this particular block is a series of first floor commercial properties in a district with
apartments and I noticed that we submitted photographs and so forth and I don't see them on
on my Zoom here. Immediately across the street, the high school is being renovated into
new apartments, and there's another commercial apartment building directly across the street.
Is there any way you can share any of this information with us?
I don't see that we added this to the Zoom platform. That's what we need to do,
and I don't see that that happened and that's my fault. We submitted these to the board last week
but I don't see them on my my Zoom platform here. Mr. Perry this is Sharon Slotty. You would have
to call them up and share your screen. Zoom you mean? Well on your desktop you would or however
you are signed in you would call the documents up and yeah my documents are scanned as well i don't
yeah my documents are scanned is all I don't have them on I think I have to
have them on
add them to the zoom platform I'm sorry soon Sharon you would just pull them up
on your screen and Tanya would authorize you just share the screen but if you're
not able to do that I'll try to email them to the board members now okay thank
you um excuse me is it okay if i say something this is pauline from um hosting the meeting
thank you please identify yourself pauline laughlin i'm hosting the meeting
spell your name please p-a-u-l-i-n-e laughlin l-o-u-g-h-l-i-n
tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
she's IT
oh I'm sorry
that's okay Mr. Perry do you see
a green square at the bottom
of the screen
oh I've lost you
there's usually a green square at the bottom
of the screen that says screen share
now right now
I've lost my screen I've only got zoom
on here
can you hear me because I don't have my screen up unfortunately sorry about that
we can't hear you we can see you but
did you hit the green button already
no i've lost your i've lost my uh video
well maybe you have to start over right no he shouldn't no
you want me to re-file on zoom
um it's up to the chair but if you wanted to continue your presentation i should either
Sharon and I try to bring up the documents okay if you can I'll do this I apologize I don't know
why it cut me off there why don't we do it we'll do it and if Sharon can share the documents that
would be appreciated it's a relatively simple in this case the property has continually been used
for decades as a retail sale with residential above and it's consistent with the other retail
uses in the block. In this case, it's essentially a legalization. We went to the RCO Walnut Hill,
they held a meeting, and they have filed as well a letter of support for both 4803 and 4805.
There was a tax clearance for the properties in the package we sent to the zoning board of
adjustment. So what we're asking today is that the board grant us a variance to continue
what has been a traditional use. I would ask if Will D'Artone, are you on orally, Will?
You can unmute yourself and speak. Yes, I am on. Hey, Will, this is Roger Perry. We're holding
oral testimony here. Did you hear my testimony with regard to the traditional use of the properties
and your inheritance from your mother? Yes, I did. Before you go any further, Mr.
D'Orton, would you please spell your name for the record? W-I-L-H-E-M-D-O-R-T-O-N-N-E.
You swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Yes, I do. Please proceed.
And, Will, having heard my representation as to the continued use of the properties, do you adopt it as your own testimony? Is it true and correct?
Yes, I do.
I apologize for not having the photographs and documents up on the Zoom line, but the board does have them, and if there's any questions that I can answer, I'll be glad to do that.
Any questions from the board?
no no no excuse me anyone else wishes to testify please raise your hand
no hands are up at this time excuse me tanya we have anything in the file from the councilwoman's
office. I'm looking for it right now.
I'm looking for it right now.
um Sharon did you receive this I don't have exhibits I'm looking for I have exhibits but
if there were a letter from the council person I would have noted it in the summary I don't think
All right, we'll move on.
Planning Commission.
Mr. Chairman and members of the board,
these properties are zoned residential multifamily.
The city's comprehensive plan recommends residential multifamily.
However, there are several businesses on this block already.
We do not believe that additional businesses
will have an adverse impact on this block.
Accordingly, we have no objection to granting these variances.
Thank you.
calendar numbers three nine six eight five four eight oh three walnut street and calendar number
three nine six eight four four eight oh five walnut street my vote is yes on both my vote is yes on
both yes to both yes to both yes to both
okay thank the board very much for your consideration thank you thank you calendar
number 40063, 601
Porter Street. The attorney is Henry Clinton.
Mr. Clinton, you've been promoted to a panelist.
you can unmute yourself and share your screen as necessary.
Thank you, Ms. Onkut. Good morning.
Good morning, Mr. Clinton. Can you put your name and address on the record, please?
Sure. Henry Clinton, Queen Memorial Building, 1313 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia PA, 19146.
Thank you. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?
And do you also agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Thank you.
You may proceed.
I'm going to share my screen.
can you see my screen now
Mr. Chairman
this property is 601 Porter Street
I know you're familiar with the area
It's at the northwest corner of 6 and Porter Street.
It's been a long, vacant lot, an oversized lot, 16 by 60, and at one time it was landscape,
but over the last 20, 25 years, it's fallen in disrepair, and it's been vacant and undeveloped
since then.
When I looked at the zoning records, let me show you an aerial view.
So here is a shot looking, photograph looking west, make the screen bigger.
It's at the corner right here.
There's also another vacant lot at 603.
This is an aerial view of the neighborhood and of the intersection of 6th and Porter.
