as you can see on the side there are already two electric meters
my client recently purchased this property already two separate mailboxes and in fact
it's two separate units
already
historically is this a legalization
or that's correct
well it was legal at some point
here's the history
we have a legal
two family dwelling
and we have
proof of city certification
two family dwelling
and that's
1953, another two-family dwelling
certification. But yes, this is
has been since 1953, a two-family
dwelling, and it is currently a two-family dwelling with two
separate electric meters. It's treated
for rubbish disposal as a two-family dwelling, and my client
purchased it thinking it was, in fact, a two-family dwelling.
When did he purchase it?
Or she?
He purchased it about a year or so ago.
There it is right there.
So it's fairly straightforward.
It's been a two-family dwelling for 65, 70 years.
And we would just like to continue to use it as a two-family dwelling.
And you've met with the RCO?
We did.
I did not receive a letter from them.
I'm not quite sure.
We have a letter of opposition from Faith Community Development Corporation.
Okay, there you go.
Yeah, I mean, again, this has historically been a two-family dwelling.
There's other two-family dwellings on the block.
We have already two separate electric meters.
As you saw physically, the interior is divided up as a two-family dwelling.
to have to return this to single-family use
would be quite an impracticable feat.
Do you have a picture of the rest of the block?
Like the house next door, a few horses,
if the house is down?
Let me see.
these are semi-detached say it again next door 153 is a single family that's correct
does the board have any questions no no no
If there's no questions, I would like my client, Leron, to raise his hand to be recognized.
I'm about to speak.
Sir, can you hear us?
Can you put your name and address on the record and spell your last name?
Leran Shoshan, S-H-O-S-H-A-N.
The address is 151 East Malin Street, Philadelphia PA, 19144.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Okay, you may proceed.
Thank you.
Leran, did you hear my presentation to the board this morning?
And was it true and accurate to the best of your knowledge?
And do you adopt it as your own testimony?
Thank you, Laura.
Madam Chair, we have nothing else.
Thank you.
Is there someone here from Faith Community Development Corporation?
If you're here, please raise your hand.
Madam Chair, I don't know if anyone in the audience is from this organization, but Mr.
Madam Chair, I don't know if anyone in the audience is from this organization.
Charles Richardson has his hand raised.
Okay, great.
Mr. Richardson.
Good morning, Madam Chair.
Hi, can you put your name and address on the record and I'll swear you in?
Charles Richardson from the Office of Councilwoman Cindy Bass, room 312 City Hall.
do you swear for him to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth
i do thank you you may proceed okay uh the councilwoman is going to oppose the granting
of the variance because she just does not uh like to do legalizations on properties that do not have
uh any any uh certification from lni or something along those lines she's a kind of concerned with
regard to the safety. I do know that they have had a couple of attempts at RCO meetings for that
location. And from my understanding, and Mr. Anastasio can probably confirm that no one
showed up for those meetings from the near neighbors. So I'm taking it that they're going
on on on their own uh ideals based on what they would like to see um or what they're they would
like to see regarding this uh property so um but again the councilwoman will will be opposing
thank you we did we did in fact meet with the rco uh there were very few people in attendance
uh page 59 and 60 of my exhibit packet uh show uh city certification of a two-family dwelling
this was previously legalized because of an elapsed rental license that's the only reason
why we're here today physically go ahead i'm sorry utility wise physically and in all other
ways for the past 65 years it's been a two-family dwelling and we just like to bring it back into
compliance. My concern is the home next door is single family and we can't see any further down
the street to see what those homes are. There's again mostly single family but there are other
two family dwellings on the block. The board has no questions? No. No. No.
planning commission um excuse me this is sharon madame chair if we could confirm that no other
members of the public are in attendance who wish to testify is there anyone else who would like to
testify in the virtual audience if so please raise your hand no further hands at this time madam chair
Thank you, Mr. Hand. Planning Commission.
Good morning, Madam Chair. Ian Hegarty for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. That's H-E-G-A-R-T-Y.
Good morning. Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth and nothing about the truth?
Yes, I do.
Okay. Your recommendation.
