above so we have a refusal because that that corner property is rsa5 and we also have a refusal
because there is a side fence on lambert street and our fence exceeds the four foot high requirement
in the code and we just thought a higher fence rather than four feet where you can just peer
or over is not a good idea.
This is our application.
This is our application.
Here's the zoning map of Dickinson Street.
Here's the zoning map of Dickinson Street.
Here's 21st Street.
Our property is right here.
You can see CMX1 here.
This is RSA5, which is our property.
Across the street, and I have something in my exhibit package to show that this corner
property was just approved for a duplex.
Across the street, there's also two family here.
This is a salon, which I believe is an apartment above.
and there's another store here a laundromat I believe with the apartment
above my photographs will be able to detail that so here's a zoning file for
this particular property it was able to go back to 1941 and you can see back in
the day it was a barbershop and two-family again historically it's been
vacant for at least 15 to 20 years if not longer this is the zoning file for
the property directly across the street on Lambert Street, which has just been approved
by the board in 2018 for two-family dwelling. We met with the Point Breeze Development Coalition
and we have a letter of support from the organization with the understanding that
we've promised and agreed to do six different items with regard to the property and the lot.
The trees will be removed.
We're going to replace the sidewalks on Lambert Street and Dickinson Street.
We have installed exterior lighting, and that's one of the changes on our proviso sheet.
We removed the parapet wall around the roof, and we added a railing for more visibility.
We removed the side balcony.
Mr. Chairman, there was a side balcony overlooking Lambert Street, which the community group did not think was advantageous for the neighborhood.
That balcony has been moved to the rear of the property.
We've also are installing exterior cameras that will show both Lambert Street and Dickinson Street views.
We've also went around to the neighbors, both on the 200 block of Dickinson Street and the 1500 block of Lambert Street and got letters of non-opposition.
We're careful to put in here that by signing below, there is no opposition.
Some people are reluctant to indicate they support it.
but we have over 25 signatures both on adjoining blocks of Lambert Street as well as Dickinson
Street. On the phone on this call with me is the owner Perry Graboise and the architect
Jimmy Chung. Here's our proviso sheet if the board looks kindly upon this project.
Here is the project itself. Again this is a rather large lot. It's over 17 feet wide which is atypical
and it's also a deep lot, 65 feet deep. This is the side view on Lambert Street,
brick with some metal paneling here. You can see where we removed the parapet wall
and there's railings here. You also can see we have under the bay
lighting as requested by the community group.
this is our floor plan we have basement level and first floor is one unit second floor and third
floor is another unit trash for the first floor will be in the rear yard trash for the second
floor we have a small outside deck where the trash can be stored there and this unit has access to
the rooftop deck with the necessary setbacks along Dickinson Street as well as Lambert Street
and the rear of the property. Just another view of the property. Let me just make this
full screen. So here's the corner property right here. This is Lambert Street. This is Dickinson
Street. You're looking west here on Dickinson Street. Traffic flows east on Dickinson. This is
a home right across the street. It's an existing duplex. This is Dickinson and Woodstock. There's
a business on the first floor and an apartment above. And then further down Dickinson Street,
this is a hair salon or hair shop. And then there's at least one, possibly two apartments
above. I don't want to misstate anything, but I know there's at least one. Here's the lot that's
been now cleared and you can see the frontage will be here on Dickinson Street and the the
balcony was on Lambert Street but it's moved to the back and that back will just be looking at a
blank wall. Here's an aerial view. I know the board is well familiar with this area. 2038 Dickinson
Street here. Here's 21st Street and it's a little bit dated so the the property across the street
is not on it, but this is a long-time vacant lot. Mr. Gervois, are you on the call?
If you could unmute him, Ms. Sunkit.
If you could unmute him, Ms. Sunkit.
I'm not sure who is, what's the name?
Perry Grabois.
He said he was on the call anyway.
I don't know, I have a J-A-R-R-E-D, is that?
Let me text him, no.
All right. No, Mr. Clinton, as an officer, we'll stipulate that your client would adopt your testimony.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Any questions from the board?
Excuse me, Ms. Sunkit, the name is Jarrett.
I'm here.
He's on me.
Mr. Gavoyes, are you on the call?
Did you hear my testimony?
We need to get his full name on it.
Mr. Gavoyes, can you state your full name and address?
We're having problems listening to hearing this.
He's breaking up.
We'll just move on, all right?
Is there anyone, anyone else would like to testify in this case?
If so, please raise your hand.
Here I have a Petra Gamble.
You can wait to be sworn in.
Thank you.
Ms. Gamble, please identify yourself first and last name.
This is Petra Gamble.
Last name is G-A-M-B-L-E.
Your address?
2305 Federal Street.
Thank you.
