confusion amongst what was needed. I mean, the RCO may have requested site plans for their own
use, but when you're applying for a duplex use, LNI does not require plans to be submitted with
that application okay all right thank you thank you both um anyone else in the virtual audience
you know further hands mr chair planning commission
thank you chair sarah bond city planning commission s-a-r-a-h-b-a-n-h
the appellant's hardship claim is supported with evidence of prior use of the property
The City Planning Commission recommends that the Zoning Board grant the variance.
Thank you.
So, Hillary, what I want to do is we'll continue this and then we'll see if we can get straight with the RCO.
But I don't want to give it like two weeks because with the holiday season.
Why don't we look for the third week in January?
Is that possible?
Yes, that would be fine, Chair.
Just give me a minute and I'll put a date so we have that on the record.
Give me one second.
Is that okay, Jeffrey?
Yes, sir.
all right um that would be uh january 18th mr chair okay that's that's perfect all right we'll
vote on it we'll vote on it then um pending receipt the record is otherwise closed pending
receipt of a letter from the rco and councilman bass all right thank you very much jeffrey thank
you so let's go back to number four right mi 2022 004 351 1515 porter street vincent dofino
i've made mr dofino a panelist again so okay mr chairman for the record jim snell is uh on the
hearing. Oh, very good, Jim. Thank you, Jim. Mr. Dufino.
I'm here. I'm here. Hi. Mr. Dufino, could you state your name, please, and spell for the court
reporter? Sure. Vincent Anthony DeFino, D-E-F, as in Frank, I-N-O, 2541 South Broad Street,
DeFino Law Associates. Okay. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth? Yes, I do. Could you identify your client and their relationship
to the property? Sure. My client is Homegrown Coffee and Creation LLC. James Rosani is the
proprietor. They're a business that's been around for about five years. They started out on
Broad and Jackson, and then they moved to another location. And for two years,
They've been at 1515 Porter Street, which is about a block west of Broad Street.
So hold on one minute.
Our vice chair just has a few questions for you, okay?
Certainly.
Hi, Mr. Dufino.
Do you agree to wait the reading of the refusal and stipulate to his accuracy?
Yes, Ms. Tenere.
Hi. Have you emailed the exhibit packet with proof of ownership, tax compliance, a copy of the refusal or referral, photos under plans of the property, five days in advance of this hearing, and have you met with the RCO, and do you have a letter?
Have you emailed the exhibit packet with proof of ownership tax compliance?
Yes, and yes.
Okay, great.
Okay, okay, okay.
You may proceed and begin to share your screen, which is up.
Yeah, hopefully I could.
And right now, I'm out in Arizona, so I'm having some difficulty with my technical abilities.
And let me try to...
Okay, so there's the lease.
We submitted that already.
The refusal, basically, back to the...
I have to move you guys around or something over here because I can't scroll down.
having issues but um the refusal was because takeouts not permitted it needs a variance
and prepare foods needs a special exception and um basically uh this business has been around
for about five years like i said here's the pictures now i i gotta figure out how to get
these pictures the right way so let me see if i go to page view now of course
uh here you go all right so here's the building uh it's 1515 west porter street this is the
outside of the building now this was formerly how you doing delhi how you doing okay so um
or as we say in south philly how you doing but um it would it was as is for 10 years before this
with the same layout and basically my client moved in there he got his health licenses
food preparation licenses business licenses and everything was dandy and he's it's a booming
little business in south philly one of the biggest booming businesses believe it or not that
that came into the neighborhood.
They do, you know,
real delicacy sandwiches
and fine coffees.
So this is the outside of the building.
And then
I'll get you down to
that's the neighborhood area.
It's about a block
away from my office, actually.
And this is the inside.
So I gotta
flip it around again.
there you go so this is the inside now you get a lot of celebrities come down here
philadelphia phillies uh flyers they come in for the coffee the coffee's excellent the food's
excellent they're a member of the business association at south philly a prominent member
and they do a really good job and uh basically there was no objections from the neighborhood
But here's the plans.
As you can see, it's a front counter, and then there's a cooking area for the sandwiches,
and then there's a storage area in the back that houses the coffee supplies.
Here's the letter of support from the RCO.
There was no opposition whatsoever, and they've been a very good neighbor in the neighborhood.
unanimous support
and then
we sent
everything certified mail
so everybody had notice
and basically that's it
Mr. DeFino, why don't
you have your client come on and adopt
your testimony, okay? Yes, yes
James, are you available?
Can you raise your hand?
