board, Sean Ward, on behalf of the applicant. Sean, spell your name for the court reporter to
be sure. Yes, sir. S-H-A-W-N, last name Ward, W-A-R-D, office address 331, East Street Road,
Trevos, PA-19053. Thank you. Our vice chair has a few questions. Hi, Mr. Ward. Do you agree to
wait the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy? Yes, I do. Based on our notes,
it appears that you have submitted all the required documents yes i have and that includes
the rco letter okay you may proceed thank you very much you're quite welcome
okay confirming that everybody can see my screen yes uh mr chairman i've submitted my typical
exhibit packet for Knight's Properties LLC, which is the owner, as well as Global CDL School,
which is the operator at the subject property, 8501 Hagerman Street. A1 is our notice of refusal.
This is an application for a permit to erect a detached structure for use as educational
facility. It's a CDL driver training school with accessory offices and the expansion of an existing
commercial vehicle repair use. Resulted in one refusal. Ironically, the educational facility
is not permitted in the I-2 district, and so we seek a use variance for that use today.
A-2 is the ZBA application. A-3, the project information form. A-4, proof of ownership. A-5,
proof of tax clearance. A-6 is a site plan. A-7, floor plan. A-8 are photographs of the subject,
aerial views and street views. A9 is the RCO letter of support from Upper Holmesburg.
A10 is the relevant zoning history. It was a trucking terminal zoned in 2009.
2015, we obtained a use permit for commercial vehicle repair. Again, 2016, permit for the
erection of a vehicle repair garage. And 2016, a permit for the installation of an underground
storage tank accessory to the truck terminal and vehicle repair. A11 is the zoning map and A12 is
the aerial photograph. In short, the CDL school offers class A and B courses, which include
introductory courses, which involve classroom and video training. That's why we seek a classroom at
the site. They offer between 25 and 50 hours of one-on-one behind-the-wheel training. The proposed
The first school itself is 2,000 square feet in size, which comprises 0.0045% of the total site and includes a 670 square foot classroom, study carols, and a student breakfast, lunch, study lounge.
So very quickly, we have our refusal, our application of appeal.
we have our piff my transmittal letter to the board copy of the deed nice properties is the
owner and the property is 8501 heggerman street proof of tax clearance through 2021 2022 not
being due yet here is a site plan the property is bounded by blakehenson street to the south
Hegerman Street to the west, board is another property to the north and I-95 and the railroad
would be to the east. The building in question is approximately 13,000 square feet, 3,300 feet of
which is a truck repair garage adjacent or next to the existing truck repair garage.
the existing truck repair garage the cdl school is located in the middle
The CDL school is located in the middle.
2 000 square feet and then we have some accessory offices for the ongoing businesses at the site
with regard to the classroom itself or the building it would be four bay truck repair
garage to the left the office space to the right and then in the center
you have the classroom the classroom itself 670 square feet for 23 persons we have some study
carols including a handicap accessible one and then we have the student lounge where they can
study rest we have a small breakfast kitchenette proposed with a refrigerator sink and so they can
have lunch, and we have two laboratories. The site, as you can see, is a large industrial
complex located between the railroad tracks and Hagerman Street, Lake Houston Street to the south.
Again, an overhead aerial view. This is the existing garage, another block building used
for storage. The proposed structure would go in between those two buildings.
And then you have, you know, a view of the entry from Hagerman Street,
a view looking down Hagerman Street to the left and Blankiston Street to the right.
This is the letter of support from
Upper Homsburg. As you can see, it was 26 in favor, one opposed.
by the way we did we do have a proposed community benefits agreement pending the decision of the
board if the board is of the mind to grant the variance the applicant and upper homesburg would
enter into that agreement and then we have our zoning history as previously mentioned
copy of the zoning map as you can see it's located in an i2 industrial district
And then one final photograph showing it's below the Academy Road interchange on 95 along Tarsdale, coming down Tarsdale Avenue.
So that is basically the sum and substance of the application.
I asked my applicant, Karj Singh Sandhu, to raise his hand as well as our architect, John Teets, in case the board has any questions regarding the plans.
but I believe Mr. Kharj could verify and adopt my testimony.
Could you state your name and spell, please, for the court reporter?
Yes. My name is Kharj Singh Sandhu, K-A-R-J.
My name is Singh, S-I-N-G-H, and last name Sandhu, S-A-N-D-H-U.
do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth sir
yes proceed thank you cards you've heard my representations to the board today
yes are they true and correct to the best of your knowledge information and belief
yes and do you adopt them as your own testimony yes thank you questions from the virtual audience
i'm sorry questions from the board no mr no mr chairman no no mr chairman questions from the
virtual audience i see no handshare planning commission thank you mr chairman members of
the board david facto city planning commission the comprehensive plan recommends no change to
the medium industrial zoning at this location we'll note for the board the educational facilities
typically refer to elementary, primary, and high schools, which for obvious reasons don't belong
in areas with large trucks loading or unloading products. However, a commercial driving school
which trains students to drive large trucks that are used to serve industrial facilities
is compatible with the intent of the industrial two zoning district. And so the city planning
commission recommends the board grant the use variants for the truck driving school.
Thank you. MI-2021-002575-8501 Hegerman Street, I vote yes.
