No problem.
The building is a,
the existing school is a five story building.
uh building uh and we're suggesting proposing to put on a 28 000 square foot addition
that will include a gymnasium 13 classrooms two collaborative rooms as well as restrooms
they'll be put to the rear of the building even though the property is listed technically on
robin street the front of the school faces battersby
there will be significant interior renovation
that will include providing led lighting throughout this is the
existing building upgrading the electrical system
installing the new fire alarm system and security system
all new finishes throughout new casework new cabinetry
staining of the existing wood floors. In the new addition, the first and second floor will
be occupied by the gymnasium. And I'm sorry, I don't have able to show you that how nice that's
going to look and the color pattern that will be throughout the building. On the third and
fourth floors, I'm sorry, on the second floor, there'll be one classroom as along with an
elevator the building is not currently accessible but the elevator will connect
to the existing floors as well as the addition the third and fourth floors are
six classrooms and a collaboration room along with restrooms we have our notice
of refusal refers to the height of the building the height of the building is
51 feet 4 inches to the top of the deck. There's a parapet and stairwell above that. However,
in accordance with the code, they're not included in the measurement of the height.
The existing building is 59 feet. So we think this 51 feet 4 inches is not only necessary to
be able to provide these needed classrooms and gymnasium, but appropriate for the size of the
existing building. The notice of referral was that this is an RSA 5 zoning district which permits
educational use but by special exception. There is nothing extraordinary about what's being added
to the school. It will be used as a school and therefore we meet the requirements of the code
in order to earn a special exception. That's really the nut of it. We did appear in a virtual
in a virtual hearing. We appreciate that the Mayfair Civic Association held that.
hearing. We appreciate that the Mayfair
We sent out 217 invitations to that, and our exhibits include copies of that and the
zoning notice that was included, along with the instructions from
the zoning board and how to participate, which I obviously didn't read well enough.
thank you uh do you need anyone else question key question mr chair is uh is the umbrella
still on the roof boy word travels fast out outside the city oh i was on that's right
no i actually got the fire department to get it off i couldn't do it myself
sorry to interject i'm a little bit scraped up but other than that i'm fine thank you
all right do you need anyone else neil to testify no i don't i i'm testifying on behalf of the
client under 14 303 13 f maybe sharon tell me um so chair i would just like to mention that
any callers who wish to testify you would have to raise your hand by pressing star nine
but at this time chair there are no hands up and there is one now. Okay. Kevin
Haney you've been unmuted and you can go ahead. Please identify yourself with a
record name and address spell your name for the stenographer. My name is Kevin
Haney. Address is 7216 Barnard Street or Barnard Avenue, depending on which map you're looking at.
And I am a member of the Mayfair Civic Association who participated in last Thursday's
RCO meeting. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
I do. Thank you. Please proceed.
I just wanted to make reference to the recommendation from the Mayfair Civic Association concerning the recommendation for some provisos for sustainable environmental
remediation throughout the school property in addition to the actual work
being done on the expansion and the construction within. I and a number of
others. We might see violence. I believe there's a real need for environmental improvements
at this site. I'm talking about things that would comply with the green schools initiatives
and the green city initiatives and the clean water rain garden program and so forth.
At present, the site of the school is, the school property is 130,000 square feet, virtually
all of that space is covered with either rooftops or asphalt, and now they want the district
understandably needs to expand the property and put up a 50-foot high
structure and this is going to impact people on Battersby Street and
pedestrians and motorists in terms of the visual impact and we think there's
room to improve
that situation.
Thank you.
I just wanted to make sure
written
petition that I filed
yesterday is in the record
and also make note that
I filed a supplement to that petition
today based
upon a landscape plan from the district that I only received this morning, in addition to comments from
In addition to comments from Nicole Ward, I had presented her with a variety of questions
about the landscape plans and what could be done.
and she stated in an email this morning that she could not get back to me
with any kind of substantive response until tomorrow, Wednesday at the earliest.
