Also, concerns were raised with regard to providing a safety feature to alert either pedestrians or other vehicles on Altra Street if we did need to use this access.
So we are adding some flashing lights and low audible noises that would alert people that a car is coming out.
We did already revise the site plan, which is before you. We are asking that this revised plan be approved by the Zoning Board if you're so inclined to grant the variance. We also did submit the proviso form.
So, subject to those provisos, which the applicant has agreed to, we did in fact receive a letter from Point Breeze in support of this application.
As I indicated, we did engage a traffic consultant, Mr. Harder.
He did prepare a parking study.
Unfortunately, we did not have it in time to submit with the other exhibits.
However, we did submit it earlier today to Ms. Sunkit as well as Ms. Oletta.
But I would ask Mr. Harder just to spend one or two minutes just briefly explaining to the board the findings of his study.
Hopefully everyone can hear me well.
The project as described, we'll have six spaces dedicated to self-storage and then also the five loading.
So in reality, there are 11 spaces because self-storage is unique in that the loading is really for customers.
It's not like a shopping center where there's parking for customers and delivery zones or loading areas for trucks.
So those 11 spaces will serve the needs well for self-storage.
We looked at three means in terms of demonstrating that in the proposed condition.
So extra space is found from their experience at this site and other urban locations, a maximum of six customers parked at one time.
And Atlantic just went out and did our own study this past Friday and Saturday and found the same results.
We found a maximum of five on Friday afternoon into the evening and Saturday in the afternoon evening, six maximum parked vehicles.
So those both, you know, corroborate well with the proposed supply.
ITE is another source, the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Their data is more based on suburban sites, but we also found...
Their data is more based on suburban sites, but we also found that the ITE data would work. The suburban sites indicate about 10 parked cars, which would also work, but I feel that that number is really exaggerated. In urban conditions, you have more walk-up, fewer residents owning cars in the area. So for that reason, I feel that all three sources support the proposal.
So, thank you.
Thank you.
And it should be noted in doing those parking counts that the self-storage facility is currently 96% occupied.
So, we don't anticipate that there would be a need for additional parking, given that the spaces are currently being utilized.
We believe that a hardship does exist due to the unduly burdensome parking requirements that 49 spaces be provided for this type of self-storage facility.
It does create a large vacant area that is being underutilized and which would encourage trespassers, also creates a vision of an unsuccessful business that may otherwise look as though it's a vacant building and drive down values.
We believe that the granting of the variance which created a reuse of this vacant ground, thereby providing a reasonable use of the property.
We also believe that it would be a benefit to the community by creating off-street parking
spaces and thereby reducing traffic on the surrounding streets so that individuals do
not need to circle the streets looking for on-street parking.
I do have Mr. Morris on the line.
I would just like to ask him to adopt my testimony with regard to extra space storage.
Thank you.
Mr. Morris
If you could unmute yourself
Are you on
Can you please unmute yourself
If we're having a problem
As an officer
Okay there we go
Good Mr. Morris
you were present uh this afternoon during the testimony that i have given yes and do you agree
that the statements made regarding the project and the relief being sought are true and accurate
yes and specifically um as the applicant agreed to the provisos that have been requested by the
point breeze community development coalition yes great and would you agree to accept the testimony
given this this afternoon as your own yes great thank you therefore I have no further questions
at this time and I would respectfully request that the board grant the variance being requested
this afternoon excuse me this is Sharon Saleta again I um I spoke with someone with the zoning
supervisor at LNI and she suggested that the proviso read so long as the access non-accessory
spaces are identified on the revised plans which they are
that the proviso be per revised plans one page approved today
including non-accessory parking great thank you
you're welcome questions from the board no no
anyone else would like to testify in this case if so please raise your hand
Chair we have a
Petra Gamble
Good afternoon again
Good afternoon again
Ms. Gamble you are still under oath
Please identify
yourself for the record
Good afternoon Mr. Chairman this is Petra Gamble
again I'm the coordinating
one of the members of coordinating RCL
for this property
and I just
wanted to go on record saying that we support
this property with provisos
thank you again appreciate your time thank you anyone else
no you can proceed thank you planning commission
good afternoon board peter bernard for the planning commission
this property is indicated for industrial mixed use in the comprehensive plan the proposal opens
existing underutilized parking to shared use accordingly we have no objection to the granting
of the variance. Thank you. MI-2020-000094. 2300 Washington Avenue. My vote is yes with the
following provisos. Revised plan one page approved today, including the granting of
non-accessory parking is that correct yes that's good and also uh ingress and egress on the altar
street side of the property to be used for emergency purposes only an installation of
installation of flashing and or low audible warning warning system is that
flashing and or low audible warning light.
it yes yes can I ask are those the additional provisors are they already
noted on the revised plans I don't know I don't I know there's an ingress and
egress on altar Street and I believe council said that they agreed it would
only be used for emergency purposes only? That is correct and we also do have a
note here that emergency exit sign and light with audible indicator to be
installed at emergency exit note number two so that is in fact on the plan. So
it may not be necessary to have the additional provisos is that correct
Carrie? That is correct. Thank you. Okay so just the proviso with the one page
correct correct correct okay all right again mi-2020-000094-2300 washington avenue
my vote is yes with the proviso revised plan one page approved today yes with proviso yes with
proviso yes with proviso thank you thank you and i believe that concludes the two o'clock list
thank you any unfinished business for the two o'clock list
no not for me okay uh it is now 403 we'll return give us 15 minutes everybody a break
we'll get back here by 4 18 okay okay okay
thank you and good afternoon and tanya we'll give you a few minutes
No, Chair, you can go forward.
