it's henry clinton uh queen memorial building 1313 south 33rd street
wpa 19146
mr clinton you agree to wait the reading of its refusal and stipulate to attack
accuracy? I don't. Also, have you emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents,
proof of ownership, proof of tax compliance, copy of the refusal or referral,
folders and plans five days prior to this hearing? Yes, I have. Also, have you met with the RCO and
have a letter? Yes, I do, Mr. Plaza. Thank you. Please proceed. Thank you.
Ms. Sunkit, can I share my screen?
yes you may thank you
can my screen be viewed yes you want me to make it bigger that's perfect thank you
This is 530-532 Reed Street. With me on the line are my clients, Tiago and Ray Alamare, in the event that they testify. Table of Contents, Exhibits AA through A10.
appearance statement, refusal. This refusal concerns a, if you look at the bottom here,
it really gives you a hint on the use of the property. Since 1943, it's been used as two
garages. It was a soda water plant, now known as strictly soda. It's also retail sales for used
cars back in 77. And since 1989, the zoning appears it was a warehouse for storage of
bedding materials. More recently, it's being used by my client to store materials. And prior to that,
it was used by a woodworker who, if the adjacent neighbor is on the call, will tell you that the
fumes were obnoxious and work went on at all times of day and night. So the refusals concern
the fact that there are two garages on site, which we're going to use and incorporate into
two single-family homes and the other issue concerns a lot size this is a non-conforming use
the existing garage when i show you the aerial photographs occupies right now 100
the existing garage when i show you the aerial photographs occupies right now 100 of the lot
and our proposal is to have 15 open space which when you see again some of the aerial photographs
you'll see is larger than most lots on the 500 block of reed street we received a letter from
dickinson square west and the bold part is the significant part they opposed the project because
it had rear decks on the back of the property which we have now eliminated and they also object
to the lack of escape route in the event of a fire from the rear yard and again i'll show you
aerial photographs that show there there's no alley at the back of this property for any of the
properties to get out of the rear of their property and plus this is going to be new
construction and we'll have sprinklers. So I believe that we've satisfied the concerns of
the RCO. Also, Carl from Avera represents the adjacent neighbor, Ms. Carol McCabe. Again,
she may be on the call. And Carl and I have had a number of discussions, and I sent him a letter
indicating the changes that we're making to the plans. Originally, we requested two cars be in
the front load of garages. We've moved one car. There'll be now one car parking. All the decks
on the rear of the property will be removed. Also, each garage is going to have a one-hour fire rated
and combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. And then more importantly, exhaust
vents that vent directly to the roof. We also will have sound retarders on the walls adjacent
to both properties to cut down on noise, additional insured. Ms. McKay will be listed
as additional insured on my client's policy, or hours of operation we've listed. And the other
thing about this project is there will be no basements, and so there will be no underpinning.
We also gave Carl the contact information, and he did not get a chance to sign this agreement,
but here's an exchange of emails between Carl and I and the important part is at the bottom
he asked me to revise the letter to put a signature line for him he'll camera sign it
and if he can't get it to me he said present it to the board and he'll sign it when he when his
secretary comes in on Thursday which is tomorrow so that's an indication that we are in full
agreement and as officer of the court I also represent that here are photographs just give
an idea of the density of the block, which the chairman is well aware of. This is the site,
the project. It's a double garage right now, single story, occupying 100% of the lot. This
is Mrs. McCabe's house right here, three-story property. I took photographs myself from the roof
looking down at the end of the garage. This is the end of the garage. This is the neighbor that's
on that would be Garrett Street and you can see there's no alley. This is a shot from the roof
with Mrs. McCabe's house there and then there's a picture looking east. Mrs. McCabe's house is here
and you can see all the other yards. There is no alley and no means of egress on the back side
of the property. We do have revised plans since we eliminated those decks on the rear
and we got rid of the two-car parking.
Here are the revised plans just showing the elevations
with the garage fronts.
We put the door to the property on the left of the garage
so Ms. McKay was concerned about the turning radius,
which is now ample.
