2225 Spring Garden Street Mr. Vaccaro thank you for the board's indulgence again this is an
application for a sign to the Madge Hotel located at 2225 Spring Garden Street. The sign would be
illuminated by LED lights from behind. The sign would be approximately 126 inches wide by
just over 36 inches high. The sign would be installed about 47.3 and a half inches high
from the ground. The sign would be facing south, away from the neighbors, towards Center City,
towards Spring Garden Street. It would be powered by a low-voltage power supply with a shut-off
toggle. There would be aluminum letters, black color, with a stud mount to the brick. There
would be approximately 14 3-8 inch by 6 inch stainless steel studs to affix the 3 1⁄2
inch wide sign to the wall of the building. Other than that, Aaron, can you scroll down?
Other than that, Aaron, can you scroll down? Well, actually, start at the first page.
the first
and start scrolling down slowly the first first page second page third page keep going
fourth keep going fifth sixth page and stop six uh the first six pages is our application
The seventh page is a rendition of the proposed sign, as I had described.
Keep going.
Page eight of our packet is another rendition of where the proposed sign would be in relation to the building looking down.
Go ahead.
We have our refusal on page nine.
Scroll down.
We have our letter of support.
We had met with the Community Association, Spring Garden Civic Association.
We have a two-page letter of support, which is pages 11 and 12, another rendition on page 13.
Mr. Chow had put up the sign indicating this meeting, this hearing.
It was put up on time.
Scroll down.
Slow down, keep scrolling.
Keep going.
We're just scrolling down our exhibit packet,
still showing the photos of the notice of today's hearing.
That's the building and the sign would be
on the upper left-hand corner.
Scroll down.
Keep going.
Another copy of the refusal.
We have our tax clearance certificate on page 19, showing the hotel match.
That would be the hotel operating at the site.
And then we have started on page 20, is the deed to the property.
Scroll down.
okay i think you can summarize unless there's something out there was and one and one final
uh the last two pages is the is the previous decision uh granted a zoning variance to this
property that that decision was entered in 2017 october 3rd of 2017 for the board's edification
other than that if the board has any questions thank you do you have your client on yes yes we
have we have a representative of the client Mr. Rowan Chow who's been who's been working on this
on a day-to-day basis okay we'll get him to on the record spell your full name Mr. Chow and
i swear you in uh yeah my name is aaron a-a-r-o-n-c-h-a-u chow is my last name
swear for him to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth
yes thank you mr vaccaro mr chow have you heard my presentation to the board yes and have you
been assisting so kindly with the uh showing of the exhibits to the board yes you've heard my
testimony yes you would adopt it as your own as if you were providing that testimony yourself
correct. Any other questions? Thank you. Any questions from the board? No. No. Anyone else
would like to testify in this case? If so, please raise your hand.
Chair, we have a Justino Navarro. You can unmute yourself and speak.
Please identify yourself, spell your first and last name, and I'll swear you in.
good morning members of the board mr chairman justino navarro j-u-s-t-i-n-o-n-a-v-a-r-r-o and
representation of the springboard and civic association zoning committee we're firm to tell
the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth i do thank you please proceed thank you mr chair
members of the board we have met on a number of occasions over the course of several years with
this applicant and we fully support the initial application and this precise application for the
application of a sign as currently presented. It's a great addition to the Spring Garden
community, the Boutique Hotel is. It's also a very classy addition, the sign that's being
proposed, totally compatible with the Spring Garden Historic District. So we would encourage
you, there was no opposition to the variance in hand and in question today.
to the variance in the variance in hand and in question today uh full support and we would
encourage the board to approve the application as presented by attorney vaccaro thank you mr
navarro anyone else would like to testify in this case please raise your hand
i see no other hands chair thank you planning commission good morning mr chairman members of
board david effecto city planning commission the comprehensive plan recommends no change
in the residential multi-family zoning for this property spring garden street is not a highway so
a sign as large as the one proposed is not necessary for a driver to identify the building
we recommend that the board deny the requested variance we also want to note that the art
commission will review this application once the zoning board issues its ruling
thank thank you uh mi 2021 dash zero zero one one zero five two two two five spring garden street
my vote is yes my vote is yes my vote is yes my vote is yes thank you uh number four
mi 2021 that's zero zero one one one two three four two two collins street
it's the first listing i don't know if we have the
mr v okay is there anyone here for 3422 collins street
i see no hands chair thank you there were no exhibits this is the first listing
calendar number mi 2021-001-112 3422 collins street is continued
Number eight, MI2020-002811, 590 Rector Street, R-E-C-T-O-R.
This is a third listing.
It was a must be heard.
Is there anyone here for 590 Rector Street?
i see no hands at this time chair thank you mi 2020-002-811-590 rector street my vote is to
dismiss dismiss you okay we go to number 10 mi 2020-002-751-638 north broad street
There's a letter of support from the 14th Ward Democrat Executive Committee.
I see no hands raised at this time, Chair.
Shanna was on earlier. This is her case.
Let's go to number 11. Maybe she's having technical difficulties.
So we'll go to number 11, MI 2021-001-116-714, South Randolph Street.
Roger Perry is the attorney.
There's a letter of opposition from the Queen Village Neighbor Association and also a letter of opposition from Councilman Mark Squilla.
I am promoted to panelists now, Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Perry. Please identify yourself and I'll swear you in.
Yeah, good morning, Mr. Chairman. Roger Perry. I'm representing the owners in this property of 7114 South Randolph Street.
