see if there's some additional needs that they may need help with. Our goal is to get them to work,
to get them to moving to a self-sufficiency or some type of productive activity.
Okay, and all of that encompasses the first variance. The second variance request is
parking spaces. Noticing here on the refusal, is there any opportunity to develop additional spaces
on the premises as we speak? As of right now, there is a grass lot behind us. I just happened
to park one of the ministry vehicles on the grass, but there is opportunity there.
There's another building that's next to us that we're attempting to purchase. That's an old
garage that's about the extension of our back of our building. But the people that will be coming
are obviously either homeless or they are in great need. And so it is, I want to say, almost impossible.
It is, I don't want to say, almost impossible, but very likely that they will not have a vehicle.
As part of the ministry's ability to provide or to develop parking spaces, is it cost prohibitive or is it possible?
I guess that is in the...
It's possible, but it's very cost difficult now.
I mean, I'm not saying what's not possible maybe five years from now.
Now, I mean, it would involve me purchasing the property that's behind me in order to.
Without purchasing additional land with the land currently that you have under the deed,
is it, I guess that is the critical question.
You want to be sure that the zoning board is aware that in the context of a variance that
it is not feasible or possible to develop parking spaces with what you own now, not
with other land.
That's correct.
I mean, to get to four parking spaces is really impossible.
And, you know, and just to throw a note out there, I mean, the apartment building that's right next to us, you know, has three or four floors of units without one parking space.
So it's pretty, I mean, and you have people that are going to be living there that are obviously going to have cars, but they don't have one parking place at all.
Okay. Now, notice, of course, that your zoning application does not require any new construction
or building, but there is a plan, a floor plan under Exhibit 5 that is on your screen now.
Does that Exhibit 5, this is a Exhibit 5 that's labeled basement plan existing with a handwritten
note in there that says area for personal care. Is this the area where the proposed 40
individuals potentially would be would be staying overnight exactly and the you know the bathrooms
that are on that plan are the bathrooms that they would be utilizing primarily the one that is
actually in that room I'm just plugging in the charger that's the only reason why my head's
burnt bent down sorry about that the the one that's particularly in that room but there is a
second bathroom there as well. It has an emergency shower because of the fact that there are times
that people will desperately need a shower. We want to make sure that they can clean up if they
need to. Some may not want to shower there, but some may, but there is a shower there that's
available to them. And we'll see how the program goes to see if more shower space is needed,
and we'll address that at a later time if need be. But the area that's handwritten is the place
where they will actually be sleeping. Okay and just for the board's awareness
there are additional floor plans as required for each level of the existing
structure. I'm going to just sort of flip by them as but if they are there for
your consideration afterwards I just wanted to outline for the board the area
that is a subject to this particular extension of use. So let's
get now down to the brass tacks of how you proceeded with notifying individuals as to
this particular zoning application. What is required is that notice be given for an RCO
meeting. And we're going to, at this point, I want to talk, before I move to some of the
witnesses of the different RCOs, I just wanted to get from yourself, Ms. Jenkins, or I'm
not sure if there's a staff person that you want to describe, how notice was provided
and how it came about that this notice that is here was presented to the community.
Before you get to that issue, may I ask a question?
Just before you get to the notice issue.
The homeless shelter, would you consider that to be an independent use
or as an accessory use that is part of the religious mission of your church?
Okay, well, first thing is that it's not a shelter.
And I want to be very clear about that because of the fact that that's not the image that we have.
We do not believe in warehousing people and just putting people into buildings without any services.
We believe in transition.
We believe in providing personal care and moving people forward.
So I just want to be very clear on that.
And if you could just restate your question so I can give you a clear answer.
It isn't as though this is an independent use, that there are two uses. There is the church and there is the housing of needy people. It is all part of your religious mission and part of the operation of the church as a religious institution.
um absolutely um one we are a 501c3 non-profit organization um and it works they work hand in
hand uh with the religious aspect of the organization um and as i said extended earlier
And as I said, extended earlier, is that all of this is within the calling of Christ that we have to be able to provide aid to those in need, to provide food to the hungry, clothing to those that are naked, and a place for someone to stay when they are the stranger and need to be taken in.
is that all of this is within the calling of
And that is the calling of Christ, you know, from Matthew 25.
It is a commission that Christ has given us.
Mr. Jenkins, just to be clear, this is Sherman Toppin speaking once again, just to kind of narrow that question there. The current 501-3C mission of Chosen 300, does it currently encompass the activities that are requested in this variance?
Absolutely, yes.
So there's, in other words, this is not a newly funded or differently funded aspect of your mission. It is a continuance of an extension of your existing service mission.
That is correct. Thank you for clearing up the question because I was a little lost.
Yes, I guess some some churches will have its ministry activities and then it may, it'll, you know, begin a separate endeavor within the same building under a different 501c3 or nonprofit or, or board or CDC or however, but that is not the case. If I understand you correctly, we've chosen 300.
You are accurate. Yes.