And actually, Mr. Chairman, these are the original plans
which showed two cars, and it also showed the rear decks.
So we're getting ready to that. And this is the revised plan showing one car parking and there are no rear decks on the property.
Floor plan, pretty straightforward. Slab on grade.
Excuse me, start the wrong end. Start slab on grade with a garage and office on the first floor and the rear yard.
Living, dining, kitchen on the first, two bedrooms, a master and a rooftop deck.
following up with the deed indicating ownership tax certification our appeal
the zoning map again the zoning map you know shows it's an rsa5 a double wide lot
here's a letter of notification to the community group proof that we've mailed out 192
notifications to the adjoining neighbors. So just in conclusion, this is a long-time garage which is
going to be eliminated. There will be no commercial work done on this block, at least in that location
anymore. My client intends to build two single-family homes, one at 530, one at 532.
My client intends to build two single-family homes, one at 530, one at 532.
We're eliminating the rear decks and providing soundproofing and ventilation for the garage.
I believe this is in harmony with the code and in harmony with the neighbors and with the block.
And I'm wondering if I can get my client to adopt my testimony, Mr. Chairman.
Please do.
Tiago, are you on the line?
Ms. Sunke, can you unmute
and or Ray Amari
Tiago, yes I am
Tiago, did
you hear my testimony
and if you had the opportunity to testify, would you adopt
my testimony as your own and as true
and correct
Thank you
Thank you.
Questions from the board?
Anyone would like to testify in this case, please raise your hand.
Chair?
Yes, ma'am.
We have Mason Austin.
Mason, you can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Hello. Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon. Please identify yourself with a record. Sure.
Mason Austin. I live at 1309 South Fairhill Street, and I'm here in my capacity as a neighbor,
not in my professional capacity. 1309? South Fairhill Street. Oh, Fairhill. I'm sorry. Thank
you. Okay. So just get the dead end right at the garage. Pardon me? So just the block that
dead ends right at the garage yeah i'm familiar with that yeah uh the the owners are very lucky
i i made a bid on that the day after they bought it so late um anyway uh anyone else would like
to testify on this case please raise your hand well we have others but can we swear mason in
oh i'm sorry mr mason yes you swear to firm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the
truth? Yes, I do. Thank you. Do you have any comments? Yes, I do. So, well, you know,
it was great to have Yanni there as a neighbor to borrow tools. We have no objection to the
overall use of two, for two residential units. By we, I mean, me and several neighbors on the
block. The consensus among people that I've spoken to, though, is that they do object
to the garages. The intersection is really fast and blind and dangerous, so we're concerned about
that. Also, as you know, the parking is at a premium, and whereas there is currently a curb
cut, because Yanni's shop occupied the full square footage for all but a few months, there was never
any uh use of the doors for the actual for actual cars um so returning that to a public uh parking
spot as opposed to a private one i think would be a big great benefit to the community um that's it
um if i click here i just wanted to make sure that um he was just speaking on behalf of himself
yes i am thank you thank you
We have Nicole.
Nicole, you can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, ma'am.
Please identify yourself with the record name and address by your name.
My name is Nicole Hostetler, H-O-S-T-E-T-T-L-E-R, and I reside at 1303 South Ferris Street, three doors away from Mason Austin.
And you swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
I just have a few quick points would it be possible I submitted an exhibit it's just one
page would it be possible to share that on the screen you said you already submitted the exhibit
I did it was an attachment in the email that I had sent okay I'll promote you to a panelist
Thank you. Just give me one moment, please.
Would it be possible if Mr. Clinton removed his so that I could share mine?
Ms. Sunkin, do you want me to stop sharing?
Yes, I stopped.
Yes, please.
Thank you. Just give me one moment, please.
Thank you.
Just give me one moment, please.
So I just want to voice some of the same concerns that Mason had very briefly.
