by the way it's not a breezeway it's a side yard and it's her side yard and even once we build
onto the side yard we still have a 10 foot rear yard which meets that rear yard requirement so
i'm not quite sure and by the way uh building on that side space doesn't impact any immediate
neighbor not their light not their air if they were they would have voted against it but they
didn't okay is there anyone else who wishes to testify in this case please raise your hand
There are no hands at this time, Chair.
Thank you, Planning Commission.
Ron, are you here for the Planning Commission?
Who's Ron?
um i'm back up for the uh please have greg identify yourself spell your first and latest
name i'll swear you in hi my name is uh greg waldman um uh spelled uh gregory waldman uh g-r-e-g-o-r-y
last name waldman w-a-l-d-m-a-n you swear from planning commission correct in the city
plan. You swear if I'm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Please
proceed. This property is indicated for single family residential use on the city plan. The
applicant has not demonstrated unnecessary hardship regarding the dimensional requirements
of the code. The application is not consistent with the enacted setback or open space standards.
We recommend that the requested variance not be granted. Thanks, Greg. I just want to make a
point of note for the record that the setback on the third floor was resoundingly embraced
by the community because several houses already have it and all immediate neighbors support
the the bill now that's where i am i 2021.000634 3017 west harper street my my vote is yes
my vote is yes
my vote is yes
my vote is no
calendar number
thank you
calendar number MI
000633
3001 South 16th Street
the attorney is Rich DeMarco
Mr. DeMarco is coming
back in as a panelist
Have we gotten a letter yet
from the Georgia State Area residents?
Yes, I have it.
You have it.
No, I'm asking that we have it.
Oh, I did send it.
It was this morning, though.
Why so late?
Jody was very slow to react on this one.
She took a long time.
I stayed on top of it
and we finally got her from her.
She's busy.
I mean, I know Joe.
The 3,000 block of South 16th
is part of Girardot State residence?
Yeah, Pollock.
I guess that's a good point.
I guess they run this I-76, I suppose.
I guess so.
Okay, please proceed.
Please put your name and address on the record
and spell your last name, Rich.
Yeah, I waive and stipulate.
It's Richard DeMarco, D-E-M-A-R-C-O.
2005 Market Street
16th floor Philadelphia PA
Do you swear our firm to tell the whole truth
and nothing but the truth? Yes.
And you've already waived the reading of the refusal
and stipulated to its accuracy. Have you
emailed the exhibit packet with proof
of ownership, tax, compliance, refusal
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?
Yes, we sent all that
Again, the RCO letter came in today, which I did.
Okay, great. You may proceed.
I'll share my screen. I'll show you the RCO letter.
Here's Jody's RCO letter.
We had a 7-0 vote in favor of the project at the RCO meeting, which was held last week.
Again, it came together quickly, so that's why the RCO letter wasn't ready for today.
This is a proposal for an accessory parking space along the side.
I'll be in the site plan.
I'll show you the site plan.
Here's the refusal.
We have, because it's accessed along the side and not the rear, it's a refusal.
Our parking stall is a little bit short.
I'll show you the plan.
Again, we've got full support.
My client's on the call, though he said he's feeling a little bit punchy at the late hour.
He's on the call if you need to hear from him.
Rich, you fade in and out. We can't hear you.
Sorry. I turned my head away. That's why.
I just want to tell you my client's on the call.
He circulated a petition.
You'll be able to see the site plan.
Here's the accessory parking space.
I'll show you the petition.
He got over 60 signatures.
I got to rotate it back.
We can't hear you, Rich. You keep turning it away.
I'm sorry. I'm trying to rotate the screen.
Let me get to the photos so you can see the photos.
There are a number of curb cuts along Pollock Street, Mr. Chairman.
Pollock has a number of curb cuts along the side for a lot of the corner properties.
This is actually consistent.
You see the petition I'm scrolling through now?
Let me just show you these photos, and I'll put my client on to adopt my testimony.
There's a number.
There's a curb cut there.
There's like four or five curb cuts immediately on that block within that area.
And that individual who went on earlier, he was for my case.
He's one of the neighbors in favor.
My client took the time to circulate the petition for curb cuts.
Let me put him on.
He can adopt my testimony.
I'm not aware of any opposition, although there was a few people that didn't sign the petition.
But I don't think you have any oppositions.
Let me have my client.
His name would be James Pizzo.
He could be authorized.
Good evening, sir. Please identify yourself with the record, spell your full name, and I'll swear you in.
Mr. Pisano, you can unmute yourself and speak.
James Pisano, J-A-M-E-S-P-I-S-A-N-O.
You swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Thank you. Mr. DeMarco?
James, did you hear my testimony? Is it true and accurate, and do you adopt it as your own?
yes you circulated that petition and you got over 60 signatures from the neighbors right
yes you have a few neighbors on this call right now who are willing to testify and support is
that right if you see a salvatore piccolo or caruso them two should be on the call caruso
was on earlier mr chairman he was uh authorized earlier yes i understand all right all right
with all due respect everybody's been waiting a long time is there anyone who is a
opposed to this application, who's on the phone, or on Zoom, please raise your hand
if you are opposed to this application.
I see no hands at this time, Chair.
Thank you, Planning Commission.
Ron Bednar, City Planning. The property is indicated for residential use on the city
plan. Recommended the request of variance be granted.
thank you so to mr caruso and mr piccolo thank you for your time but we're going to move forward
mi 2021 dash 000633 3001 south 16th street my vote is yes my vote is yes my vote is yes
my vote is yes uh did we leave anyone out is there anyone thank you feels that they've been
uh haven't been recognized please raise your hand no i think it's just about does it
doesn't appear to be any hands up at this time chair okay uh any unfinished business
well i i would like to just state on the record that i know you guys signed up for this
but you work hard you provide development in the city and we appreciate all you do
even though we've been beat up pretty bad the last couple weeks i appreciate you all and so does
a lot of people who enjoy the development that philadelphia is now getting appreciate that on
behalf of the board just to say that i think that some people don't under really understand what it
is we do uh anyway it is what it is and i was not being facetious when i said about the two minute
time I bought this a couple of years ago when we first talked about it yeah I know and I think
we're going to be putting it to use I agree chair I'm all for whatever you decide anyone ever gets
an opportunity to watch city council I'm sure you got better things to do on a Thursday morning
but when when all the cases and when all the legislation is read the public has an opportunity
The public has an opportunity to speak on those pieces of legislation.
to speak on those people.
There is a timing device that they're standing in front of a podium.
They're given two minutes to speak.
There's a red light and a green light.
The difference is that you don't have that same luxury in all cases because you are a quasi-judicial board, not a legislative board.
And the people who appear before city council to give their opinions don't have due process rights involved.
So you actually have a much more difficult role.
I just want to state that any of the witnesses that are waiting and waiting and waiting are not a burden.
We don't steamroll anything through.
We did sign up for the job.
And if you don't want to get into race, don't bring it up.
all right thank you again especially to folks behind the scenes thank you frank
thank you everyone have a good night bye bye have a great night bye frank
all have a good night i'm sorry um bill thank you so much for your behind the scenes work i
appreciate you no problem tanya and sharon thank you so much you're welcome good night
Our pleasure. Thank you. Good night.