James Snell, my vote is yes with proviso.
thank you thank you have a good day sure number nine mi 2022 006 083 800 copman avenue
amy amy farrell is the attorney for the owner um letter of support from council member phillips
letter of support from Burr Home Community Town Watch and Civic Association.
Chair, I promoted Julie Bernstein for panelists. Hi. Good afternoon. I'm the attorney, Julie. Are
you the attorney? I am. I'm an associate of Amy Farrell. Sure. So why don't you state your name,
please and spell for the court reporter? My name is Julie Bernstein, J-U-L-I-E-B-E-R-N-S-T-E-I-N.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
I do. Could you identify your client in relationship to the property?
So Newtown Park Associates is my client and they are the owner of the property.
Okay. And our vice chair has just a few questions for you.
Good afternoon, counsel. Do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its
accuracy? I do. Thank you. Have you emailed in to our offices all the exhibits and documents that
are required to proceed with this case five days in advance of this hearing? Yes, we did.
Thank you. Please proceed and share your screen.
okay can everyone see my screen we can great good afternoon again my name is julie bernstein i'm with
kaplan stewart and we represent the owner of the property newtown park associates um the property
is currently zoned as rm2 and it consists of a multi-story residential apartment building with
one-story component along Cotman Avenue, which has historically housed commercial tenants.
The property has a long history of the small-scale kind of commercial tenants in this first floor.
They cater to the building residents and the surrounding community. The applicants here today
seeking a variance for the use of suite two or unit two of this commercial area for use as a
dog grooming salon, which is defined as an animal services use in existing to the other existing
uses at this property. To streamline the process, I'd like to incorporate our exhibits and exhibit
list into the record. I also have two witnesses with me today, David Waterman, he's the owner's
representative, and Marianella Moore, the owner of Poochlevy, which is the tenant, the groomer,
that's being proposed here. Marianella did email me that she's having some tech issues,
so I hope she is on. So briefly, I'm going to go through the exhibits. We have, first,
we have the deed showing that Newtown Park Associates is the owner of 800 Cotman.
And then next up, Exhibit A2, we have proof that they've historically paid all of their taxes.
The balance here isn't due till the end of the month. It's the 2023 taxes, but otherwise they
are in compliance, they will pay this month. Then at A3, we have the notice of refusal, which again
indicates that animal services is prohibited in this district and our application for appeal
as well as the project information form. So as well as posting photographs indicating that this
was advertised. So here, getting to the property itself. So as you can see, this is the building
located at 800 Cotman Avenue. It is kind of, it's in this RM2 district. It's adjacent to a lot of
other kind of commercial uses, as well as the residential that's back here, but there's the
as well as the residential that's back here, but there's the auto wash across the street from a
auto wash.
Wawa, and then there's a bunch of other kind of commercial spaces down the street. The grooming
salon is going to be located along this kind of first floor commercial space. On the front, it
lines Cotman Avenue. This has actually been nicely renovated. It has a parking lot in front,
and this is what it looks like, the exterior space. So it's going to be located in the second
unit from the right, which is here. And again, facing Cotman Avenue, which is kind of in the
front. This is interior photographs of commercial space unit number two. So you can see it was set
up, it's vacant, it will be renovated for the dog grooming salon. But these are the windows to the
front facing Cotman Avenue. There's a bathroom. Here's a few more photographs of the space. It's
set up to be used for commercial use. Again, here we have the zoning map, which indicates that this
is in the RM2 district, but it's located adjacent to other light industrial and some kind of
commercial auto uses in this area. So it really is kind of a mixed corridor along here in terms
of what the uses are. Finally, I have this key plan indicating, again, I said it was the second
unit all the way to the right. The first unit is a leasing office. Then to the left of it is
Brilliant Stars Daycare, which we received approval for in March of last year. Next to that
is a lash salon, which we approved, we received approval for in the end of September of last year.
And then finally, Unit 6 at the very end is Skin Aesthetics.
It's a spa of sorts that's at the end.
They also received approval in March of 2022.
So this is really the only vacant space right here.
And it kind of nicely fits in with the other uses that are along this area that will serve
the residents in the neighborhood.
Um, we have a little included Pooch Levy's business statement. This is the groomer. Um,
they have very cute branding. Um, so just to go through kind of briefly, uh, Marianella,
the owner has, um, owned this business since, uh, 2020 and it currently is located nearby.
I believe it's in a smaller space, which is why they wanted to move here. Um, they offer all
sorts of services for your dog from shampoos all the way to dye. And they anticipate that they'll
have six employees or groomers. Their hours of operation initially are going to be Tuesday to
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday they'll be closed except for administrative
offers, office hours, and potentially some light services might be offered by appointment only.
If the demand increases, they would hope to kind of expand the hours from Monday to Saturday.
They anticipate that they'll have a maximum of the sick dogs on site at any time.
15 to 25 would be groomed per day, and they kind of cycle in and out.
They are going to set up signage for waste removal.
The owner of the property has a dumpster and established waste pickup already on the property.
And then the employees are all trained to work with the animals, keep them nice and calm and pleasant to deal with.
And here we have, again, we went to the RCO to ask for their support, and we got unanimous supportive approval.
This is our advertisement out to have them come to the meeting.
And here is proof of service.
