They occupy the first floor and some of the second floor,
they occupy the first floor and some of the second floor but mainly the first floor
but mainly the first floor.
across the street is an elementary school and a lot of frankly a lot of the graduates of the
Across.
preschool end up attending the school directly across the street
another perspective one of the questions we got at the meeting was about traffic well
Ms. Davis typically meets the children and the parents down right at the corner, not in the Eastern State Penitentiary, but outside the Eastern State Penitentiary.
There's a little playground on the northwest end, and that's where the children usually are dropped off.
And then Ms. Davis and the other teacher walk across the street down in front of the elementary school up into their second floor of the daycare.
Some interior photographs of the daycare.
I really should call it child care. This is the entrance and there's notice of our posters.
And then we have a floor plan. So I'll start on the right hand side. This is the first floor where
the Ukrainian League club is located to enter our facility on the second floor, come through the
side door, walk up the switchback steps and enter. And this is the area of the classroom.
There's bathrooms, a small area here to congregate, and also a closet.
The remaining documents are what you would typically see in an application such as this.
Project information form, our tax clearance.
When we asked for the tax clearance, it came up as a $500 balance, but this balance is for 2025.
So that's why we attached this document as well as this document,
indicating that we've paid for 2024.
Why it appears as an outstanding debt, I really don't know.
This indicates also that we're paid up to date as of today
and as of the end of December.
Zoning map, I didn't say at the outset, but this property is owned CMX1.
This is a lease that's in place between my client, which is PlaySchool, Inc.
You really can't say it, but it's all one word, PlaySchool, Inc.,
And the Ukrainian Lake of Philadelphia, we also have an addendum to the lease indicating that as of February of this year, it's been renewed for a two-year period.
Notice letter to the community, we mailed out 224 pieces of mail.
As I said, the meeting was well attended.
So I outlined the hours of operation, 9 to 5.
There's nothing on the weekend. Indicated less than 16 children, the ages between three and five, two teachers.
There's regular inspections by the Department of Human Services.
And with that, I would like to conclude my testimony, ask my client to unmute herself, and also just point out to the board again, this is a referral, not a refusal.
We're not altering the essential character of the neighborhood.
We're right across the street from elementary school, which is advantageous for parents
dropping off children either at our daycare or across the street, and the community group
even mentioned that in their letter of support.
We are in harmony with the code.
It's a good use for the neighborhood.
Just an outstanding turnout at the meeting.
People are very much in support of Ms. Davis, what she does, and how she goes about her
business.
And with that, I'd ask my client, Ms. Davis, can you unmute yourself by hitting the button?
I know she's on the call.
Brandy.
What is the name again?
Brandy Davis, D-A-B-I-S.
Hi, can you hear me?
I can.
Again, could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer?
My name is Brandy Davis, B-R-A-N-D-I-D-A-V-I-S.
We're a firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Please proceed, Mr. Clinton.
Ms. Davis, were you on the call when I presented your project, your application to the board?
And one thing I forgot to mention, you do have a BS in child development and family studies from Ohio State?
And if you had the opportunity to testify, would you adopt my testimony as your own and as true and correct?
Thank you, Ms. Davis.
Henry, is this an ongoing operation?
And why were you referred?
We were referred because it's a CMX1 zoning district and child care centers not permitted only by special.
only by special how long has this been in existence well it's as a long history uh the
How long has this been in existence?
well it's that's a
child care center has been in existence for over 10 years my client got involved and purchased the
child care center in 2021 and unbeknownst to the landlord as well as her when she purchased it
the zoning was never properly in place and so thank you thank you questions from the board
not questions but comment i've seen you know this is in my neighborhood it's actually
right across from the uh uh bus stop that i use so um i've seen you know the children there and
uh you know it's been around for a while uh i didn't know about the zoning issue or anything
But it is, it has been there for a while.
And it looks like, you know, I see the children sometimes when they're outside or whatever.
I think they're being taken someplace.
They're not just out or whatever.
And it appears to be a very well run and, you know, integral part of the neighborhood.
So that's just my comments and my views from what I've seen.
Thank you.
Anyone else from the board?
Comments are from our attorney, Hillary Emerson.
Just briefly, Mr. Clinton, should, if the board grants, should they include a proviso indicating that this use is limited to the second floor only because the prior use is remaining?
Correct.
thank you thank you mr emerson questions or comments from the virtual audience
um yes chair i have a hand up from conlon crossley i have allowed them to speak
how could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer
uh good afternoon chair conlon c-o-n-l-a-n crosley c-r-o-s-l-e-y you swear or affirm to
tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yes sir i do please proceed um thank you
for uh giving me a moment to speak chair um at first i'd like to uh the councilman has a position
of non-opposition for this okay thank you i'd also like to include uh if i may i'm a near neighbor
and i'm okay with this as well thank you very much god we appreciate that thank you thank you
Okay. Is there anyone else in the virtual audience?
