planning commission.
Chairman and members of the board, this property is indicated for residential use on the
comprehensive plan and looking at the development pattern on the surrounding blocks, the eight
lots are in character with the lot width. We do feel that, oh, sorry, excuse me. Accordingly,
we ask that the request for I'm sorry I wrote this recommendation without the packet so let me
start over again and I'm sorry to the court reporter this property is indicated for residential
use on the comprehensive plan and looking at the development pattern on the surrounding blocks
the eight lots are in character with a lot with accordingly we have no objection to the granting
of the variance thank you I'm sorry well somebody have something I'll share I just wanted to if we
could I see names up and I wanted to see if there were people who wanted to comment on this because
I have names up Robert Vanstone is it I had asked I didn't hear anyone but we just need a little
time because we got a whole list of people all right very good all right so whoever is testifying
please identify yourself for the record spell your name for the stenographer and then I will
swear you in. Can I be heard? Yes. My name is Robert Vanstone, 2053 East Susquehanna
Avenue sorry I'm having please spell your name for the stenographer r-o-b-e-r-t v as in Victor
a-n-s-t-o-n-e thank you mr. vanstone do you swear or firm to tell the truth the whole truth and
nothing but the truth yes i do thank you please proceed uh i object to the rezoning of this i
wanted to put it on the record uh my belief is that in redrawing the lot lines for multiple
for extra housing that it would really be quite easy to fall within the current rules for lot sizes
as well as open space it seems like an overcrowding situation and I don't understand why if you're
redrawing the rot lines that you couldn't do it in a manner where you can maintain 16 feet and
also maintain your 25 uh lots and give give some of the people a yard there's no yards on
on a couple of those as it appeared on the as it scrolled
if i can respond i mean i think it's not a regular shaped property number one um number two um it's
certainly consistent with what's in the neighborhood and number three I believe
that the desire of the community and part of the desire was to have parking
access to the rear so we said there's not a rear yard the rear yard area open
areas there it's it's taken by a rear loading driveway which I think is the
preference of how this is to be drawn I believe you know the original plan was
was for eight with front-loading parking
because it was a desire for parking,
even though there's no parking on Abigail Street.
We met with the community.
We had at least two or three meetings
and the near neighbors and got 38 to two local support.
This was the desired configuration
and responded best to the context of the community,
offered a diverse housing stock of different size units
and also addressed some parking concerns.
Thank you.
Anyone else have any comment?
Anyone else speaking on this case?
Chair, if you could ask that anyone who wishes to speak on any case, please raise
please raise their hands so we can identify them and unmute them thank you very kindly
a hand so we can identify them and unmute them.
Thank you very kindly.
i think you just told them thank you
one last time is there anyone else who wishes to uh comment on this case
questions we do have another person's hand up and i am unmuting them now okay thank you
i apologize tony because i don't see that so i'll rely on you
tyler mcneil what's that for you to speak or no i don't have anything else to indicate
all righty no more hands up chair you can continue thank you any questions from the board
Planning Commission
They gave their testimony
We already are on the record
With no objection
Frank, unmute yourself
Thank you, Confessor
Calendar number 38163
2009 Abigail Street
My vote is yes
my vote is yes my vote is yes
Tom my vote is yes good luck my vote is yes good luck
thank you very much I appreciate everybody's efforts
stay safe everyone thank you thank you
calendar number 38149 I'm hoping 2300 North Bevere Street
Leo Mulvihill is the attorney.
Leo, are you there?
And Leo expects to be calling four witnesses.
Thanks, Sharon.
Members of the board, are you able to hear me at this point?
Do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
see. The refusal appears to be missing a notice of refusal for two family dwelling in an RSA 5
district, but otherwise we're prepared to proceed with this matter. Name and address for the record.
Leo Mulvihill, M-U-L, V as in Victor, I-H-I-L-L. Address is 2424 East York Street, Suite 111,
Philadelphia, 19125.
Members of the board with me today, I do have my client, Robert Minor, joining us over the telephone, and two witnesses.
In addition, our architect, Giovanni Ramos, R-A-M, as in Mary, O-S, is on the line as well, joining via Zoom as far as I understand.
Now, members of the board, for purposes of the record, I just reviewed the packet that I've submitted.
I have the refusal appeal and project information form at page one.
The area zoning maps for this property are page seven.
The deed for the property is at page eight.
My client's tax information is at page 13.
Zoning notification letter for the appeal in the meetings is at page 16.
The letter from the RCO is at page 19.
We have photographs of multiple postings of the property at page 20.
Attached separately is 11 by 17s electronically or the floor plans for the property.
My members of the board, this property is located at the corner of Dauphin and Bouvier
Streets.
It is 18 feet wide and 50 feet deep, about 900 square feet.
Currently, it is a vacant lot.
It's fenced in, it's overgrown, and unfortunately, what it seems to be used as by passers-by
in the area is more or less a place to throw their trash, and my client's been doing their
best to keep the area clean.
