I'm going to share with the board what was previously submitted as exhibits.
Can the board see my exhibit on their screen?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
So we have submitted the refusal RCO letter in support, as well as photos, plans, and
proof of tax clearance.
The refusal for this matter is triggered because this particular property is half CMX 2.5 and half RSA 3, therefore subject to the more restrictive RSA 3 uses.
This property was actually before the board in 2021, where my client, the same client that is before the board today, requested a variance, but at the time requesting a vacant commercial space on the ground floor facing Torsdale.
We are here this time to put an actual use to that vacant space.
Because it was approved at the time as a variance for vacant space, when my client went back to ask to start to use it as a retail store for doors, trims, baseboards, and locks, basically building supplies and equipment,
Al and I refused him yet again, saying that because of the variance from before and it was only for vacant, you must go back before the board.
We went before the community and discussed this proposal.
Also, as you can see, the community actually welcomed retail use to the avenue.
They actually were not that concerned with the request and was actually a little, they
found a little strange that we had to go through the variance process again.
But again, they do support this particular request.
So this is the property in question.
The side that faces Torsdale is the CMX 2.5.
That is the store frontage that we're proposing to use as a building supply retail store.
And that's really the variance that we're seeking before the board.
Again, the restriction kicked in because the back half of the lot is considered a residential only, single family only lot.
And that caused the commercial use to automatically be refused.
cause the commercial use to automatically be refused.
From the layout of this lot,
it's better to see from the site plan.
Again, we have the front side.
This is the Torresdale side.
Then you have a vacant space area.
There was an existing garage,
one story building in the back.
That is part of our last variance before the board.
None of those uses, the two family above, the storage in the back, or the vacant space would change with this application.
So this is purely for the variants to permit a use change from vacant commercial to an actual retail space.
And that really is the gist of the application.
I'm happy to answer any questions or redirect to any part of my presentation.
And I'm happy to try to get my client to verify my testimony as well.
Zim, why don't we bring your client on first, please?
Steve, can you raise your hand to be identified?
Okay, they should be coming back in as a panelist shortly.
Thank you.
When you get a chance, please unmute.
Okay, I'm here.
Hello.
Could you turn your video in, please?
Sir, could you please state your name and spell it for the stenographer?
My name is Steve Sachko, S-T-E-V-E.
Last name is Sachko, S-A-C-H-K-O.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do, yes.
Counsel, please proceed.
Thank you.
Steve, did you see my presentation to the zoning board on your screen
and also hear my testimony that I made before the zoning board?
Yes, sir.
Can you verify that it is true and correct and adopted as your own testimony?
Yes, everything was correct.
Thank you.
Questions from the board.
The bathroom that you showed in the facility, is that part of the facility
or was that something else?
because you mentioned residential,
so I wasn't sure whether you were.
Steve, there's a bathroom in the commercial space, correct?
Yes, it's an ADA bathroom.
That was, thank you.
Zen, does he intend to use the basement too?
Are you planning to use the basement?
Is there a basement space?
Yes, so that's going to be.
Unfinished basement, yes.
Unfinished basement.
So it's part of the commercial space.
um where is where do you plan to do uh deliveries and unloading
uh this is a online store so the warehouse and every all doors we will have in new york
warehouse so here is we just selling um online so there is no delivery there is no
pickup or something like this.
It's just a model display showroom.
So the actual materials are going to go straight
from the Jersey warehouse to?
Correct, to the customer.
Other questions from the board?
Questions or comments from our attorney?
Just to clarify, there's no parking at this property.
Is that correct?
That is correct.
there was there's a back street to it but that there's a building a garage type building in the
back which is already used for other purposes so there's no parking off street okay Toursdale does
have on-street parking okay no I was just asking because this is an RSA 3 which as you know
requires parking so I believe that refusal was was missed on the refusal since you're changing
a use just noting that for the record so thank you thank you questions or comments from the
audience virtual audience i don't see any hands mr chair planning commission
malison matera m-a-d-i-s-o-n-m-a-t-e-r-a i'll just do it one more time it's just a little
further away from you okay madison matera m-a-d-i-s-o-n m-a-t-e-r-a planning commission
staff right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
i do please proceed the comprehensive plan recommends no change from the cmx 2.5 commercial
mixed use in rsa 3 residential single family zoning at this location this property sits on
a commercial node under the cmx 2.5 zoning building supplies and equipment isn't allowed use the
is an allowed use the planning commission recommends the board grant the requested
Planning Commission recommends the board grant the requested variants for building supplies
variance for building supplies and equipment should this be first floor and basement only
um i believe that that is what the intention is mr jinn is would your client be amenable to
specifying the location of this of this use yes basement yes actually we would probably want to
verify that uh all other existing uses to remain because there's two residential units previously
approved above and a rear storage also previously approved by variance. Okay. It does indicate on
the refusal that existing uses in the structure or the remain is previously approved, but it
doesn't specify where this is. So we can, we can actually, we can do both, Mr. Chair. We can say,
we could say use limited to first floor and basement, all other previously approved uses to
remain. Thank you.
