Takeout restaurant, like I said, with grocery in the front of the store and hair braiding in the
rear. My client is an immigrant from Africa and he would like to be able to provide his native
food to the community. We're only refused for the multiple principal uses in the building. We're not
really refused for any other reason. So with that, we're going to zoom out a little bit.
it's a corner property like i said and then we have
um we have the entrance it's corner entrance uh there is a kitchen and this is just takeout
strictly with the grocery store there's an entrance here that takes you the side entrance
that takes you to the living quarters up above and then there's a rear
building which is now a garage for the proposed hair braiding. This again would be part of
my client's family doing this. I'm going to pull out so you can see exterior rendering.
This is the photo of 2601 and 2603.
This is the side entrance.
Here's the corner for the restaurant grocery store.
This door goes to the living quarters.
There's interior space.
We have a deed.
We have additional photos.
We had several RCO meetings, 135 pieces of mail.
mailed at the last one. I have a tax cert here.
Here's the flyer that went out. It's a two-page flyer.
And it's my understanding. I just received an RCO letter last night where they're asking for
commercial trash pickup and a detailed litter removal plan, which my client would agree to,
and he'll put it in writing and give it to the RCO. With that, I'm going to ask my
client to raise his hand so that he could be identified. Mohamed Sanan.
Mr. Sanan, you've been unmuted. Please wait for the chair.
good morning sir uh good morning sir please please identify yourself spell your first and
Good morning, sir.
last name my name is Mohammed Ali Sanan
could you help us spell his name for us please yeah sure it's uh Sanan is s-a-n-o-n
first name Mohammed you swear and affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth
Yes, I do.
Please proceed, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mohamed, did you hear my presentation to the board today?
Yes, sir.
And is it true and accurate to the best of your knowledge?
Yes, sir.
And then you and your family will be operating the grocery store and takeout restaurant,
as well as the hair braiding salon in the rear of the property.
Is that correct?
Yes, sir.
Thank you very much.
Hours of operation, Mohamed?
Yes, for the grocery, it's going to be 8 to 6 p.m., and that's going to be Monday to Saturday,
and breading, that's going to be Tuesday to Sunday. That hour is going to be 8 to 5.
very well um you'll be putting in exterior lighting and video surveillance around the
property as well for safety is that correct absolutely and you'll also you'll be doing a
commercial trash pickup yes sir and you understand that the rco is requesting a detailed litter
removal uh program and you're and you're going to be working with your council to put that together
and provide it to the RCO is that correct yes sir very well Mr. Chairman I have nothing else
could you uh go back uh the picture the photographs of the side view of the property yes sir
hold on
okay could you show that do you said there was a garage there there is
oh oh it's beyond it's left of what we're looking at now that's correct
okay and he couldn't see it in the photograph all right yep all right uh
very good your client mentioned hours of up hours and days of operation were they provisos that he
agreed to with the community no uh okay at least based on my recollection the primary the primary
proviso was uh commercial trash and the litter program they want to make sure that these to-go
containers don't end up on the sidewalks i think they also wanted him to put a sticker on his
container so they know if it's his stuff or not we we agree i know that's not enforceable that's
why i didn't bring it up okay all right um excuse me this is sharon saletta we do have an email
from craig melodoshin that does state hours of operation and his applicant agrees to be bound
the hours of operation I'm sorry shall be do you want me to read these out it's rather detailed
yes please and they'll make that part of the record
the restaurant 8 a.m to 8 p.m Monday through Saturday during the summer
8 a.m to 6 p.m Monday through Saturday again it says during the summer but I assume they meant
to write during the winter braiding salon 8 a.m to 6 p.m tuesday through saturday year round
so that's more generous than we we put on so that's that's fine why i asked and commercial
trash pickup yes is that right i'm not seeing that we'll put we'll make that a proviso anyway
i think craig is here as well from the rco okay all right um
all right i'm sorry verne did you ask your client if he adopted your testimony
i did i think i did muhammad you adopt my presentation as your own is that correct
i think i did yeah yes okay thank you all right uh anyone uh any questions from the board no
no anyone else would like to testify in this case please raise your hand
craig you've been unmuted please wait for the chair
Good morning, Mr. Melodosian. Please identify yourself with a record and I'll swear you in.
Craig, C-R-A-I-G, Melodosian, M-E-L-I-D-O-S-I-A-N, Ward 40, Republican RCO, Coordinating RCO, P.O. Box 33355, Philadelphia, 19142.
Craig, C-R-A-I-G, Melodosian, M-E-L-I-D-O-N.
You swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
Okay, I just wanted to elaborate.
Craig, you're breaking up.
We're not hearing you.
Mr. Melodosian?
You seem to have lost Craig.
Give him another hand.
All right, okay.
Can you hear me now? Yes, we can. I'm not sure what happened. In the proviso letter we sent,
we referred to Section 146036 for takeout restaurants, including comprehensive litter
cleanup plan, hours of operation, and branding of a disposable food and beverage containers.
Applicant must submit a litter cleanup plan that addresses on- and off-site litter cleanup,
the location of trash and recycling containers, a litter cleanup schedule, and a map of the
off-site cleanup area. The hours of operation wanted to correct 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through
Friday, Saturday on the summer, and that's 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday during the
winter. The hair braiding salon is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The premises will be
posted that there may be no consumption of foods or beverages on or about the public right-of-way
adjacent to the principal building and the name and addresses of the establishment be printed
on all disposable food and beverage containers further applicant agrees to apply for two loading
zones in front of subject premises one on 61st street and one on grays avenue the requested
hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. All parties agree the Department of
Streets is the determining authority as to the granting of the number and location of applied
four zones. I also wanted to indicate that there has been a long time use of this establishment
as a food preparation area. And in fact, this is a legalization and moving it from the rear of the
front in terms of the community or the specific neighborhood. It's the old-time niche neighborhood
that was the St. Loretto Italian Catholic Church school and a block away. It also includes the
former Campos Deli a block away. So we believe that this use will be a reemergence of what was
there previously just with it a different ethnic base uh the rcos are in support of it
uh and we leave it at that thank you thank you uh anyone else would like to testify in this case
i see no handshare thank you planning commission
Good morning. Brian Wenrick, Planning Commission.