I'm afraid to touch anything on this
because I'm afraid it's going to go out
okay mr rossini good morning hi good morning could you state your name please and spell for
the court reporter absolutely it's james j-a-m-e-s rossoni r-o-s-s-o-n-i right do you
swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth yes proceed counsel
yeah mr rossoni you you heard my testimony here today yes sir and is it true and accurate
everything yes sir and do you adopt it as your own testimony yes sir thank you mr rizzoni
okay questions from the board no mr chairman no no no mr chairman questions or comments
from the virtual audience
No further hands, Mr. Chair.
you know further hands with the chair planning commission
Planning Commission.
Thank you, Chair.
Unique physical conditions of the property present a hardship.
Additionally, the proposed use is consistent with documented previous uses at this property.
The City Planning Commission recommends that the Zoning Board grant the variance.
MI 2022-004-351-1515 Porter Street, I vote yes.
Carol Tenere, my vote is yes.
James Snell, my vote is yes.
Kishmael Shahi, my vote is yes.
Thank you, counsel.
Thank you so much.
Have a great day.
Have a great holiday, everybody.
You too, Vince.
All right.
Is there anyone in the virtual audience whose case has not been called this morning's list?
Mr. Chair, I do not see any hands raised.
Good, good.
Okay, thanks, everyone.
See everybody at 2 p.m.
Take care.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
My name is Bill Bergman, and I will be chairing this afternoon's EPA hearings.
With me is our Vice Chair, Carol Tenere.
President, Mr. Chair. Our Board Secretary, Ishmael Shahid.
President, Mr. Chairman. Our Board Member, Thomas Holloman.
President, Mr. Chairman. And our Board Member, James Snell.
President, Mr. Chairman. Also here is our Board Attorney, Hillary Emerson,
and our ZBA Hearing Supervisor, Lakeisha Dandy. Before we begin, here is our virtual format.
be advised the proceedings are being recorded by participating your knowledge agreement to be
recorded a video will be available by contacting tanya sunkett at phil.gov for the benefit of our
court stenographer we ask attorneys and witnesses to identify themselves before testifying
if you're participating by phone if you wish to testify press star nine to raise your hand
and star six to unmute. To enter appearance statement, call 267-270-5548. Leave your email
and the address of the property in question. And finally, the question answer box on the screen
is not for comments or testimony. Any comments should be directed to our executive director,
Tanya Sunken. So I'm going to first look at our continuations that we had this afternoon.
Here we go. Right with you.
Number seven, MI 2022-004-680-1248 North 19th Street, that case is continued.
Number eight, MI 2022-004-694-1929 Ridge Avenue. That case is continued. Number nine, MI 2022-004-679-1917 Ridge Avenue. That case is continued.
And number 12, MI-2022-004-550-180-West Duncan Avenue, number A.
That case is continued.
And number 12.
Sorry, Mr. Chair, number 13.
I haven't.
did receive a request for continuance so we can continue that one thank you we can hear that one
oh continuous okay sure we received a written request this morning mi 2022 004 476 13 14 to 16
north broad street that case is continued are there any comments relative to the cases that
have been continued. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. This is Jason Hand. Hi, Jason.
How are you doing? No continuances? I have a hand up from Mr. Patterson. He wishes to speak.
Okay, sure. Mr. Patterson? Mr. Patterson, could you state your name and spell for the
court reporter, please? Sure. Good afternoon, Ronald Patterson, P-A-T-T-E-R-S-O-N.
Sure. Good afternoon, Ronald. Patterson, P-A-T-T-E-R-S-O-N, 1835 Market Street.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do. Thank you.
Case number 13, sir?
Yes. Yeah, we are requesting continuous. Thank you for granting it.
I just wanted to add that we're also seeking leave or permission to submit revised plans
back to the department to address part or all of the refusal item for parking.
Okay, is that Hillary, we're okay with that?
Mr. Chair, we'll handle that request separate administratively.
Okay, good.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, thank you.
Any other comments relative to continued cases?
Sir, I see no further.
Wait, I see another hand.
Any additional requests for continuances?
I have a hand up by Mr. Tom Bannar.
Hi, Mr. Banner.
Could you state your name and spell it, please, for the court reporter?
First name's Thomas.
Last name's Banner.
It's B-A-N-N-A-R.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
What case are we talking about, sir?
The one Mr. Patterson just referred to.
It's a 1314 North Barrage Street.
I believe it's 13.
I represent the building next to that location.
And in terms of the parking variance, we do have some concerns that I just wanted to speak about today.
Oh, well, we're not.
The case is continued.
And we'll handle that when the case is called back in.
Gotcha.