Perry is P-E-R-R-Y. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Thank you, Mr. Plaza.
Yes, do you agree to wait the reading of its refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Yes, I do.
And 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 prior to this hearing?
Yes, I have.
Have you met with the RCO and have a letter?
Yes, we have.
Thank you. Please proceed.
I got to get the package.
Okay. I don't know if I can. I didn't see the share screen, but here's my package.
I don't see my video, but I'll assume that you can hear me.
We can see you, but we don't see any exhibits yet.
Uh-oh.
Let me try this again.
There's your screen.
share screen. Okay. Okay. Can you see him now? No, not yet.
sir did you um click uh after you
let's see share screen and then you choose the um okay there you go yeah it just didn't register
they should be up now yes okay thank you okay again uh this is 714 south randolph street this
is a request uh by the owners to essentially legalize a duplex this property is on a small
street randolph street various residential properties and a number of garages it's a
three-story property consisting of two units. The request is to legalize two bi-level units in the
three-story property. The refusal is, of course, because this is an RSA 5. The exhibit list is
attached, and I'll scroll through and get down to the important exhibits,
the deed of ownership for the owners whom I represent.
the property was posted twice once for the rco meeting and then once pursuant to the
board's notice for the hearing the property is the posted property on the left you can see it's
a brick facade with two stories it's been traditional the property was actually set up
is two families by the owner's father, Mr. Hecht, in 1968. So it goes back to that, and what I've
done is show you the photographs for the existing meters. There's three electric meters, two gas
meters, and two mailboxes, 714. This is the street of South Randolph Street. You can see that there's
a number of two- and three-story homes. There's no parking, so there isn't any issue in terms of
interfering with parking in terms of the use and a number of garages on both sides of the property
garages on the end of the street and garages on the opposite side of the street here
plans are attached this is to request as I indicated existing by-level units in a three-story
property they're two bedrooms with the second floor shared between the unit on the first floor
and the unit on the third floor, separate entrances. Notices were sent out to members
of the public, a copy of the certification of mailing. As Chairman DeChico indicated,
we met with Queen Village Neighbors Association and they did oppose our application. The problem
was that this the problem at the meeting was that this property has been a duplex without legal
zoning since 1968 and they felt that it was inappropriate for them to essentially rubber
stamp the use even though it was you know pre-existing their policy is to oppose where the
property has not been legally zoned in the past. And that was the nature of the refusal is that
this is a legal single family home. I'm sorry, legal RSA and five, but not legal for two families.
Therefore, we appealed it. We indicated on our appeal that there's no parking issue,
that this property has been used for 50 years with no interference with the public's health
safety or welfare. We feel that it would be appropriate to maintain this property without
having to demolish it from two families to a single family and that it would not act as a
problem under the code for the existing uses in the block. This is the tax clearance certificate
get showing no taxes are due. I don't see any, I don't think anything else. My client should be,
one of my clients should be here or either the hex online.
Neil or Stuart, do you hear me?
Well, I don't know.
I see no hands share. Mr. Perry, we'll stipulate you being an officer of court.
As an officer of the court, we'd indicate that if one of the hacks were called to testify.
As an officer of the court, we'd indicate that if one of the hacks were called to testify, they would adopt my testimony.
Any questions from the board?
Anyone else would like to testify in this case?
If so, please raise your hand.
Chair, would you like to hear from his client?
His hand is up now.
Yes, please.
mr hecht you can unmute yourself and speak now identify yourself spell your full name and i'll
swear you in stewart hecht s-t-u-a-r-t h-e-c-h-t from the tell truth all truth nothing about the
truth i do stewart did you hear any of my testimony in terms of describing the premises
Yes, sir.
Was it substantially correct to the extent that you can adapt it as your own testimony?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Mr. Heck, how long have you owned this property?
Our family's owned it since, I believe, 1968.
And how long have you, I mean, it was in your father's name?
Yes, sir.
My father and mother.
When did it become your property? Let's see, November?
That would be after my mother passed away. That would be in the year 2000.
I'm not sure when it was actually transferred, but my mother passed away in the year 2000.
Yeah, I can indicate to the board that the deed indicates 2013, it was put into the children's names.
Okay. All right. Any questions from the board?
No. No. Anyone else to testify in this case? Please raise your hand.
I see no hands, Chair. Thank you, Planning Commission.
Good morning, David Fecto, City Planning Commission. Mr. Chairman, members of the board,
the comprehensive plan recommends no change in the residential single-family zoning for this
property this building was converted to two dwelling units without the benefit of permits
we recommend that the board deny the requested variance thank you my 2021-001116714 south
randolph street my vote is no my vote is no my vote is no my vote is no thank you is uh
Ms. Bricklin available. Thank you. Is Ms. Bricklin available?
Yes, she is, Chair.
Okay, we'll go back to number 10.
Thank you. We'll go back to number 10, MI2020-002-751-683 North Broad Street.
Hello? Yes.
you're on please okay i'm i'm looking at a i'm looking at a hello hello hello you're still
under oath from earlier so just identify yourself with the record please so shana brickland s-h-o
s-h-a-n-a b-r-i-c-k-l-i-n i am the attorney for 683 for the uh applicant okay mr plaza is going
to ask you some questions confess yes hello confessor we lost confessor so i'll ask sorry
about that oh okay you're back yes do you agree to wait the reading of its refusal and stipulate
to its accuracy uh yes and have you emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents
proof of ownership, proof of tax compliance, copy of the refusal over for photos and plans