Yes, Mr. Chair. I have a Jamie Sutton. I've allowed them to speak.
Could you please state your name? It's spelled for the stenographer.
My name is Jamie Sutton, J-A-I-M-E-S-U-T-T-O-N.
Where or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Are you a neighbor?
Yes, I am.
Please proceed.
uh so my name is jamie sutton like i mentioned and my son my older son went to uh play school
and brandy has been such an incredible teacher she has changed our lives the lives of our son
and our daughter i'm hoping we'll be able to go there in the very near future when she
becomes the right age to join um i'm also a very close neighbor i'm just one block away
and I'm also a local business owner in the Fairmount neighborhood and I think having play
school continue to be a another small business in the neighborhood is vital and she's done such a
wonderful job I only know everyone who has sent their children to her has loved her and the
teachers that she also works for and we will continue to utilize her services and her play
school as long as she is allowed to continue so just wanted to put that out there that everyone
I know in the surrounding area that has used her services has been very happy with her setup and
where she's at. Thank you very much for taking the time to calls. Anyone else in a virtual audience?
Yes, Chair. I have a Feliz Ley. I've allowed them to speak.
Could you please state your name? It's spelled for the court stenographer.
Absolutely. My name is Feliz Ley. It's spelled F-I-L-I-Z-L-E-I-G-H.
We're a firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.
Are you a neighbor?
I am. Yes.
Okay. So are you in favor of this?
Absolutely.
Thank you very much for being in favor.
Is there anything you could offer that we haven't already heard?
I would like to just add that I do have a student who's currently involved in this child care center.
So I would just like to echo the support of this wonderful school in Fairmount and also just add that it.
this wonderful school in Fairmount, and also just add that it does fill a void in the community,
and I'm in support of this wonderful asset to our community, and that's all for me.
All right. Well, thank you very much for calling. We appreciate you taking the time. Is there anyone else, Jason?
Yes, George Holden. I've allowed them to speak.
Jason, how many more hands do you have?
two more hands okay thank you please please proceed sir sir state your name and spell for
the court stenographer uh hello my name is george that's spelled g-e-o-r-g-e-o-l-d-e-n
right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
yes i do or sir are you a neighbor yes i am are you in favor of this project
Yes, I am.
Is there anything that you could offer for us that we haven't already heard?
I would just like to add, I'd like to support the comments from the previous people.
I would like to add that my son attended this school from the age of three to five,
and the benefit to him was quite extraordinary.
And he did then progress to the elementary school across the street and is succeeding there.
And benefits greatly from the ongoing community that this play school provides.
It is beyond the classroom, and it is exceptional.
Thank you very much for taking the time.
next hand please yes chair i have a kathleen conlin i've allowed them to speak
why could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer
kathleen kathleen kathleen kathleen kathleen he's a mutant way to be sworn in
could you state your name please yes hello my name is kathleen
all right state your name is spelled for the course stenographer
i'm so sorry i think i'm having audio trouble okay all right are you in favor of the project
i am absolutely in favor of the project thank you thank you so much for calling we appreciate it
and next hand jason okay last hand is from a jennifer treyer i have allowed them to speak
hi could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer
jennifer
Jason, did we share?
I missed. They're still there. I will allow them to speak, but they may be having technical difficulties. Hold on a moment.
Jennifer Trier, are you available to speak?
They may be having technical difficulties.
Okay. All right. Good. All right. Planning Commission.
Amy Boyd with the Planning Commission.
The comprehensive plan recommends no change in zoning at this location from the existing commercial mixed use CMX-1.
The appellant had demonstrated that the forroads used would not cause detrimental impacts beyond what would reasonably be expected.
The Planning Commission recommends that the Board grant the proposed special exemption for child care center.
MI 2024-005-586-800 North 23rd Street. I vote yes. Proviso, use limited to second floor.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Tynetta Graham, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Oops, Taya Nguyen, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Thank you, Mr. Clinton.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
Have a great day, everybody.
Thank you.
So number nine, MI 2024-005-634-16 South 51st Street.
Alan Nocklinson is the attorney.
There's a letter of support from Walnut Hill Community Association
and a letter of support from the West Philadelphia Economic Development Council.
Okay, they will be rejoining
as a panelist for all of a sudden.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mr. Nockmson.
Good afternoon.
Hi, could you please state your name and spell for the court's sonographer?
Yes, Alan Nockamson. A-L-A-N, last name Nockamson, N-O-C-H-U-M-S-O-N.
Swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Could you identify your client, their relationship to this property?
Could you identify your client and their relationship to this property?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
My client is Hewitt Realty, LLC, the owner of the property.
And in the virtual audience is its member, Kamara Chumet.
Do you swear or do you stipulate to the reading of the refusal and agree with its accuracy?
And if all of your paperwork and agenda has been in five days prior,
Please proceed, sir, and share your screen.
All right. Oh, wrong one. Get the right one up.