civus
Hearing video

ZBA Hearing - March 26, 2025

Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA)Mar 26, 20254h 56m

Give me the count.

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Thank you.

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Good morning, everyone.

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My name is Bill Bergman, and I will be chairing this meeting of the Philadelphia Zoning Board.

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With me is our Vice Chair, Ismail Shahid.

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Present, Mr. Chairman.

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Our Board Member, Cheryl L. Gaston.

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Present, Mr. Chairman.

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Board Member, Tanetta Graham.

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Present, Mr. Chairman.

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Board Member, Michael Johns.

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Present, Mr. Chairman.

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Board Member, Tyah Wynn.

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Present, Mr. Chairman.

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Also present is our attorney, Hillary Emerson, our zoning board director, Ian Haggerty, and our board administrator, Strader Lakia Sedandi.

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A recording of this hearing will be posted on the ZBA website.

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By participating, you get sent to be recorded.

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There is an in-person meeting with remote possibilities.

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Whether remote or in person, if you're called to speak, you must state and spell your name and then wait to be sworn in.

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Once you've been enswored in, please state your name each time before beginning your testimony.

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Any person may enter their appearance to become an interested party to a case.

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There are three ways to do that.

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You can identify this case property address on your Zoom webinar registration.

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You can see a staff member, or you can call the ZBA appearance line by the close of business.

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call 267-270-5548, leave a message that includes your email address and the address of the property

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of the appeal. The following guidance is for our remote attendees. First, when directed,

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you must raise your virtual hand in order to be recognized to speak. Second, if you're called to

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testify, you'll be prompted to join as a panelist. Please accept the request and turn on your camera.

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Third, the webinar Q&A is for questions about the hearing.

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Do not comment on cases in the Q&A.

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Fourth, if you're participating by phone,

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press star nine to raise your hand and star six to unmute.

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For our in-person attendees,

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please refrain from talking, eating, or drinking during the hearings.

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Verbal and physical aggression will not be tolerated.

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Restaurants are crossed from the elevators.

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The water fountain is just outside the room to the right.

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When speaking on the record, you must speak directly into the microphone in order to be heard by all attendees and the court reporter.

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In the event of an emergency, please follow the directions given over the public address system by the staff.

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The main exit is through the double doors at the rear.

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The nearest stairwell is to the left outside the doors.

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In case of an evacuation, the rally point is at Love Park, directly across from Art Street.

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Please remain there so we can account for you.

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Let's look at our schedule for today.

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Number one.

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Number one, MI 2023-005-052, 2021 North Van Pelt Street.

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Vern Anastasio is the attorney.

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I understand that we may have a continuance request.

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Mr. Anastasio.

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Good morning, Chair.

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This is Nadia, and I'll be your co-host today.

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Vern Anastasio has been allowed to speak.

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Good morning, Counsel.

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Good morning, Mr. Chair.

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Could you state your name and spell for the stenographer?

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Yes, sir. It's Vern Anastasio, A-N-A-S-T-A-S-I-O, on behalf of Mr. Donald Major.

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Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

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I do, sir.

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Please proceed, sir.

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Yeah, Mr. Chair, we are in the process of meeting with the RCO.

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There were some assignment issues, but they're now on track.

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but i do need a continuance in order to meet with them thank you very much so mi2023

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005052 2021 north van pelt street this case is continued to 9 17 25 at 9 30 a.m thank you thank

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you thank you

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Number four, MI 2024-004-395-2628, North 17th Street.

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Richard Washington is the applicant.

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There is a request for continuance here.

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And that request for continuance is from the council office and two of the RCOs.

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Thank you.

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we're chair washington if you're in a virtual audience please raise your virtual hand

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i see no hands so this is the second listing we still do not have any exhibits so mi2024

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004 395 2628 north 17th street i vote to dismiss michael johns my vote is to dismiss

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Cheryl Gaston, my vote is to dismiss.

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Tanetta Graham, my vote is to dismiss.

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Dylan, my vote is to dismiss.

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Ishmael Shahid, my vote is to dismiss.

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Thank you.

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MI 2024-005-345-1014 South 25th Street, Maria Meyer-Seths and Pauline-Seths Stockade.

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There's also a request here from SOSNA for a continuance.

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This is the second listing and we still do not have any exhibits.

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Maria Myers and or Pauline Sefez, if you're in the virtual audience, please raise your virtual hand.

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I see no hands. Thank you. So this is the second listing.

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we still do not have exhibits. So MI 2024-005-345-1014 South 25th Street, I vote to dismiss.

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Michael Jobs, my vote is to dismiss. Cheryl Gaston, my vote is to dismiss.

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Tanetta Graham, my vote is to dismiss. Tywin, my vote is to dismiss.

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Vishmear Shahid, my vote is to dismiss. Thank you. Number nine, MI 2024-006-071-328

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East Rittenhouse Street. This case is continued till 9-17-25 at 9-30 a.m.