This property is indicated for multifamily use on the comprehensive plan with existing
commercial uses. We feel that these uses do not pose any negative impacts to the surrounding area.
Accordingly, we have no objection to the granting of the variance.
Thank you. Sharon, I'm going to ask a question. Since I don't have the proviso list in front of
me, could we adopt Mr. Melodosian's testimony as a proviso for those? No. No, we can't do that.
Okay. I thought so. You can do hours of operation. Well, I meant to say only those that are
enforceable. Hours of operation, days of operation, commercial trash pickup. Yes.
and and i mean the labeling of containers and all uh we're getting a lot of feedback again
um i can ask mr malajosa would it be enough to include a proviso stating applicant to be bound
by requirements of section 14 603 subsection 6 regarding takeout restaurants
in addition to the hours of operation and commercial trash pickup
Yes, that's what we were asking. In fact, I excerpted that and put it into the proviso letter. We also we had previous complaints at another community meeting.
We also, we had previous complaints at another community meeting about the parking issues.
So our belief was by asking the applicant to apply for the loading zone spaces, that that was a good faith effort to placate community concerns.
Actually, we don't believe the parking problems are due to him.
We have commercial garages across the street, but that's why we put in the parking issue.
there were we've had actually two meetings on this this started back in 2019 and some of the
immediate residents were were upset about the parking issue okay um perhaps Mr. Anastasio could
agree to do that on the record I don't think it can be added as a provide so my client has
sorry yes and as far as posting the signs with um asking that there be no food consumption in or
near the premises or near the premises. I'm concerned that those kinds of signs might
themselves require a zoning application. So I don't believe that can be added as a proviso.
Mr. Anastasio, do you have any objection to a reference to the code section?
Absolutely not. I think it's easier that way. And for the record, my client does agree to
up at least apply for uh the loading zones uh one on each side of the of this of the property
also with the understanding that it'll ultimately be up to the streets department
um chair would you like me to read those well when you're voting i would be glad to read the
provisos into the record if you'd like yes and we're ready to vote so my vote is yes with the
provisos that our attorney Ms. Saleta will be reading into the record. My vote is yes with
proviso that Ms. Saleta will be reading into the record. Yes with proviso. Yes with proviso.
And the provisos are applicants shall be bound by requirements of section 14-16036 regarding
takeout restaurants. Hours of operation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday for the restaurant.
Hours of operation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday summer, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Saturday winter for the braiding salon 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday year round
and commercial trash pickup. Thank you all. Thank you.
Thank you. And those up Frank you muted yourself. Keep going and it goes back off. Those provisors
that have just been read into the record by Ms. Saleta reference MI 2020-002-473-2401
South 61st Street. Thank you all.
Ms. Tenere, you're muted.
Carol, go to number 6. I keep forgetting to
unmute myself. Calendar number 2621
2558 Collins Street.
Excuse me, before we go on, can I just say, Ms. Tenere, I think
that it might be your device for some reason that is causing the
echo um when other people do you don't have anything different than usual no have anything
else on that any other devices no everything's all i mean no the construction work going on in
the next unit that's what it is time to move no it's not do you know what i i'm downstairs frank
please pay attention in the boardroom eight floors down away from that
all right uh collins avenue 2558 collings avenue i did call that does anyone
is there anyone here for 2558 collins street yes here mr currigan please identify yourself
for the record and we'll swear yes good morning uh joseph kerrigan uh id number six nine seven
five four spell your last name please
please spell your last name sir you're muted
k-e-r-r-i-g-a-n
Carol?
Do you swear to tell the whole truth?
Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing about the truth?
Yes, I do.
Do you also agree to wait the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Have you emailed the exhibit packet with proof of ownership, tax compliance, a copy of the refusal or referral, photos and or plans of the property five days in advance of this hearing?
And have you met with the RCO and do you have a letter?
Yes, I do.
Thank you. You may proceed.
Thank you. 2558 is an 11-foot-wide vacant lot.
We were seeking a variance for two non-accessory surface-level parking spots on the property.
Mr. Currigan, excuse the interruption. Do you have any exhibits you can share with us?
Yes, I do.
Hold on, please.
So we saw it, as I said,
two non-accessory surface parking spots it was denied because it's an RSA 5 zone
we had a meeting with the RCO on a week ago on February 10th as the RCO said that it was a
well-publicized meeting we had a question and answer session with the neighborhood association
and the votes were nine in favor six opposed the um the rco is not opposing it
mr the applicant mr valensky and miss mazzy reside on the pro at the property next door at
2556, and they also own the property on the other side, which is 2560 Collins Street.
They maintain the lot. I'm looking for the photos, excuse me. They maintain the lot.
They have it fenced. It's a gravel lot. Here's the plans. They reside here.
This is the, it's for two parking spots.
This is the fenced off lot.
This is looking at it from Collins Street, looking into the property.
As you can see, it's a little dark, but it's gravel on the surface there.
And that's looking out from the back, or looking into the back.
And that's looking out on the Collins Street.
Mr. Currigan, I believe you said there's a letter from the East Kensington neighbors.
Councilman Squillow sent a letter of non-opposition, but he's referring to that letter.
Is there anything of importance in that letter that we need for the record?