is that i we hear it all the time there's an issue with the posting well we have more than
enough people that knew of of this meeting yeah i agree i mean i i asked the question of the yeah
so i'm not sure if we included it and i apologize for that um but i i did give it to my client we
do take that very seriously um the posting requirement give me a picture of the front
view of that house again that was just a picture we had for the previous this is what we got online
why i'm asking is someone said it was about eight or nine foot above so that first ledge of that
first floor looks like it's about eight foot above this yeah i mean i can only imagine that
it would he put in one of the windows um like you know that's all right okay um anyone else
seeing none that's planning commission uh this is mason austin representing the planning
commission the property is designated for residential multi-family in the comprehensive
plan but the building is already in office and commercial use therefore the planning
commission has no objection to the approval of this variance with proviso requested by ccra
uh i i'd like to suggest that uh the board just hold this for executive session
and have some other questions i think to discuss with the board and we'll give you
okay could we announce a specific case date for it to be um voted so the record will be closed at
this point and the board will discuss it at the next executive session and vote it on um tanya
could you a week a week from uh next wednesday right or or we could do it tomorrow executive
session tomorrow can't we or we have to wait a week no you don't have to wait a week you can
do it tomorrow okay we'll do it tomorrow because if not we don't do it tomorrow it'll be two weeks
because we're off next week thank you okay okay all right we'll hold it for executive session
until tomorrow morning. Thank you. Okay. There is no calendar number for this one. Address
is 1510 North Bailey Street. Have a calendar number? No, we don't have a calendar number.
Okay, it is meeting item number 2020-0.
Okay, it is meeting item number 2020-000840.
Thank you.
Alan, this isn't your case.
It's Adam Lieber.
That's right.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.
Excuse me.
I'm so sorry.
Mr. Knockupson, can you please remove your video until after this,
and then you'll be back for the next two.
Thank you kindly.
the uh calendar number is mi 2020 001431
mr adam you uh swear to firm to tell the truth to hold true for nothing but the truth
yes mr plaza i do thank you and do you agree to waive the reading of his refusal and stipulate
to attack this indeed i do thank you thank you good afternoon mr chairman members of the board
Adam Laver of Blank Rome 1 Logan Square on behalf of 2625 Jefferson LLC and its principal Kevin
Steckel, S-T-E-C-K-E-L, owner of the subject properties at 1510-16 North Valley Street.
Kevin has appeared before this board before. He and his family live in the neighborhood on
master street in fact members of the board last month the board approved a request for variance
relief to build a five-story 25-unit multi-family residential development on the vacant lot next door
to this site across from the jefferson street grounds board members you may recall that i had
mentioned at the time that this location is across the way from Jefferson Street Grounds
where the Philadelphia Athletics at one time had played along with some other very interestingly
historical African-American baseball clubs. So we're pleased that that project is underway
and this subject property is right next door.
Kevin, who is a resident, cares a great deal for this neighborhood,
and his actions over the time have supported his words.
Regrettably, there was some confusion regarding pandemic-related RCO voting procedures,
which fortunately have since been ironed out.
Last Thursday, I submitted an electronic exhibit package with Exhibits 1 through 14
to Ms. Saleta, as well as the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. The exhibit package includes
numerous individual letters of support from very near neighbors at tab 5B, in addition to the
non-opposition of the coordinating RCO, the Brewery Town Sharswood Community Civic Association
at tab 5A. Up on the screen, hopefully you can see it. I know we had some technical difficulties
last week is a photograph of the subject properties. Just to the left is the
development site that was approved last month and these stucco properties
comprise the development site. We also have several near neighbors with us
virtually. Hopefully they're still with us. I know the hearing this afternoon,
hearings have gone long. They are prepared to testify in support of the
project. Here you can see on the screen the subject property is located in the
middle of the 1500 block of North Valley next to the apartment building that
Kevin is building. I'm going to jump forward and hopefully you will be able
to see this to an aerial photograph here of this site. To the left the vacant
grounds is the site that was recently approved for the multifamily
development and to the right are the stucco properties this current
development site. Moving to the site plan, the development site itself is
approximately 6,300 square feet in size. It is zoned RSA 5. It has 72 feet of
frontage along North Bailey Street and very very deep lots at nearly 90 feet
deep, 87 and a half to be exact. As depicted in the zoning map, the property is located on a block
which is largely dominated by the presence across the street of industrial residential mixed use,
you can see that in the purple, and RM1 in the orange zoning. RM1 zoning is immediately adjacent.
We're not seeing that, Adam, sorry for the interruption.
We're not seeing that.
We'll have the empty lot and the snuckled houses.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Are you able to see it now? No.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Are you in two different?
I'm going to try again. I'm in one document.
So you have one file and you're moving forward through that file?
Yes, ma'am.
Are you able to see it now?
It's coming up, it looks like. Did you click on the actual document and the red boxes around it?
I sincerely apologize.
No worries.
We see that you clicked on share screen, right?
But when you actually click into the document, they should bring it up, right?
Right.
And the red box should be all over around your file.
Well, I think rather than keep you waiting, I should continue on.
and I am going to try to address this with our technology folks actually later today.
I apologize.
But as I was saying, the property is surrounded by RM1 and IRMX.
