Thank you.
thank you good morning everyone my name is bill bergman i will be chairing the meeting of the
philadelphia zoning board of adjustment with me is our vice chair ismail shaheed president mr
Chairman. Our board member Cheryl L. Gaston. Present Mr. Chairman. Our board member Tanetta Graham.
Oh that's right that's right I'm sorry sorry about that. Our board member Michael Johns.
Present Mr. Chairman. And our board member Taya Nguyen.
She's here. Present Mr. Chairman. Good morning and also present is our attorney Hillary Emerson
and also our Zoning Board Executive Director, Ian Haggerty.
Also with us this morning is Ron Bednar, our planner for the day.
Ron has had a long career at the state of Pennsylvania.
He's also been with the City Zoning Board for over 10 years.
He's been a district planner.
He's the member of the legislative group,
and he's our person here who normally handles our 3.30 meetings.
Today's Ron's last day, and we wanted to take the time to thank you,
wish you well, and if in the future in your retirement,
if you get a little anxious about 3.30 in the afternoon,
you always have a home to come back to here.
But I would say Ron, who's been someone for the four years that I've been here,
um he's always worked the 3 30 group which the 3 30 schedules seem to uh stretch to six
and sometimes 6 30 he never complains that he's just done a professional job
so ron we want to thank you and a little round of applause for you ron thank you ron thank you thank
Okay, so a recording of this hearing will be posted on the ZBA website.
By participating, you consent to be recorded.
This is an in-person meeting with remote capabilities.
Whether remote or in person, if you are called to speak, you must state and spell your name and then wait to be sworn in.
Once you've been sworn in, please state your name each time before beginning your testimony.
Any person may enter the appearance to become an interested party.
There are three ways to enter your appearance.
You can identify the case address in your Zoom webinar registration.
You can see a staff member, or you can call the ZBA appearance line at the close of the business day.
Call 267-270-5548.
Leave a message that includes your email address and the address of the property of the appeal.
The following guideline is for remote attendees.
First, when directed by the chair, you must raise your virtual hand in order to be recognized to speak.
Second, if you're called to testify, you'll be prompted to join as a panelist.
Please accept the request and turn on your camera.
Third, the webinar Q&A is for questions about the hearing.
Do not comment on cases in the Q&A.
Fourth, if you're participating by phone, press star 9 to raise your hand and star 6 to unmute.
Please refrain from talking, eating, or drinking for in-person attendees.
Verbal and physical aggression will not be tolerated.
Restrooms are across from the elevator.
Water fountain is just outside the room to the right.
When speaking on the record, you must speak directly into the microphone in order to be heard.
When speaking on the record, you must speak directly into the microphone in order to be heard.
So all attendees and the court reporter.
In the event of an emergency, please follow the directions given to the public address system or the staff.
The main exit is through the double doors at the rear of the room.
The nearest stairwell is to the left outside the doors.
In case of evacuation, the rally point is at Love Park, directly across from Art Street.
Please remain there so we can account for you.
Let's look at our schedule for today.
number
Number seven.
Let me get through my add-ons here.
number seven mi 2024 003 268 3501 g street that cases can continue to may 7th 2025 at 9 30 a.m
10. MI 2024, 006-754-226-Ritner Street. That case has been continued to October 29th at 9.30
AM. Are there any other requests for continuances? Good morning, Chair. My name is Kareem McEntana.
I'll be your co-host for today. We currently have a hand raised from Mr. Vern Anastasio.
He's allowed to speak. Good morning, Counsel. Good morning, Mr. Chair. Could you please state
your name and spell for the stenographer. Yes, sir. Vern Anastasio. It's A-N-A-S-T-A-S-I-O.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do. What case? 4005 Brown Street.
Mr. Chair, that's number 14 on the list. Okay. Thank you, Attorney Emerson.
okay Vern I see this is we have no exhibits as of yet for this no the RCO just scheduled us
later this month okay you know we got assigned around the holidays and they
they took off for a while so all right thank you yeah MI 2024 007 291 405 Brown Street that case
has been continued till October 29th at 9 30 a.m. Thank you. Thank you. Any other requests for
continuance? There are no hands raised at this time, Chair. Okay. We have a series of cases. We
We have no exhibits.
Number one, 2023-005-894-2300 South 3rd Street.
Joseph Bernardino is the listed applicant.
Rocco Weiss and Bridget Squiller are the listed owners.
This is the fourth listing.
We have no exhibits.
Do we have anybody's hands up?
There are no hands at this time, Chair.
Okay, thank you.
So number one, MI2023-005-894-2300 South 3rd Street,
fourth listing, no exhibits.
I vote to dismiss.
Johns, my vote is to dismiss.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is to dismiss.
