Commercial trash pickup, just as has always been the case for the commercial operators along Fairmount Avenue, but with some very defined.
operators along fairmount avenue but with some very defined strictures in place storage of trash
out of the public view in sealed pest-free containers with restricted hours on pickup
through a community benefits agreement that is more extensive than what i'm mentioning to the board
there are good neighbor commitments in place for example although we don't anticipate heavy cooking
because that's in the restaurant next door, there is a new exhaust system proposed with venting
through the roof. The menu itself is very much as I had described, the Greek delicacies,
the special coffees, spinach pies, and special sweets, some easily takeout types of egg sandwiches
that are particular to the Greek culture.
I can come back to this if members are more interested.
And here is Council Member Young's letter of non-opposition,
the coordinating RCO's letter of non-opposition,
noting that the commercial first floor was previously owned
and occupied by the chiropractor, housing his practice for many years.
and in relevant part noting quote we believe that the proposed greek bakery and coffee business will
be an asset for the neighborhood and for the fairmont avenue commercial corridor
end quote quote the proposed use will not result in adverse effects for nearby residents or the
community and in addition we have shared only just a few minutes ago some nearby neighbor letters of
support that are more specific that i won't get into in the interest of time mr chairman and
members of the board the authorization of variance relief will not alter the character of the
neighborhood or district or be detrimental to the public welfare the proposal fits into the
surrounding area uh in the interest of time nick is here to adopt and affirm and we're
happy to answer any questions could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer
Nikolaos Kravartis, N-I-K-O-L-A-O-S, K-R-A-V-V-A-R-I-T-I-S.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Counsel?
Good morning, Nick.
You've been present for the entirety of this hearing before the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Would you adopt and affirm the testimony that I've offered as your own?
Thank you, sir.
Questions from the board?
Yes, I have a question.
You mentioned that the trash will be stored in bins out of sight.
Will that be in the rear yard?
It's proposed, Mr. Johns, with community input in the alley out of the public eye in very specific plastic bins with wheels and only to be taken out at hours that are really when people would not be sleeping normally.
Thank you.
Are there any plans to take down the fence between the two properties and combine the backyards or use the backyards as a shared space?
There are not. And per the request of the coordinating RCO, we have agreed that should that what I've just said change, that we would have to meet with them and have their consent not to be unreasonably withheld, etc.
And then is the plan to manage the the upstairs property yourself?
The upstairs property? The apartment.
Self-managing is my understanding, Nick. Yes, yes, yes.
Just for clarity for me. So this is a separate business.
This is not an extension of your business currently.
Separate, yes. So we'll have a separate name and just be a separate entity.
yes okay thank you other questions yes question and it's not so much about but this is
spring garden was the civic association not fairmount civic yes uh although fairmount civic
is an rco that could have weighed in and uh but but the district council member selected
Spring Garden Civic Association as the coordinator. Fairmont Avenue. Wow. I'm not going to opine,
and I'm quite sure we're grateful for the involvement and the input of any civic that
is interested. I believe that Spring Garden Civic is participating virtually as we speak.
All right. Okay. And no disrespect to Spring Garden Civic, just saying where this is located
I'm a little surprised at that. So my other thing is, now you said that there's going to be very
limited seating here. So is the plan to
seating here so is the plan to at some point have outdoor seating like they have at Zorba's
there's no plan for that right now Ms Gaston um it really is as I hope I had tried to describe
that that neighbors walk in they might see somebody that they know and then they go out
with their dog or if they're not a dog person they go out for their stroll along the the drive
things like that but this is this is a different type of establishment in that way okay and then
the agreement you have about the trash that's all to make sure that with all this strolling
we don't stroll and yeah it's it's it's real I didn't want to take up the board's time I'm happy
to get into it should you wish but it's a very tight agreement uh i've worked and probably many
board members know pat freeland uh with spring garden civic association pat pat drafts some some
of the tightest agreements that i've that i've ever seen to the credit of the community and the
organization okay all right thank you other questions questions for our attorney um not so
much a question just a comment since there's still going to be the apartment
above the board may want to consider a proviso just indicating that other
previously approved uses to remain since it the refusal didn't really have that
and just kind of just said take out I appreciate council's comment thank you
questions or comments from the virtual audience or the current audience here
Sure. I have a hand up for my Justino Navarro.
Sure. Spring Garden Civic Association.
Move them right now.
Good morning. Morning, sir. Could you please state your name and spell
for the stenographer? Yes. Excuse me. My name is Justino Navarro,
J-U-S-C-I-N-O
N-A-V-A-R-R-O
Alright, do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
I do. Please proceed.
Thank you members of the board and Mr. Chair
Mr. Chairman, I'm in
I am in representation of the Spring Garden Civic
Association and the Zoning Committee
and for clarification purposes
and the benefit of the board, I'd like to
clarify that the block on which this
restaurant is located has
been in the geographic boundaries
of the Spring Garden Civic Association since its foundation in 1960.
In fact, the boundaries of the Civic Association go from Broad Street,
the west side of Broad Street, to Pennsylvania Avenue,
and from Fairmont Avenue to Spring Garden Street.
And it's also part of the Spring Garden Historic District,
a historic district recognized by the City of Philadelphia Historical Commission
for clarification purposes.