What we're proposing today is new construction, two family dwelling, two units. Each of them will
be two bedrooms, one bath. Unit number one on the ground floor is 646 square feet. Unit number two
from the second story is 681 square feet. There is access to a roof deck. This is a two-story
structure. It is slab on grade. Mr. Ramos, the architect, and Mr. Minor, my client, spoke
extensively about this design and the reason we're looking to do this is to limit one the impact on
the adjacent neighboring property and two try to keep this building in character with what's already
on the block which is looking to the photos you can see is a two-story row home block for most of
the block itself why are we seeking to have a two-family dwelling here well members of the board
this is new construction members the board you're aware of the cost of new construction and what
we're seeking to do with this property, considering its location, considering that this is a developing
with this property considering its location considering that this is developing neighborhood
neighborhood, is allow.
is allow more access to new construction for somebody who'd like to live here there is rear
yard storage for all the trash the two units will allow the affordability to be increased rather
than a new 400 some thousand dollar home and more or less that's essentially our presentation
members of the board. I will note that the two witnesses I have to speak today who are also
joining us by phone, Mr. Blake Davis, that's B as in Bravo, L-A-K-E, D as in Delta, A-V as in Victor,
I-S, and Larry Russell, R-U-S-S-E-L. We're both present at our RCO meeting that was held back on
March 6th. You do have an RCO meeting letter in your packet, members of the board, but it's my
understanding there were some voting irregularities that occurred at that meeting that both Mr. Davis
and Mr. Russell would like to address, namely that multiple votes were taken, the ultimate vote count
that was submitted to the zoning board did not match their recollection of what occurred that
evening, and that certain members of the community were allowed to vote while others were not,
even when those members, including Mr. Davis and Mr. Russell,
had identification cards notifying the RCO
that they were in the affected area.
At this point, I'm happy to take any other questions at this time.
Mr. Ramos, do you have anything to add at this point?
Mr. Ramos, please identify.
Are they on by phone?
i believe mr ramos has joined us by zoom can he raise his hand okay
mr ramos you're mute you're muted you're muted okay yeah please please mr ramos identify
yourself with the record spell your first and last name for the sonographer jovani uh j-o-v-a-n-n-y
Ramos, R-A-M-O-S.
Address, please.
3421 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19149.
Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
Mr. Mulvihill?
Yes, Mr. Ramos, you're familiar with the site at 2300 North Bouvier Street?
Yes, I am.
Can you explain to the board why you designed this building the way you did?
Yes. Given my conversations with my client, he wanted to make it a two-family dwelling,
but yet not cause a major impact on the community in terms of size and design. So indeed,
it's a slab on grade to avoid any digging past three to four feet in the ground.
it is two stories which is matches what's in the area and floor number one is unit number one which
is a two-bedroom and floor number two is unit number two which is a two-bedroom the base of
the building is brick so it continues on with the area and up above will be a similar monotone metal
mr ramos with respect to the adjacent building at 2302 north bovier street
is it about the same height yes and was that a consideration that you took into account when you
were designing this building that was the most consideration for the height of the building yes
mr ramos at this point are you able to see the plans that have been put on the screen by ms sunk
get the floor plans for the property? I do. Okay. And just for purpose of the record for the board
and for anybody else, the blue area, that's living space, correct? Yes. The blue area is living space.
The pink area is sleeping space. The gray area is like common space, like hallways at the roof deck.
And then the brown area is bathroom. All right. I don't have any other questions for me, Mr. Ramos.
thank you thank you mr milner or pardon me mr minor are you on the line as well robert minor
i believe mr minor is joining us by telephone today as he was unable to get zoom to work minor
are you on
mr minor
tanya do you see anything
she's unmuted
Mr. Miner, your hand is up and you're available if you wish to speak.
Mr. Miner, are you able to hear me at this time?
Mr. Mulvihill, do you have anyone else?
Mr. Davis are you still on the line sir
Yes I'm still on the line
Mr. Davis will you please state your name
Spell your last name and give your address for the zoning board
My name is Blake Davis
B-L-E-K-E
B-A-B-I-S
I live 2348 North Louvert Street
Philadelphia PA 19132
Mr. Davis
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
The whole truth and nothing but the truth
Yes sir
Thank you.
Mr. Davis, you live in the neighborhood, is it fair to say?
No, go ahead.
You live in the neighborhood, that's fair to say?
And you're familiar with this property, yes?
Can you describe the condition of the property today and how it's used in the neighborhood?
As a trash dump, dilapidated, overgrown.
We do as much as we can to keep it beautified.
But when he decided to develop on his property, people came into agreement and had no quarrels or they had plenty of questions.
So when questions came about, he answered the best as he could.
When the community meeting came about, we had more questions, answered the best as he could.
But when it came time to vote, some votes were taken, some votes weren't.
And I felt, though, that was, how can I say without speaking ill, unfair.
When you say that some votes were taken and some votes were not taken,
can you explain more clearly to the members of the board what happened?
People, well, maybe I think it was, if I'm not mistaken, about 12 to 15 people showed up.
And out of the people who showed up, many of us had concerns.
some concerns weighed
more than others and some had
pros and their pros weighed more than others
but at the time
of voting
proper voting bouts were not issued