Iowan, my vote is to dismiss.
Ishmael Shahid, my vote is to dismiss.
Thank you.
Number five, MI 2024-003-179-815 Crispin Street.
Joseph Bernardino is the listed applicant.
Ishmael Bala and Burkary Dosky are the listed owners.
This is the second listing.
We do have an email requesting a withdrawal,
but we do not have the proper letters of yet.
Is there anyone in the audience for this?
There are no hands raised at this time, Chair.
Thank you. So number five, MI 2024-003-179-815 Crispin Street.
We will continue this one more time.
Mark must be heard October 29th at 9.30 a.m.
Number eight.
MI 2024-004-729-8030
Frankfort Avenue.
Chanani Duru is the listed applicant.
Craig St. Associates is the general partner.
This is the second listing.
No documents.
Mr. Chair, I just want to note for the record
that the applicant in this case was advised that an attorney was necessary.
The applicant in this case was advised that an attorney was necessary to proceed. No attorney has entered their appearance in this matter to date. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there anyone in the audience?
Chair, there are no hands raised at this time.
Thank you. So this is the second listing. We have had contact. They have not sent an attorney.
So number eight, MI 2024, 004-729-8030 Frankfurt Avenue, I vote to dismiss.
Michael Johns, my vote is to dismiss.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is to dismiss.
Iowan, my vote is to dismiss.
Ishmael Shahid, my vote is to dismiss.
Number.
number four
number four mi 2024 000 903 534 watkins street that case has been withdrawn
Okay, we're going to go to our add-on list.
Number one, MI 2024, 000748, 235 Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
I vote yes with proviso.
Her refusal dated 9-18-24, revised plans, one-page, stamped by ZBA on April 9th, 2025, an updated MN Overlay District Applicant Acknowledgement Form must be reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to permit issuance.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes with proviso.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes with proviso.
Taya Nguyen, my vote is yes with proviso.
Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Number two, MI2024, 005-519-401 Lindley Avenue.
I vote no to request for reconsideration.
And rehearing.
And rehearing.
Michael Johns, my vote is a no for, what was that?
Reconsideration and rehearing.
And rehearing, right.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is no to reconsideration and rehearing.
I want my vote is no for reconsideration and rehearing.
Do you want me to do number three, Chair?
Yes, sure, please. Thank you.
MI-2024-006075, 1222 North 29th Street.
My vote is yes, with proviso, per amended refusal dated April 3rd, 2025.
My vote is yes, with proviso.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes, with proviso.
My vote is yes, with proviso.
number five mi 2024 005 574 1510 north 25th street the vote on this matter has been continued
to 2 p.m. today number six mi 2024-004-380-1914 north lithgow
i vote no michael johns my vote is no
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is no.
I win, my vote is no.
It's no, Shahid, my vote is no.
Thank you.
Number 7, MI 2024-003-406-1406 East Moyman-Sing Avenue, I vote no.
Dr. Johns, my vote is no.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is no.
I win, my vote is no.
I'm not on this chair.
Okay, thank you. Number 8,
MI 2024-004-578-1722 Ridge Avenue.
I vote yes.
John, my vote is yes.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes.
I win, my vote is yes.
Hi, I win, my vote is yes.
Okay. Number nine, MI 2024-004-579-150 Brown Street, I vote yes.
Number nine.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes.
Iowan, my vote is yes.
number 10 mi 2024 007 230 635 west rooseville boulevard i vote yes
john's my vote is yes cheryl gaston my vote is yes i win my vote is yes thank you we're going
to move to our regular list. Number two, MI 2024, 000685, 2306 North 21st Street, Vito Canuso.
Is the attorney?
Aye, Chair. Mr. Canuso is allowed to speak.
Morning, counsel.
Morning.
counsel could you let me see if i
good morning mr chairman veto vito canuso c-a-n-u-s-o attorney for applicant do you swear
or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yes sir i do counsel
could you turn on your video
Yeah, I'm trying to find it,
Mr. Chairman.
Okay. Thank you.
now i see it thank you your honor
um mr canoe so um could you identify your client their relationship to the property
Yes. The owner of the property is CMGT LLC, and they're the owners of the property located at 2306 North 21st Street, Philadelphia, which is a vacant lot.
Okay. Do you waive the reading of the refusal and agree with its accuracy?
Yes, sir.
And I would also note there's a letter of support from All in the Family CDC and a letter of non-opposition from Council Member Young.
Please share your screen and start your presentation, counsel.
And then
First,
first document shown is the notice of the hearing
for today. Second is the applicant
of appeal that was filed as a result of the
refusal letter, which is appearing on your screen now. If I'm going too fast, Mr. Chairman,