So MI 2024
166-6942
Tarstall Avenue, I vote
yes with proviso.
Use first floor and basement
only. All previous
approvals to remain.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes with proviso.
Cheryl Gaston,
my vote is yes with proviso.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Taya Nguyen, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Thank you, counsel.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Have a good evening.
Number four, MI 2024-007-168-5024 North Penn Street.
Gabriel Fellas is the attorney.
Now we're coming back in as the panel is showing Mr. Trafford.
letter of support from frankfurt neighborhood advisory and a letter of non-opposition from
council member lazada hi council could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer
gabriel fellis g-a-b-r-i-e-l f-e-l-l-u-s you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth
nothing but the truth i do do you identify your client the relationship to the property
my client is a dr essence alan presley uh she's the ceo of the education institution
for earlier for early intervention and she's the lessee of the property
do you waive the reading of the refusal do you agree with its accuracy
yes could you please share your screen to start your presentation
Does the Council see the table of contents?
We can.
Great.
Thank you, Chairman.
So we're here today seeking special use exception to use the property as a childhood educational facility in an existing detached structure.
The proposed use will be the second location for the Education Institute for Early Intervention, or EIEI.
It's an educational organization that provides and operates early childhood education programs, particularly for those with special needs and developmental delays.
The applicant already operates an existing educational facility at 4704 Lifer Street, and this will be your second location.
So this is the refusal that was issued on November the 15th.
The property itself is owned to RSA 5, so use as an educational facility requires a special use exception.
uh the property uh is owned by walter and deborah pew who purchased the property in uh on september
5th 2024. uh so this here is the five-year lease purchase agreement between the landlord
property owner and the applicant moving on to photos of the property
both interior and exterior of the property are going to remain unchanged in its current state
and no material alterations are being proposed
Dr. Presley identified this property as an ideal expansion location for several reasons and one of
which is having this enclosed outdoor space.
It's gonna be, I think, a really amazing opportunity
for an outdoor play environment for children
in a really safe area, which is extremely rare in the city.
Just hoping to take advantage of the space
and has plans to collaborate with local organizations
to set up a sensory garden in the space,
and then have both students and family members
participate in its upkeep.
Some parking here.
Okay, so this is our zoning map.
Again, the property is zoned RSA 3, requiring special use approval for use as an educational
facility.
Moving on to our application for appeal and project information form, both of which were
filed on November 18th, 2024.
SO MOVING ON TO OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, WE MET WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ON FEBRUARY
13TH WHERE WE RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT, THIS IS THE LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVED
FROM THE ARSUR CHAIRMAN, MR. THOMAS GARLAND. WE ALSO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH NEARBY NEIGHBORS
to discuss the project and gather 25 signatures of support from nearby neighbors shown here
is our rca notification letter that we sent out to community residents on january 16th
and then proof of mailing of those letters as well
we sent out 112 notification letters in advance of that february 13th meeting
Next, we have EIEI's licenses that is needed to operate in space.
First, we have the current nonprofit commercial activity license for the institution.
We also included the institution's state certification from the Department of Education.
The certification grants the institution a license to operate as a private school.
Next up is our tax clearance for the institution as a lessee.
Moving on to our posters that were hung in anticipation of this meeting here.
Lastly, we have some material describing the organizational overview of EIEI, explaining
some of its main goals and its program offerings.
Dr. Presley could speak more to it if you'd like it then in my presentation.
We're also including a section explaining specifically why the specific property and neighborhood are the ideal choice for her second location.
She's identified a huge demand in the area for the kind of childhood development programs that EIEI offers.
Right now, SPIN, another childhood services provider in the area, has a waiting list of over 300 students.
And on top of that, EIEI's current location has over 80 children on its own waiting list, and half of them already live near this new property.
So opening a second location would help address a critical need for children's programs in the community.
So with that, I'd like to ask the applicant, Dr. Essence Allen-Presley, to adopt my testimony and to help answer questions.
Counsel, I'm curious how many students will be there.
she has the exact number but it is in our application why don't we bring her here you
can ask her okay absolutely
dr presley