one that's just they just don't want it they don't want it to be and so maybe
maybe we're not i know what they want i'm just trying we're trying to figure out the correct
language oh sure signs still be dimmed during evening hours will that work sure that's that's
for me yes thank you sharon thank you all right uh anyone else wish to testify on this matter
in this case please raise your hand
no hands up thank you planning commission
uh good afternoon chairman uh members of the board ian litwin with planning commission staff
that's i-a-n l-i-t-w-i-n and ian do you swear to firm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing
but the truth yes i do thank you please proceed uh the proposed sign with the negotiated provisos
will not have a negative impact and will support the redevelopment of the commercial carter
accordingly we have no opposition to granting the variance thank you mi-2020-001212
9165 ridge avenue my vote is yes with the following provisos illumination uh to be
turned off between 10 p.m and 6 a.m messaging will change once every 30 minutes
and illumination will be lowered in uh during evening hours
did i leave anything out yes we provide them yes yes we provide though yes we provide though
okay next one up thank you mi 2020 dash 000 876 965 frankfurt avenue
I have Adam Laver. Adam, you've been promoted to a panelist.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the board.
Mr. Laver, you swear on the firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth?
Yes, Mr. Plaza, I do.
You agree to waive the reading of his refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Okay also have you emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents, proof of ownership,
proof of tax compliance, copy of the refusal or referral, photos and plans five days in advance
of this hearing? Yes I have and a copy of that electronic submission should be up on the screen
for all to see right now. Thank you. Have you met with the RCO and have a letter? We have and we have
two letters of support from the coordinating RCO and also from a thank
you you may proceed thank you very much I okay I was sworn in Adam labor of
blank room one Logan Square on behalf of Patrick Buckley and Vince's pizzeria
tenants at the subject property 965 Frankford Avenue
tenants at the subject property 965 frankfurt avenue the subject property and i have a photo
up for you to see is an existing new construction uh multi-family apartment building with ground
floor vacant retail commercial you can see that here along frankfurt and richmond the vacant
retail commercial the property is located in the cmx 2.5 zoning district right across the street
from the fillmore theater which i know is well known to members of the zoning board and i'm just
going through a couple photos so that you can see that in context the proposal before you is to fit
out a 2500 square foot ground floor space for a pizzeria with seating for approximately 75 people
it's nice in the midst of this pandemic to represent a business like vincent's pizzeria
which is a family-owned business with roots in philadelphia that go back to 1946
they really have a stellar stellar reputation and uh have been serving philadelphians
since that time and more recently throughout the pandemic. Patrick Buckley
is here with us and Patrick is very excited to bring this family
institution to Fishtown. In this instance variance relief is required for two
reasons. Parking for the commercial use is required under the code and is not
possible to due to the constraints of the existing site in addition the
minimus relief is required as the existing commercial space falls just
short of the required 30 feet in depth this property as you can see in the
photographs is existing and I would submit members of the board that the 25
feet and change I'm quite close to the 30 foot requirement and more importantly
than that that the active use of this space along Frankfort Avenue absolutely
meets the spirit of the zoning code and the actual intent beyond behind that
requirement for 30 feet depth of commercial space regarding the parking
it's important to note the presence of public parking associated with the
Fillmore within feet of our property right across the street and Fishtown
Neighbors Association in their letter of support specifically note the presence
of parking. Parking is a huge issue in Fishtown and it speaks volumes, I would
submit, that the coordinating RCO is stating that in this instance this is
appropriate grounds for variance relief and that there are opportunities for
parking for those who need it, particularly at times when the Fillmore
is not in use. The project has been reviewed by Council President Clark's
office. The proposal, as I stated at the outset, is supported by the Fishtown Neighbors Association
as well as the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District. The proposed operations
would be full service seven days per week, approximately 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., possibly until
11 p.m. on the weekends. As part of this existing new construction building there is commercial
trash storage on the interior and as a long-standing business in Philadelphia Patrick knows the
importance of regular commercial trash pickup for a business such as this. It's nice in a time when
jobs are so in demand that Vince's pizzeria will provide 15 to 20 jobs on site in the community.
We would respectfully submit that the authorization of variance relief does not alter the
character of the neighborhood or the district in a negative way, will not be detrimental to
the public welfare, and will serve an important function. The proposal fits into the surrounding
neighborhood as evidenced by the neighborhood support and speaks to being within the scope and
spirit of the zoning code the variance is requested or the minimum necessary to afford relief
as i stated mr buckley is here and at the appropriate time mr chairman
is prepared to raise his virtual hand and uh hopefully adopt and affirm the testimony that
is prepared to raise his virtual hand and hopefully adopt an affirm
i've offered thank you if you'd like to bring them on now that'd be fine thank you mr buckley
would you please raise your virtual uh hand so that you can i see you now and uh in a moment
uh you should be able to be sworn in william patrick buckley