The proposal itself calls for new construction of a planned unit development
to include six single-family-style townhomes
with off-street parking through a single-share driveway for seven
automobiles. I really think you need to see this, so I'm going to try once again.
Are you able to see the elevations that I've brought up on the screen?
Nothing, just a blank screen, just saying you have started screen sharing.
Any better now?
I'm sorry.
Listen, before you go any further, Brewery Town, Chargerswood, did they send a letter in yet?
Yes, they have.
They have a non-opposition letter, and we also have extensive support from near neighbors.
Is there anything in your testimony that we really need to have on the record,
now that we are telling us that Brewerytown's charge would send a letter of non-opposition?
No, except to say that there are two refusals.
One is primarily due to the planned unit development nature of this proposal,
but we are really proposing six single-family homes with a shared driveway, which leads to that.
And there is a minor de minimis variance.
The shared driveway in the back is 20 feet wide, four feet different than code.
And we would submit that for the low impact use of these homes, that that is appropriate
and meets the scope and spirit and the desire by the neighbors in the community to have
off-street parking.
Are there any, no revisions to the plan?
No revisions to the plan. Mr. Steckle is here, and several near neighbors are here.
And, okay, why don't we hear from Mr. Steckle, I believe he said, and the near
neighbors, anyone else who wants to participate, please raise your hand at
this time. Kevin Steckle, please raise your hand to be identified by the
Zoning Board Administrator, Ms. Duncan. Kevin, you can unmute yourself and wait
to be sworn in chair uh good afternoon sir please uh identify yourselves by your name and give us
your address kevin steckel k-e-v-i-n s-t-e-c-k-e-l 1305 north 27th street uh unit 4.
Swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Thank you, Mr. Steckel.
Have you been online for the entirety of this 2 o'clock zoning board of adjustment proceeding?
I have.
And Mr. Steckel, would you adopt and affirm the testimony that I have offered as your own?
Yes, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Steckel.
Okay, is there anyone else out there who wishes to testify on this case?
Please raise your hand if you haven't already done so.
and would you recognize please spell your name for the record and give us your address
and then i'll swear and these are only for the case being heard at this time which is bailey street
doris aldrich you can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in
You can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Ma'am, please identify yourself, spell your name for the record, and also give us your address, please.
My name is Doris Aldridge, D-O-R-I-S-A-L-D-R-I-D-G-E.
I represent the Brewery Town Charles Wood RCL.
We did submit a lengthy letter with our summary report. Unfortunately, I think we haven't gotten
it yet. I think it needs to be said that they're presenting that we had some technical difficulties
with our meeting. That was not the case. We had a meeting with about, excuse me, about 49 people
present we took a vote and then after the vote someone went out and solicited
votes from people who were not in the meeting to write in to tell us that they
were in favor of this project when questioned these people admitted because
we had a sign they had to register to attend so we knew who was in the meeting
one of them was not even in the state and I think it just needs to be said that the that they came
in and tried to undermine our process we you know we try to be fair we are fair and respectful to
everyone who presents before us and we are just very frustrated that they would come in and do
something like that mr. chairman members of the board i greatly respect what ms aldridge just said
i'm there there was um um certainly miscommunication that occurred i spoke with
rashida phillips who's ms aldridge's co-chair afterwards i was not involved in this specifically
I thought that Brewery Town Charswood's handling of the matter following that miscommunication
regarding the pandemic issue was appropriate, and I was told none of those votes were counted.
The non-opposition that was submitted does not count any of those votes. I can get into specifics
should the board wish, but I think it was handled appropriately offline. What was the official
count the official count uh ms aldridge perhaps you'd like to speak directly although i'm pulling
it up right yeah the official count was uh 15 in favor 13 oppose and two abstentions or two
non-opposition yeah that's correct that's correct oh i see 15 yes and 12 no no it's only one
difference okay all right anyone else have anything to comment on this case if so please raise your
hand and i would ask that you be uh summarize your statement and if you're speaking give us
something new and different here i have justin tyler justin you can unmute yourself and wait to
be sworn in good afternoon mr tyler please spell your name and give us your address hi i'm justin
Tyler J-U-S-T-I-N-T-Y-L-E-R and I live at 2636 West Oxford Street. We're in the firm to tell the
truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Yes I do. And your residence is in what in what
proximity to this application? It's right around the corner from from here at the end of Bailey
street uh just to the left thank you please proceed um so i i definitely um support uh this
project i think that it would be very good for the neighborhood um and i think um right now it's just
a empty lot sitting there um well and an old building um so i think that you know anything
that will help the neighborhood progress and look nicer is definitely a benefit to everyone
that lives here, and I think that this should definitely be approved.
Did you attend a Brewery Town-Chargewood meeting?
I did not, no.
Okay, thank you.
Anyone else?
Okay, Chair, we have David.
David Kelly, you can unmute yourself and wait to be sworn in.
Your name, sir?
My name is David Kelly, D-A-V-I-D, Kelly, K-E-L-L-Y, 1312 North Taney Street, 19121.
And you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
And you swear to affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Please proceed.
Please.
I just, my property on, our property on Taney Street backs up to the development on North
27th Street that Mr. Steckle had built.
So I've been through this before, and it's a great, it's great for the neighborhood.