Oh, we're ready to roll.
Okay, thank you.
Good afternoon, everyone.
My name is Frank DiCicco.
I'm the chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
I'll be participating in today's hearing along with Vice, excuse me, along with our secretary, Mr. Confessor Plaza, and board members, Mr. Thomas Holloman and Mr. James Snell.
Board Administrator Tanya Sunkett and board attorney Sharon Saleta are also in attendance.
For those of you who have not yet participated in our virtual hearings, I will go through some of the basics of what you can expect.
First, we will be administering oaths to individual participants prior to their testimony.
Second, for the benefit of anyone participating by phone, we ask that attorneys and witnesses identify themselves prior to speaking or testifying.
Third, we'd like to advise everyone that this proceeding is being recorded and that by participating, you acknowledge your agreement to be recorded.
Fourth, for anyone participating by phone, if you wish to testify, you must raise your hand by hitting star nine and then star six to unmute yourself.
I'll repeat, for anyone participating by phone, if you wish to testify, you must raise your hand by hitting star nine and then star six to unmute yourself.
Finally, to enter an appearance statement, call Google 267-270-5548 and leave your email address and the address of the property at issue.
I'll repeat that also.
to enter an appearance statement call google 267-270-5548 and leave your email address
and the address of the property at issue with that said we can begin but before mr plaza calls
our first case we'd like to ask if anyone is requesting a continuance and or an appeal
listed for this afternoon's 3 30 session if so please raise your hand
no hands at this time thank you
I'm just reading a text excuse me Sharon did you
Yes, I ask that number two on your list, Diamond Street, be heard last.
Confessor, number two on our list will be heard last.
That's 919 Diamond.
So we can go ahead with 1630 Rumfort Road.
MI 2020-001049, 1630 Rumfort Road.
Ms. Slay, you've been promoted to a panelist.
You can share your screen as you need to and unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
All right.
Sounds good.
Ms. Slay, do you affirm, do you swear to affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, for nothing
but the truth?
And do you agree to waive the reading of its refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Are you an attorney?
Oh, I apologize.
Oh, okay.
I shouldn't say yes there?
I mean, it's okay.
This application is for multifamily, three-family dwelling, unit, household living, and an existing structure.
No signs on this application.
The permit for the above location cannot be issued because the proposal does not comply with the following provisions of the Philadelphia Zoning Code.
Okay, household living.
Household living is prohibited in the zoning district.
One refusal.
So that was that.
Ma'am, 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?
And have you met with the RCO and have a letter?
Thank you.
Please identify yourself for the record.
Hi, everyone.
My name is Jasmine Schley, and I live at 1630 Rumford Road.
I'm also the owner and I'm looking to get the property zoned for a triplex for rental income
purposes. The current layout is like a duplex and it's like nearly all of the houses on my street
and the surrounding streets. Are you able to see my screen? I think I'm sharing it.
We see you, but we don't see your exhibits. Okay, let me share. Do I need permission to
share my screen? Let's see. No, you have a third. Do you just have to hit the green share button at
the bottom? Sorry about that. I have it up now. And then once you get hit that, click on your documents.
Got it. Okay. Perfect. Perfect. So this is the property right here on the corner. Like I was
saying, the current layout, and I'll show you this in one of my exhibits, is set up like a duplex,
like nearly all of the houses on my block and the several of the adjacent blocks.
And I did meet with the RCO and have the letter of support that is right here.
Yep, have a letter of support from the RCO.
And I can also show you what the existing layout looks like
and what the layout, excuse me, for the first floor will look like.
So I am showing you my, okay, so this is the current first, this is the first floor or the
basement. Right now there's this utility area, which is going to stay the same. And then there's
also this empty space right now that's cleared out, save for the bathroom. And it's going to be
set up as a one bedroom apartment with the kitchen over here. As you see, this is a door that goes
out to the outside of the house. And then this is going to be the one bedroom area. This person
will have access to the utility room, but they'll also have their own designated separate entrance
to the property. Here is what the second floor layout currently is, a one bedroom. So you have
your entrance right here to Rumford Road. You have your living space and then your one bedroom.
set up right here. This is the current layout. Then on the third floor, two-bedroom layout,
you have the master bedroom over here with a smaller bedroom, living room, and kitchen. And
again, like I was saying, most of the houses on my street and the current streets are set up as
duplexes, and there are some triplexes also. Are there any questions?
The properties that are set up as triplexes, are they the same footprint that you have?
Yes. And I can show you if it helps on Google Maps.
so this isn't so all of these so all of these properties along here this is rumper road
they all either rent out the upstairs in the first floor and some of them also rent out the
basements as well. And then the same on the other side of the street too.
and then the same on the other side of the street, too.
I'm just looking at the corner.
Okay, that's got four meters, that one, right?
This corner, yeah.
So that's set up as a triplex, correct?
Correct.
The other one next to it is a duplex.
Okay, all right.
All right, any questions from the board?