Carol Tenere, my vote is yes.
Thomas Holloman, my vote is yes.
James Snell, my vote is yes.
Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes.
Thank you, Mr. Ward.
Thank you very much.
Is there any...
Madam vice chair, I believe Mr. Bergman fell out.
And I think that completes the two o'clock hearing.
So, we'll take a five-minute break.
So we'll take a five minute break.
Carol, can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Bill, do you want to come back?
Everybody will come back.
No, we're good.
We're good.
No, I don't think there's anybody waiting.
We're fine.
We'll come back at 3.30.
But could we ask the question just to ensure?
i thought i asked it but i guess i is there anybody waiting or anyone waiting
from the two o'clock meeting
i see no hands chair thank you see everybody at 3 30. thank you chair thank you
Thank you.
ready to go tanya yes sir we're all ready good afternoon my name is bill bergman and i will be
chairing this eba hearing this afternoon with me is carol tenary our vice chair present
ismail shaheed our board secretary here mr chair thomas hallman our board member
present mr chairman and james snell our board member
he's he's he's muted jim's muted okay also what this is our board administrator tanya sunk it
and our board
okay okay before we begin let me go over our virtual format be advised the proceedings are
being recorded by participating you acknowledge your agreement to be recorded
A video will be available by contacting our Board Administrator, Tanya Sunkett, at tanyasunkett.phil.gov.
For the benefit of our court stenographer, we ask attorneys and witnesses to identify themselves before they testify.
Three, if you're participating by phone, if you wish to testify, press star 9 to raise your hand and star 6 to unmute.
To enter an appearance statement, call 267-270-5548. Leave your email and the address of
the property you have in question. And lastly, please note the question answer box on the screen
is not for comments. If you have any comments at all, please contact Tanya Sunk at our board
administrator. Is there anyone in the virtual audience that has a continuance today or wants
to request a continuance? Chair, we have Sloan folks. Okay. Sloan? Good afternoon, Chairman
Bergman. Sloan folks. Yep. Office of Councilman Maria Cayona Sanchez, 7th District,
508 city hall you have been sworn before sir yes sir i am uh on regarding the case regard
two zero dash slain slain just slain start again you're slone you're breaking up
I apologize.
No, it's okay.
Regarding case number MI2020-0032651224 Herbert Street, we are requesting a continuance and or dismissal of the case.
This is the second time that the applicant has come before the ZBA board.
They have not met with the RCO.
We have not heard from the applicants at all.
And we are in great anticipation of either meeting with the RCO or having the case dismissed.
Well, that's the number two case.
I will call that.
And I will take everything you said just in the consideration when I call the case.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you very much.
Any other requests for continuances?
Chair, we have Lamont Rodgers.
Sure. I'm going to have to promote them to panelists. It's not giving me
I'm going to have to promote him to panelists.
It's not giving me another option.
another option. Okay. Thank you.
Hi, Mr. Rogers. State your name and spell it for the court reporter, please.
Please unmute yourself, sir.
My name is Lamont Rogers. L-A-M-O-N-T
R-O-G-E-R-S
Thank you. Do you swear or firm to tell the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
You have a case
on 2200 North
58th Street, sir? Yes.
What would you like to tell us?
I purchased
the property. No, no, sir,
sir. This is for, do you want to
continue your case?
I want to have it today.
I'm sorry.
When I get to you, we're going to call the list.
Okay, I'm sorry.
No, no, no, you don't have to be sorry.
You're number three.
So after we go through some add-ons, I'll get to you.
Chair, could we, if you don't mind, this is Tanya the administrator.
Can we dismiss this a little more?
Because we don't have exhibits.
Okay, then we have to dismiss it.
Yeah, we're going to do, yes, right.
Sure, sure.
I mean, but I called.
I'll just tell him that we're dismissing.
that's okay right carol do you want to do the adwin please okay i will do the adwin excuse me
here we have one more hand up with the galaxy okay
um i'm george gordon could you state your name and spell for the court reporter george g-e-o-r-g-e
gordon g-o-r-d-o-n right you swear a firm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but
the truth i do proceed sir this is for continuances tell me if you have a continue
oh i'm sorry i'm not no i'm sorry i i came on too late to understand that okay continuance
all right thank you sir mr chair i think i need uh mr snell
Jim, are you...
That's right.
Jim, unmute yourself, please.
I'm sorry, Bill.
You froze up.
You're good.
Okay, Jim.
Okay, the add-on.
Calendar number MI-2021-003342-5028-34,
Frankfurt Avenue.
This appeal was last heard on December 22nd
and held for receipt of an RCO letter and a written response from the applicant's attorney.
We have received a letter from Frankford Neighborhood Advisor Committee
stating non-opposition to the proposed takeout restaurant
with a requested proviso requiring that a traffic study be completed
two years after the establishment opens.
We have also received a letter from applicant's attorney saying, in quotes,
the applicant does not believe that a traffic study is necessary because the Philadelphia
Streets Department has already reviewed the application and determined no need for one.
On this case, my vote is yes.
Thomas Holloman, my vote is yes.
James Snell, my vote is yes.
Thank you very much. Thank you. We're now going to go to add on number two that we have.