Thank you. Members of the Board, the comprehensive plan recommends no change to the existing single-family zoning at this location.
however the proposed use is consistent with documented previous uses on this property
included including legal documented uses and so the city planning commission recommends that the
board grant the variance. Thank you. Calendar number 1477 151 Mayland Street my vote is yes
and my name is Carol Tenere. Confessor Plaza my vote is yes. James Snell my vote is yes.
Thomas Holloman, yes.
Thank you all.
Have a good day.
Thank you.
You as well.
Calendar number 1432-2000-32 East Shellmire Avenue.
And the attorney is John Sabatina.
I don't seem to see Mr. Sabatina.
Mr. Peter McDermott has his hand raised.
I will allow him to speak at this time, Madam Chair.
Thank you.
Mr. McDermott?
Yes, I'm here with Mr. Sabatina.
We're on my account.
Okay, great.
You're an attorney as well, right?
No, I'm an associate with Mr. Sabatina.
Mr. Sabatina is the attorney.
Mr. Sabatina is present.
Okay, great. Mr. Sabatina, put your name and address on the record. Please spell your last name.
Okay, great.
Mr. Sabatina, put your name and address on the record.
Please spell your letter.
John Sabatina, S-A-B-A-T-I-N-A, 1742 Emerson Street, Philadelphia, 19152.
Thank you. Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Do you also agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Yes, I do.
and have you emailed the exhibit packet with proof of ownership tax compliance
the refusal referral photos under plans of the property five days in advance of this hearing
and have you met with the rco and do you have a letter we have complied with all the requirements
yes thank you and i would like to state that the roanhurst civic association
has sent a letter of support uh confessor okay i just heard all this noise
you may proceed i'm sorry can we pause for one moment this is tanya
mr hand can you please promote mr sabatina to a panelist so he can present
right away ma'am thank you thank you
Okay, Mr. Sabatini, you may move forward.
Okay, as you can see, the very first page is a list of our exhibits.
First exhibit is a notice of refusal, then the application for the appeal, project information
Form completed, payment verification for the application for the appeal, and a deed.
Existing exterior photographs and signposting, this signposting is coming up.
Hang on for a second.
there you can see yeah there's a science posted
is that church closing no no it is not okay okay
uh the uh sign sign plan the site plan rather i'm sorry
showing the signs
as well.
Zoning map.
Obviously, this church has been there for quite a number of years.
There's the aerial views.
Community meeting letter,
which we sent out.
The mailings to the adjacent neighbors, 149 letters, tax compliance, RCO letter of support.
Thank you. Does the board have any questions?
is there anyone in the virtual audience who would like to testify i apologize for this noise there's
a construction crew making that noise mr hand no one's in the audience
Madam Chair, Ms. Alice Udovich has her hand raised.
Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the board, Alice Udovich from Councilman Brian
O'Neill's office, City Hall, room 562.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Madam Chair, the Councilman has no objection to the granting of the variance at this lovely
church okay it is lovely that's for sure planning commission
thank you madam chair ian hegarty for the philadelphia city planning commission
um comprehensive plan recommends no change to the existing single family zoning at this location
we recognize this as a house of worship and uh typically we give some deference
here um however we don't believe that the applicant has demonstrated that there's any
hardship that compels them to have this type of sign, which is expressly prohibited by the zoning
code. We haven't seen any evidence that the variance is necessary to enable continued use
of the property. And so the city planning commission will have to recommend that the
board deny the variance. Is there anyone in the virtual audience?
what I had this sign is simply modernizing the existing sign it's been there for maybe 30 or 40
years or longer yeah I longer yeah one of the things I wanted to add was too as we know some
of the hardships that the Catholic Church has faced with ordained personnel, this would allow
them to easily update that signage digitally rather than have staff go out there manually
and consistently update this and send the message out to the community to support their parishioners.
Excuse me, this is the court reporter. Was that Mr. Sabatina who just spoke?
No, that was Mr. McDermott.
Thank you.
okay does the board have any questions no no no
calendar number 1432 2000-32 east shellmeyer avenue my vote is yes
and i am carol tenere
confessor
confessor plasma voters yes
James Snell, my vote is yes
Thomas Holloman, yes
Thank you
Calendar number 1410
2143 East Arizona Street
Matt Monroe is the attorney