And again, then we received a full unanimous vote of support on February 9th.
It's actually 2023. This is a Scribner's error. It did happen last month, not a year ago.
So that is basically the proposal. It's fairly simple. Again, this is a first floor space on
Cotman Avenue. It really has been created for commercial space. It's not set up or laid out
in a way that would be comfortable or usable as a residential space. It's historically been used as
a commercial space and a mixed-use property, so we're here just seeking relief for this one
remaining space. We're amenable to Proviso limiting the animal services used to the commercial unit
number two or suite number two. As I've mentioned, I have David Waterman with me,
um the owner's representative if he can raise his hand why don't we have your testimony adopted
raise his hand why don't we have your testimony adopted
mr waterman
sir please unmute sir hi can you state your name please and spell for the court reporter
david waterman w-a-t-e-r-m-a-n right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth
nothing but the truth i do proceed counsel uh hi david uh you've heard what i've just explained
about the proposal for this property is it true and accurate to the best of your knowledge
yes it is and do you adopt this as your own testimony yes i do
and you want to call your other witness or um i think okay uh i if you feel it's necessary i can
see if she's on i i think we're fine all right questions from the board no mr chairman no
no mr chairman no mr jim questions or comments from the virtual audience
i see no handshare planning commission uh ron bednar city planning properties indicated for
commercial mixed use on the city plan proposed use will have no more of an impact than would be
expected to have given its specific location therefore we recommend that the board grant
the special exception. MI 2022 006083 800 Cotman Avenue. I vote yes. Proviso. Use limited to
space number two. Thomas Holliman. My vote is yes with proviso. James Snell. My vote is yes with
proviso ishmael shaheed my vote is yes with proviso thank you counsel thank you have a good
afternoon okay is there anyone in the uh audience that case has not been heard from the 2 p.m list
i see no hands chair okay we're gonna we're gonna take a 10 minute break to 3 30
Excuse me, Chair. A hand just went up. Mr. Falco, Gabriel Falco.
Hi, could you state your name and spell it, please, for the court reporter?
Yes, sir. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for your time. Gabriel Falco, G-A-B-R-I-E-L, last name Falco, F-A-L-C-O.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, sir.
What case are you interested in, sir?
I am interested in 1719 North 2nd Street. I believe it ends in 055922. It was a 930 listing
this morning. 930 listing. Okay, let's see here. Hi, Mr. Chair. This is Hillary. Yes,
that was a 930 case, and it was continued at the request of the attorney for the applicant.
you hear that sir yeah I was muted again uh yes I did hear that that's fine uh and I know
Dawn Tancredi's office is handling the uh paperwork the attorney what do we have a time
for when it was continued to or do I wait to like it be notified of that you will be notified sir
okay thank you all for your time appreciate the hard work sure absolutely okay uh anyone else
We got one more, Ms. Robinson.
Hi, Ms. Robinson, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court reporter?
Hi, my name is Michelle Robinson, but I'm here helping the applicant.
For the next round of cases?
It was for a 930.
Okay, well, all the 930 cases have been handled.
Which case was it?
It was MI-2022-002349.
What's the location?
1129 South 51st Street.
Mr. Chair, that was the case that we had to continue due to technical issues.
That case will be rescheduled.
That case is going to be rescheduled.
All right.
Thank you.
Thank you.
is there anyone else in the audience that's it chair i see no more hands so why don't
why don't we continue to 3 35 we'll be back okay and thanks everyone
thank you chair
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr. Kelly, are you back?
Yes, I am, Chair.
Yes, I am, Chair.
Keisha, how do we look at when everyone else?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Are we going back?
Mr. Kelly, are you back?
He's back.
Yes, I am.
Okay, Chair, everyone is here.
I'm ready anytime you are.
You may begin, Chair.
Sure, thank you.
Good afternoon.
My name is Bill Berkman, and I will be chairing the 330 ZBA hearings this afternoon.
With me is our Vice-Chair Ismail Shaheed.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Our Board Member, Thomas Holloman.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Our Board Member, James Snell.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Also President is our Attorney, Hillary Emerson, and our Executive Director, Tanya Sunken.
Here's our virtual format.
Be advised the proceedings are being recorded.
The video will be available by contacting tanyasunkett at phila.gov.
For the benefit of our court stenographer, we ask attorneys and witnesses to identify themselves before testifying.
If you're participating by phone and you wish to testify, press star 9 to raise your hand and star 6 to unmute.
To win an appearance statement, call 267-270-5548.
4548. Leave your email and the address of the property in question. And lastly, the question
answer box on the screen is not for comments or testimony. All comments should be directed to our
executive director, Tanya Sunken. Let's look at this afternoon's continuances. Number one, MI 2021
221-003-878, 1619-35 North 5th Street. That case is continued. Attorney moving party.
And number four, MI 2022-006-003-2055 Cemetery Avenue. This case is continued.
you. Are there any comments relative to the two cases that have been continued?
I see no handshare. Are there any other requests for continuances?
I see no handshare. I want to cover also two cases that we do not have exhibits for.
MI 2022-002-761-408-10 West Chew Avenue. No exhibits, second listing. No one appeared the
first time. Mr. John Nugent is the listed owner. I see no handshare. So MI 2022-002-761-408-10