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And number 13, MI 2024-007-024-2832 West Gerrard Avenue. This case is continued to 4-23-25

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at 3 30 p.m. are there any other requests for continuance

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yes chair we have a charming eye doll with their hand raised and they haven't allowed to speak

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how could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer

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yes c-h-a-r-l-e-n-a last name a-d-o-l-p-h do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole

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truth and nothing but the truth i do what case are you talking about uh m m-i-2-0-2-4-0-0-7-0-1-5

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Okay. So, so that's, so that's 5336 Wayne Avenue. This is the first listing. We do not have your

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exhibits. I did not submit exhibits because I, we had a discrepancy with Cheryl Smith,

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the RCO for the 12th district. Their email was wrong. They still had Ted. They spoke with Charles

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Richardson. I spoke with her this morning and told her I will ask for a continuance. Okay. Thank you.

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So MI 2024-007-015-5336 Wayne Avenue, that case is continued to 9-17-25 at 9.30 a.m.

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Thank you for calling in.

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Thank you.

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Any other requests for continuance?

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I see no hands.

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Thank you.

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So we have a few cases here with no exhibits.

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MI 2024-004-403-289-East-Walmont-Drive,

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Afraslam Islamic Center, LN Real Estate.

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This is the second listing.

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We have no exhibits.

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I see no hands.

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Okay, so the first, we did have a prior hearing and there was a technical problem,

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And there was a technical problem, so I'm going to continue this one more time.

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so I'm going to continue this one more time. So MI-12.

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So MI 2024-004-403-289 East, Walnut Drive.

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This case is continued to 9-17-25 at 9.30 a.m.

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Number six, MI 2024-004-411-4911 North 6th Street.

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E.B. Reyes

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is the listed owner

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this is the second listing

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no one

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appeared the first time

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I see

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no hands

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so MI202400411

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4911

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North 6th Street

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the second listing no exhibits

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no one appeared the first time

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I vote to dismiss

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Michael Johns, my vote is to dismiss.

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Cheryl Gaston, my vote is to dismiss.

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Tanita Graham, my vote is to dismiss.

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Iowan, my vote is to dismiss.

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Ishmael Shahid, my vote is to dismiss.

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Thank you.

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Number 16.

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Number 16, MI 2024, 007-046, 1513 Conlin Street.

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Carlette Johnson is the listed owner.

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jasmine oats is the listed applicant this is the first listing we do have we have no exhibits

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i see no hands so mi 2024 007 046 1513 conlin street this case is continued to 9 17 25 at 9 30 a.m

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and number two mi 2024 004 379 2100 south broad street this case has been withdrawn

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we're going to go to our add-on list so mi 2024 0 0 6 8 8 5 32 32 north 16th street

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i vote yes with proviso maximum eight units my good job i don't think i vote on this one

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so guest and my vote is yes with proviso tenetta graham my vote is yes with proviso

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Iowyn, my vote is yes with proviso.

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Ishmael Shahi, my vote is yes with proviso.

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Number two, MI 2024, 004-189-8244 Somerdale Avenue.

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I vote yes with provisos.

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Her refusal dated 12-6-24, hardtop service required.

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Michael Johns, my vote is yes with proviso.

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Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes with proviso.

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Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes with proviso.

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Tywin, my vote is yes with proviso.

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Number three, MI 2024-005-574-1510 North 25th Street.

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The vote in this matter has been continued until Wednesday, April 2nd at 9.30 a.m.

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Number four, MI 2024-005-23-1320-222 North Fish Street.

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I vote yes.

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Michael Johnson, my vote is no.

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Cheryl Gaston, my vote is no.

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Tynetta Graham, my vote is yes.

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Tywin, my vote is yes.

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okay all right i'm going to move on to our our regular list here

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number three mi 2024 004 380 1940 north lithgow street henry smart the third is the owner

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applicant this is a pro se um this application is for use as a single room resident

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and visitor accommodation in an existing structure.

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Two use refusals, single-room residents and visitor accommodations

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are not permitted in the RSA 5 Zoning District.

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There's a letter of unanimous support from Norris Square Community Alliance

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and a letter of non-opposition from Council Member Lozada.

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mr smart henry smart h-e-n-r-y s-m-a-r-t

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Henry Smart, H-E-N-R-Y-S-M-A-R-T.

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Mr. Smart, could you please turn on your video?

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I'm outside in a park, but let's see if that turns on.

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Okay.

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All right.

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Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?

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I do.

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Our vice chair has a few questions for you.

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Good morning, sir.

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Have you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits as needed to proceed with this case five days in advance of this?

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hearing. Yes. Thank you. Please proceed and you can share the screen.

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Did I share the exhibits? Yes, you can share the exhibits. There's a green button at the bottom of the screen to share the exhibits.

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Got it. And Mr. Smart, if you could just speak up a little bit. Your voice is a little bit low. I want to make sure the court reporter can hear you. Thank you.

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okay so this is submitted back in the early part of 2024 the request to have the second level

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have two rooms on the second level of my home pretty much vacant at this time at priorly prior

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to this request that space was used to house foster kids now it's just empty so i'd like to

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have one room rented out to a local college student when that student goes away for the

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holidays use the second room as an airbnb unit there's no physical change to the structure

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um and that's the gist of the request um i could walk through the exhibits hopefully each member

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have them has the exhibits so the first is the zoning permit so you don't have to go through all

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and we have it why don't you go to your photos all right

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here we go okay that's your posting correct

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that's the front of the house

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yep

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they're posting on the

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that's one of the rooms

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that's the two rooms you were talking about

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and you live in the building too

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yep

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most of my time is spent on the third floor

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which is a magical suite

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