We were designated as the Coordinated RCO by the Councilman's Office,
and we appreciate that uh as is customary but i wanted to commend uh the counts count the uh
board the council uh adam neighbor and also mr gravaritis because we've entered into discussions
with neighbors that are right behind the property and uh they had some concerns and issues regarding
the operation of the proposed operation of this bakery and even of the zorba's restaurant and
to the property owner's credit and service owner credit we entered into a cba on both properties
2232 and 2228 and 2230 uh famine avenue and as council indicated it's a very um specific uh cba
that guards the interests of neighbors but also is intended to incent the expansion and viable use
and ensure that the property owner at Zorba's and the bakery thrives on the Ferman Avenue commercial corridor.
So, having said that, I would encourage the board to approve the application as submitted
to ensure the continued development of Ferman Avenue as a very vibrant commercial corridor.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for calling in. We appreciate it.
Anyone else in the virtual audience?
I do not see any hands with the chair any commission
good morning chairman and board members David Fecto with the city planning commission
chairman the comprehensive plan recommends no change to the RM1 residential multi-family
zoning at this location the city rezoned this neighborhood in 1974 and a council supported
map change this property has a documented history as ground floor commercial with residential use
above the city planning commission recommends that the board grant the proposed use variants
for a takeout restaurant thank you mi2025 004 753 22
Thank you. MI-2025-004-753-2232 Fairmount Avenue, I vote yes with proviso. All previously approvals to remain.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes with provisos.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes with provisos.
Teneda Graham, my vote is yes with provisos.
Vivian McAdams, my vote is yes with proviso.
Iowan, nice and phono, which is me saying yes with provisos.
thank you mr chairman and members of the board you do have a great place by the way when i drive
when i drive by there and i see people sitting outside it looks so relaxing
okay um mi 2025 000 486 35 22 to 24 north a street nicole span
applicant three
oh good morning good morning um could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer
nicole span that's n-i-c-o-l-e span s-p is in paul a-n-n right do you swear or firmly tell
the truth told truth nothing but the truth are you going to use your computer or somebody's
doing it for you i didn't use my computer look she's going to use hers right
how do i do that though
thank you
why don't we do this why don't you what why don't we take you back there we'll get you straight
and then we'll come back and um let me jump around here a minute I'm going to go to number 11
MI-2025-001-863-1503-Crestwood Road.
Vernon Anastasio is the attorney.
I'll be coming back in as a pen of a short one, Mr. Chair.
Yeah, I just, yeah, I'll do 10-11 together, right?
i just wanted to make sure that i isolated was sitting there and i got this one we'll have
nobody left what we're done yep
is that why are we doing 10 11 together
okay so yeah so just a one yeah yeah i'm a little nervous there
burn yes sir uh burn you've already been sworn um um could you um state your name for the record
yep it's verna anastasio on behalf of claudia shooty the owner all right thank you our vice
Chair has a few questions for you. Thank you. Good morning. Morning. Have you submitted your
documents and exhibits five days in advance of this hearing? I have. And do you waive the reading
of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy? I do. Okay, thank you. You can share your screen
and proceed with your case. Thanks. Mr. Chair, members of the board, we're here for this shed
here. My client started to build it thinking that they could do that by right, but he learned
subsequently that a shed of that size could only be, I'm going to pull that up, 130 square
feet. The shed as proposed and it's only because of the overhang. It's 379 square feet. It's being
used to house, you know, it's a pretty large property being used to house gardening equipment
and outdoor furniture. And the nearest home is literally 60 feet from the shed. So it's
It's not a bother to anyone, which is why it enjoyed overwhelming double-digit support with absolutely no one attending the RCO meeting in opposition, which is why the RCO sent a letter.
And which is why the RCO sent a letter of support, why the council office was also generous enough to send a letter of support.
And I believe you'll hear testimony today, not only from the council member O'Neill's office, but also Jack O'Hara of the greater busselton.
He's also present today to express overwhelming support for this, for the shed.
There were violations so that my client then went into action and tried to legalize.
And that's why we're here.
It took us some time to get here.
But, of course, this is an unfinished product.
But that's the shed.
These are the photos of it.
As you can see, it's a very large property.
it doesn't impact
adversely anyone at all
in fact many neighbors
expressed an interest in
getting bigger sheds themselves
just some
interior workmanship
shots that we have here for you
Byrne, do you have the letter of opposition?
There is no opposition that I know of.
Do you have a letter of opposition, Mr. Chair?
We do.
We have a letter of opposition from the adjacent neighbor.
Yeah, well, I'm just telling you, that's all.
I didn't know that there was a letter.
The adjacent neighbor has, you know, even those good fences make good neighbors.
there is some sort of history there
that has really nothing
to do with this shed
the neighbor was mailed
and here's your proof of mailing here I have
they were no show at the RCO meeting
but there was
significant
attendance
and they all voted in support
as this letter shows here
We've got nearly 30 people voting to support and 14 to oppose, no opposition.
And, you know, the dimensional variance, as far as I'm concerned, it really is negligible.
And the only reason why they count some of that is because of the overhang.
So, you know, because this doesn't impact adversely anyone, and because, you know, the nearest home is literally 60 feet away, and because of the overwhelming support by the RCO, the Greater Busselton, and the Council Office respectfully requesting the granting of the variance.
With that, I'd like Claudia Schutte to raise her virtual hand and be recognized.