I have no objections to the use or the dimensional variances. I'm actually very pleased to see it
better mix in with the existing residences on both sides. I do have a very grave concern about
the safety of this intersection. The previous uses or use with Yanni rarely utilized the garage
for various purposes but rarely used it going in and out with his vehicle. He had always parked
in the driveway apron and it seems if it becomes residential that will become worse.
um we i as one of them were so concerned that i'm not sure if you can see it but directly
under the one-way sign we installed a mirror with our own time and money because it's really
difficult when you're exiting fairhill street making a right turn um for oncoming traffic
both as a driver and a cyclist so uh photo two is a near miss that i caught and photo three
is your sight lines that you can see so we're I am very concerned about this and I ask that
some sort of compromise be made that the garages be removed and the drive the driveways be removed
and returned back to a curb cut similar to all the other uses on that block but that the use
is excellent and I'm pleased to see it happen thank you thank you the only comment I'll make
is I know in recent years that garage may not have been used as a as a garage in the sense that
vehicles were parked in there but for as long as I can remember that up until again recent years it
was it was a beer distributor at one time it had many uses that those garages were used for truck
parking, car parking, etc. Normally I would not be willing to want to break up a block like that but
that garage has been there for as long as I can remember and I'm old. So anyway and again Nicole
just to let you know the northeast corner in your photograph too if you haven't already contacted
the Councilman Squilla's office you may want to talk to them about getting a sign installed that
would allow for cars not to park that close to the intersection of Franklin Street. They should
be able to have some signage that will create more of an open area and not a blind spot.
Having said that, are there any other comments? We have Jessica. Jessica, you could meet yourself
and wait to be sworn in. I would ask respectfully for all those who still want to speak on this
issue to please give us something new and different. We'd appreciate that. Jessica,
could please give us your full name and address? So it's Jessica Heckman, H-E-C-K-M-A-N, and then
1313 South Fairhill Street. Do you swear in the firm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing
about the truth? I do. Thank you. Please proceed. So you asked for something new. There's not
something new. I'm just here to join with Nicole and Mason's previously stated testimony around the
safety of that intersection. So, I agree with the overall proposal of what to put in there.
Just as a regular commuter in the city and somebody who resides on Fairhill, very concerned
about the safety of that intersection because, as Nicole mentioned, we've already gone through
ways to improve that intersection. However, it continues to be very dangerous for us as
motorists but also for cyclists going in either direction and I have huge concerns about the
addition of vehicles going in reverse in that space and I see the benefit of adding in a curb
cut there and my husband's here and he agrees as well as one of the residents of 1313 South Fair
health if you need him. Thank you. Thank you. We also have Mary Ann. Mary Ann, please wait to be
torn in. Good afternoon, ma'am. Please identify yourself with the records by your full name
and provide us with your address. Mary Ann Leach, L-E-I-T-C-H, 526 Reed Street.
please proceed i i object to the garages being used in that way that we have a lot of pedestrians
we have a lot of traffic coming up here very quickly it's going to be dangerous the other
issue is uh it was shown in the rear that we don't have i have an easement i'm at 526
we don't have, I have an easement. I'm at 526. Behind me has an easement. We go out to Garrett
Street. Ms. McCabe and this garage do not have any access to get to the front if need be. And I
believe that an alley next to this house would provide a front access. Rather, it is so crammed
in back there it's ridiculous now i know they can't go i'm sorry you live at 526 yes and i
have an easement you have an hour yes mr clinton stated there is no access excuse me please excuse
me you have an hour correct i'm sorry there's an alley yes an easement does 528 have an easement
no neither does the garages okay i know we know about the garage 528
they don't have any you know a 534 has an easement
uh no okay thank you okay please proceed
uh that would be it i i would request that uh there'd be an opening
next to Pam's house she has a hundred year old Flemish brick design which is a beautiful building
to be covered up like that you know when you can have an easement or not an easement because that
would be a joint thing an alley for this new property to help prevent further cram in back
there it's ridiculous it's so close and that's it that's all I have to say thank you very much
Thank you. Anyone else?
No one, Chair.
Thank you. Planning Commission?
Good afternoon, Chairman, members of the Board.
Ian Litwin, Planning Commission staff.