Are you swearing a firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing about the truth?
Yes, I do.
Thank you.
You said Federal Street?
And may I just request the first name spelling, please?
P as in Peter, I-E, T as in Tom, R-A.
Thank you.
You're with the Civic?
I'm with the RCO, yes.
Right.
I meant to say the RCO.
I'm sorry.
Please proceed.
I just wanted to go on record saying that we are in support of the project with the proviso stated, and we are happy that they moved the balcony from the side to the back.
We are in total agreement of that.
So for that reason, we are in support completely.
Thank you, Ms. Gamble.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Planning Commission.
I'm sorry, Tanya, anyone else?
No, Sherry, you can continue.
Okay, Planning Commission.
Good afternoon, Board.
Peter Bernard for the Planning Commission.
This property is indicated for single-family residential in the comprehensive plan.
We do not feel the proposal will have a negative impact on the surrounding community.
Accordingly, we have no objection to the granting of the variance at this location.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
This is Sharon Saleta.
I just wanted to say that the provisos that the RCO requested are, for the most part, incorporated into the revised plans.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you.
MI-2020-001394, 2038 Dickinson Street.
My vote is yes with the proviso.
Revised plan, three pages approved today.
Yes with proviso.
Yes with proviso.
Yes with proviso.
Thank you.
Confessor, we got South 3rd Street next.
Thank you very much.
Okay, South 3rd Street.
M-I-2020-00096925 South 3rd Street.
Chair I have Gary Clark been promoted to panelists. Mr. Clark you can unmute yourself
and wait to be sworn in and share your screen as necessary. All right thank you. Hey Gary you
agree to waive the reading of its refusal and stipulate to its accuracy? I do. Also, have you
emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents, proof of ownership, proof of tax
compliance, copy of the refusal or referral, photos and plans five days prior to this hearing?
I have. Also, have you met with the RCO and have a letter?
I have, and I do.
Thank you, you may proceed.
Please identify yourself for the record.
All right, thank you.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the board.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the board. I am Gary Clark. That's G-A-R-Y-C-L-A-R-K-E.
I am Gary Clark, that's G-A-R-Y.
My address is 1140 Mount Vernon Street, Philadelphia, 19123. And I'm here to present
the matter of 925 South Third Street. With me on the line, I have the other members of the
development team, Evan and Leah Litvin. They are co-owners along with me, and they are the project
architects. Also, before I jump into the presentation, I'd like to note we've had
two RCO meetings and two near-neighbor meetings. In response to feedback received at those
meetings, we revised the plans and previously submitted both the revised plans along with
a proviso plans form. And we do have a letter of support from Queen Village Neighborhood
Association. And we have, I believe, 14 individual letters of support from neighbors, along with
a letter of non-opposition from Councilman Squilla. So the property is located at the
corners of 3rd and Montrose Streets. If you look at the picture on the right side of the screen,
that shows the site as it exists today. It's currently comprised, the parcel assemblage
is comprised of two tax parcels. There is one one-story building on each parcel. They face
Third Street. The buildings were previously used as a group housing for individuals with
disabilities. The buildings have been vacant for some time now and have not been used for any
purpose since then. If you look to the image on the right, we have a simplified site plan. The
first thing I'll note, which will come up later as we discuss the refusals and requested variances
is that the parcel is irregular. So at the corner, it's roughly a trapezoidal shape. And then there
is a rectangle that juts out to the east. The intended development is to demolish the two
existing buildings on the site, consolidate the parcel, reorient it to face Montrose Street and
put three houses on the property. One thing I'd like to note about the three houses in this view
is that house number three curves around a portion of it curves around and goes into the I guess the
very irregular section of the parcel that lies in that triangle. So a couple of design notes which
will also come up later when discussing the variances. We've done our best to match the
roofline of the buildings next door so that the, you know, the viewer's eye follows the
cornices of the other buildings. And especially in working with the neighbors, we've done our best
to reduce the visual mass of the buildings. So probably the most dramatic thing we've done
is make major setbacks of the fourth story,
including just really chopping off the corners entirely.
This portion of the fourth floor setback, six feet.
We've also cut out major portions of the buildings,
especially house number one on the corner.
And we've recessed all of the doors and windows.
So we received a few refusals.
to the application. So I'll start with the first, which is for the number of units.
As I alluded to before, the current parcel assemblage is two tax parcels. The zoning
district is RSA 5. So one house is permitted on each parcel. So here we just have a mock-up of
a buy-right scenario where we have two houses on the assemblage. And as you can see, if we were to
do that, the houses would be roughly 28 feet wide. We don't think that this would be appropriate for
the neighborhood or the site because the houses along the block on either side vary in width
between 11 and 16 feet. What we propose is this scenario where we put three houses on the site