And I just think that's further reasons that there be some provisos attached to what, frankly, I and others expect will be a zoning board approval.
But we just want to have something that will give the community some level of enforcement, so to speak, with the school district.
And I and others are particularly concerned because, to put it politely,
we've had a number of communication breakdowns with the school district's Office of Capital
Programs going back 10 years, the earliest being with the relocation of the new Lincoln
High School building and outdoor improvements that were discussed then were never done or
budgeted by the district. Mr. Haney, I appreciate your testimony, but could you summarize?
We are running out of time. We're already into our 3.30 session. I will just mention that besides
Lincoln High School. There's also been problems with the new K-8 school, which
almost led to a lawsuit that the school being built now behind Lincoln High
School and also with two aspects of additions at the Mayfair School.
Mr. Haney, would I ask you to just please just address your concerns to this
specific location? I'm just providing that as background for the need. I understand
that. And you said you submitted those provisos? Yes. All right. I'm just
requesting that the board members look at them before any vote on this. Okay.
Understood. Thank you. Any other witnesses?
No, Chair, no one has their hand out. All right. I've not seen those provisos.
Mr. Chairman, I have not seen those provisos. I have not seen a letter from Mayfair Civic as yet.
I was told that it was going to be submitted directly to you notwithstanding that I know of
no environmental suggestions that were made this morning I sent mr. Haney as a courtesy a copy of
the landscape plan if if unfortunately you don't have my PDF to review the property is somewhat
lined with trees or around the perimeter we're for the most part there are six
new trees going on with a new playgrounds going the building will not
on account of the construction violate any environmental rules that we know of
this was not mentioned at the Civic Association Nora this is hitting us
blindsided and we would ask that there be no conditions attached to this approval the school
district is being very responsible in its approach to renovating and adding on to this important
asset to the community counselor let me ask you this are you saying that no phase one environmental
study hasn't been done? It was never asked, I have no idea. Because the building was built
at the time definitely with some environmental problems. If there's environmental difficulties in
If there's environmental difficulties in the building and they need to be rectified, they will.
The school district has a very aggressive policy on that.
I'm also referring to oil tanks in the yard.
I'm sorry?
I'm also referring to oil tanks in the yard.
We don't know of any oil tanks in the yard.
I don't know.
nobody brought that to our attention in during the community meeting if they're
all tanks in the yard and if they need to be removed and that's what pay debt
wants then they'll be removed. Can you still hear me? Mr. Haney has been
heard uh i like the board to vote i got it thank you any other questions from the board no
planning commission while this property is indicated for residential use on the city plan
given the property standing school use including retaining the existing building height
we support the granting of the special accessible thank you calendar number three nine eight seven
four three zero zero one robbins avenue my vote is yes my vote is yes my vote is yes good luck
thank you
that conclude the uh two o'clock list
yes it does yes all right we're going to take a 10 minute break and we'll then begin at four
o'clock we'll begin around four o'clock the 3 30 list does that work for everyone yes yes
you mean uh 3 30 right the 3 30 list i'm sorry if i said something we'll begin the
at four o'clock we'll begin the 3 30 list thank you
okay good afternoon everyone my name is frank d chico i'm the chair of the zoning board of
adjustment we have a quorum i'm officially calling this session to order in attendance
are our board member mr thomas holliman and our board secretary mr confessor plaza in addition
we're joined by tanya sunkett our board administrator and sarin's letter our board
solicitor as you probably are aware today is our fifth day of holding virtual hearings
while we may have to make adjustments along the way our plan is to call each
case and basically proceed as it as we would have in a live hearing we ask that
attorneys for applicants or other interested parties identify themselves
for the record when the case you'll be participating is called we will then
hear the applicants petition followed by any presentation by attorneys
representing other parties interested parties and members of the public not
represented by council will then be given an opportunity to either to testify we will finally
hear the recommendation of the planning commission at the hearing's conclusion the board will either