The proposal and the refusal concerns simply requesting that this property be used as a two-family dwelling rather than the zoning district of single family.
I've submitted my evidence binder which contains exhibits A1 through A12, my
appearance statement, the deed, our notice to the community and the community
group at issue here is Whitman Council. We had a zoom meeting with the council
last week. This is the refusal. There's only one issue. The proposed use of two
There's only one issue, the proposed use of two-family is not permitted in an RSA-5 zoning district.
the family is not permitted.
This is our certificate of mailing.
We mailed out over 208 mailings to all the neighbors in the area.
Our tax certification, our application for appeal, project information.
This is RSA-5 zoning.
There is another duplex down on the west side of Porter Street at 625, which was recently approved for a duplex.
We know that two family dwellings in this neighborhood, as a chairman as well aware, are not favored.
We met with Whitman Council, and we also have a petition of support attached to my exhibit binder of neighbors in the area.
There was concern that this lot has been vacant and really ill-kept for at least 25 years.
When I went back into the zoning records, I was able to find records from 1954 indicating that at one time this corner was a tap room or bar on the first floor and a single family above.
So two uses of this corner property is consistent with the past usage, even though the zoning doesn't fit.
Whitman Council met with us. They understood that this lot was vacant for a long time,
that no one has attempted to develop it, and they have issued a letter of non-opposition
for us to move forward as a two-family dwelling. Also part of my exhibit binder or presentation
binder are the letter, excuse me, is a petition of the surrounding neighbors in support of the
project. I have plans. Here's the elevation. Whitman Council was impressed with the elevation
and the detail, especially the brick detail, which was in conformity with the rest of the
neighborhood. We had one entrance on Porter Street and one entrance on 6th Street. The floor plans
are here. Here's additional photographs. And that's pretty much for the
presentation. I can ask my clients without my testimony. I believe Keith of
Tri-State Trimmers Inc. is on the line. Keith are you available to talk?
Keith, can you unmute yourself?
Hello?
Anybody there?
Yes, Keith, we can hear you. This is Hank.
Yes, how you doing, Hank?
Good. Have you heard my testimony today?
Yes, I've heard everything.
And if you had the opportunity to testify, would you adopt my testimony as true and correct and as your own?
Yes, I would.
With that, I got a little bit ahead of ourselves.
I just need him to give his full name.
Henry, give us a full name and address.
Spell your name for the stenographer.
Keith, you can do that.
My name is Keith Pelousas, K-E-I-T-H.
P as in Paul, A-L-U-C-I-S.
I live at 3548 Meadowlark Drive, Huntington Valley, PA, 19006.
You swearing a friend to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Yes, I do.
Thank you. Please proceed. And Keith, I'll ask you the questions again. Have you heard my testimony
this morning? Yes, I have. And have you reviewed the presentation binder, which I have submitted
to the board? Yes. And if you had the opportunity to testify and present evidence, would you adopt
my testimony as true and correct? Yes, I would. With that, I would just make a closing statement
to the board that we have a unique circumstance here of a large corner lot once used for a bar
on the first floor, residential on the second. We're asking this to be two
residential units. It is in conformity with what the neighbors want. It is in
conformity with Whitman Council's desires and it is in harmony with the code and
it's not detrimental to the public welfare. With that I rest, I ask that my
exhibit binder be admitted into evidence. Thank you. Any questions from the
board no no no anyone else out there who wishes to testify in this matter if so
please raise your hand no hands up to you thank you planning commission mr.
chairman and members of the board this property is zoned residential single
family the comprehensive plan recommends residential single family however we do
not believe a two-family home on a corner lot will have an adverse impact on this block.
Accordingly, we have no objection to granting the variance. Thank you very much. Calendar number
40063, 601 Porter Street. My vote is yes. My vote is yes. My vote is yes. My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
Thank you very much.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Stay safe.
Calendar number 39878604, South 9th Street.
The attorney is Vern Anastasio.
Mr. Anastasio, you've been promoted to a panelist.
You can share your screen and unmute yourself to speak.
Mr. Anastasio, can you put your name and address on the record, please?
Sure. It's Vern Anastasio, 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1006, Philadelphia, PA, 19107.
Thank you. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?
Do you also agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Yes, I do.
You may proceed.
Thank you. This is Mr. Chairman and members of the board.
we're dealing with hold on for one second i need to share my screen and i'm having
so verne if you open up your document and then hit the green button at the bottom that says
share screen okay and then it should open up once you click on it hold on
briefly all right I've opened up the document and now I'll share the screen
and there it is. This is 604-606 South 9th Street. The application was for a pet grooming salon and
a doggie daycare, animal services, no boarding, and a retail sale of pet supplies in the same
space. This goes from 9th Street at just below South and goes runs all the way back to Percy
street so there are two entrances one on the 9th street side and one on the south street side
this is a referral and we're here we are here today seeking a special exception
let's take a look at the plans and i'll walk you through the property
Okay. Right here on the left is 9th Street. Here's the entrance to the 9th Street side,
and it's a center entrance. And then if you take a look at the front section,