vote the matter immediately or hold it for discussion in executive session any case held
for discussion will be voted on at the next scheduled meeting august 5th wednesday august
5th 9 30 a.m a couple of changes related to the virtual format first we will be administering
oaths to individual participants to to testify rather than to the room as a whole since we do
not have a room second for the benefit of anyone participating by phone we ask that attorneys and
witnesses identify themselves prior to speaking or testifying third we would like to advise everyone
that this proceeding is being recorded and that by participating you acknowledge your agreement
to be recorded. We would also ask if anyone wishes to testify to please raise your hand
so that Ms. Sunkit can identify you and patch you in to the hearing. I would also ask attorneys
to please please try to limit your testimony to those issues that are necessary for the record
and limit your testimony in entirety for at least for one hour and I don't if I left anything out
someone please correct me Tanya and or Sharon. No I just wanted to mention here if I may
that those who are calling via telephone to raise your hand to give testimony you must press star 9
to raise your hand to give testimony you must press star nine
and that way
and that way you will be able to um be recognized
and go forward and that there also is a phone number
to call in should you um need to put in a parent statement
then we have a phone number that you would call into
and i'll locate it shortly is 267-270-5548 that's the number google line that you call in
and put information on record if you wish to be a party to either case as presented today
thank you chief and if i can make one more announcement the board will begin by reading
a list of cases that are being continued for this session. If you believe that one of these
cases is being continued in error, please raise your hand following the reading of the
list. Thank you. Professor? Yes, sir. Okay, here we go. Continuing cases, it'll be calendar
Calendar number 392-88-128 East Wyoming Avenue is continued.
Calendar number 39125-4609 Head Street is continued.
Calendar number 38450-5506 Baltimore Avenue is continued.
Next case.
any anyone else who wishes to have a case continue any other requests i believe there's one more
um calendar three nine zero nine two sixty eight eighteen shoe avenue okay alan i think alan was
there we have now this is uh we got the tasker street to be heard correct um i have someone
with their hand up though is it DeMarco are you here for your case are you here for a continuance
can you hear me yes I'm here for the case okay so we'll confessor this is the tasker street case
calendar number 39124 1143 tasker street uh Mr. DeMarco you agree to waive the reading of its
refusal and stipulate to attack IRC? Yes, I do. Thank you. Please identify yourself as a sonographer.
Hi, everybody. Richard DeMarco here for the applicant and the owner, Dr. William Zaccone.
My address is 100 South Broad Street, Suite 905, Philadelphia, PA, 19102.
DeMarco, do you swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
yes i do please proceed thank you uh so tanya are you going to allow me to share screen or
should i see be able to see that button or no i'm going to promote you to panelists now
i just i just got promoted all righty i just got promoted okay now all right so just so you know
and thank you for doing doing it in this manner uh chairman and members of the board i appreciate it
my clients appreciate it um this is my first one i'll try to do my best i do have both of
my witnesses in the room with me if that's okay i'll turn the computer to them if i need you to
see them okay thank you and if they testify we'll swear them in thank you all right sounds good so
I won't share my screen with my exhibits just yet. I'll just do a brief statement. I'm going to try
to be very brief with this. I know there's been opposition. So let me give a little bit of
background because the case is a little bit complicated only because of the length of time
that the owner has been, that the structure has been there. So just so we're clear,
there were permits issued to Dr. Saccone for this construction. The issue is, and the issue
before the board, are two dimensional variances. Dr. Saccone, these were vacant properties when
Dr. Saccone purchased it. They were a parking lot in the past. There was a bar there in the past,
and there was all other commercial uses at the property, but there was some surface parking
there when the doctor purchased it and he has sought to construct two single-family twin homes
not twins in the sense that um there's side yards on each side but together two two properties only
only before you there's an extension of the row houses on the north side of tasker exactly exactly
before you there's an extension of the row houses on the north side of tash
and the um uh it's dimensional variances the two of them are rear yard depth
let me try this now i'll try to bring up the refusal on my screen and see if this works
forget just give me a moment i'm going to try to do this