Okay. So, well, should we, can we proceed?
towards the notice or is there is your argument based strictly on the letter of the zoning code
or are you making an argument argument under the religious land use and institutionalized
persons act or refra would that be part of your argument as well i guess i guess what mr jenkins
is uh well i'm not sure if he's familiar with those those but i will say that i what i when i
I believe what Mr. Jenkins is communicating here is that the existing mission of Chosen 300 has within it currently, not just as a place of worship, but as a nonprofit, the mission and goal to house as well.
And in this particular site, it's fulfilling that original existing mission and goal and not seeking a different – it's not – it's currently underserved.
I think Reverend Jenkins described it well.
This is not an independent use.
It is part of the unified operation of the religious use.
Sorry.
Thank you.
I do have a question.
it's caroltonary um the intake time is 6 a.m to 6 p.m no but the other opposite direction other
direction so 6 p.m 6 p.m they come in for dinner they come in for dinner and then during that time
uh we would begin the intake process um some people will already of course you know as time
goes on people would have already been you know approved and the intake is like okay you're
already signed up to be here. You fulfilled your case management for this week. You can stay,
not a big deal. The new people, there will be a bit more of intake process, of course,
because we are going, one of the things that we want to stress is that we are going to be very
selective about who stays here. And the reason why is because we, if someone has a violent background,
we don't want them there. And we do have the capacity because we have the systems in place
for our expungement services to do background checks. So if someone has just killed somebody
three weeks ago and got out on parole, we're not letting them stay here tonight because we don't
want to put anybody in danger, but also we don't want to attract that kind of element to the
community. And we're very particular about that. If someone is intoxicated or they're high on drugs
that night. We cannot let them in because of the fact that they may be a harm to themselves,
but also a harm to someone else. But also, we don't have that expertise. And we can refer them
to someone to a place that can handle that particular challenge. So again, this is not
a free-for-all where everybody can walk in and spend the night at Chosen 300. This is an intense
and direct, purposeful cause to be able to move people towards self-sufficiency and be able to
really give them that leg up. But again, it's not a free-for-all where we're going to attract
things into the community that the community doesn't want. And I do understand that we're
that we keep a positive view in the community. And that's one of our, that's always been our
goal. The people who come in at six o'clock, are they guaranteed to stay the following day?
Or is it first on first served outside? So the people that come in at six o'clock,
when they're coming in, everybody comes in for a meal. Of course, we have up to 40 spaces.
But, you know, there's an intake process. It's not where they just, you know, come and just automatically stay. There's some checking that's going on. This is a program. This is not where a drop-in center where, for instance, the city of Philadelphia can just drop somebody off one night and say, okay, here's a place for you to stay. This is not that kind of place.
This is a place where we need to check you out, and we need to make sure that you are fit and you agree to the programmatic pieces that are going to be in this program, and that it's going to work for you.
you know it's a it's it's a very difficult population that you're working with and
unfortunately there are mental health issues sometimes there are drug and alcohol issues
how do you make sure that that's not happening well again the um if someone is coming in high
or drunk that night uh they're not going to be admitted um and that's the that's the reality um
But they leave your facility during the day, and you don't know where they are.
They do leave the facility during the day.
However, they are assigned to a case manager that is going to be walking them through the process of getting assistance that they need, getting the services that they need,
but also seeing how we can get them from homelessness to employment to self-sufficiency to their own housing.
And so that is the goal of this.
And during the day, we have staff here all day long that can meet with people and interact with them and see what services that they need.
And we also have classes during the day.
And this is something that we've been doing for years.
This is not a fly-by-night ministry that just started.
Chosen 300 has been in Philadelphia since 1996.
And so we know what we're doing.
We do it well.
but we are going to make sure
that it's people that want help
or want to get up and that are willing
to accept services. Again,
this is not a place where people can just
come and stay the night
and refuse services. This is a place
where you're going to come in, you're going to get help
and move forward.
So it's not three hots
and a cot.
That's jail.
And then leave.
That's not
what it is?
It's not what it is.
It's not three hots and a cot, no.
Thank you.
Okay, well, I am glad, you know,
Reverend Jenkins, that you gave that,
because distinguishing the variety of service
and the type of place that Chosen 300 is,
is really paramount to understanding the application.
So we appreciate your enthusiasm,
and I can hear that in your voice.
I want to shift over to the notice to RCOs
and neighbors. In the midst, as we continue towards the process of seeking the support
of their neighbors and whatnot, explain to me how Chapman 300 proceeded with the notice process.
Well, there's a couple things that happened during the zoning process. The first thing,
of course, we applied for the appeal. We received the appeal notice and was informed that our
letters to 134 different. You follow the protocols, what I'm saying, and I keep interrupting you,
but I think we. Yes, I'm sorry. No, the exhibits basically say that, and I'd rather
move on to some other issues if we have any. So anyway, you follow procedures. I don't think
there's any question if there is counsel for the protestant will raise that, but I don't see where
there is any problem?
The 24th Ward Democrat RCO supported your project.
Do I have a letter to that effect?
And if I may, we not only met with one RCO, which was the 24th Ward,
we also met with the West Powleton.
Pam Andrews is the head of that one.
And we met with them twice as well.
And both RCOs voted favorably for us.
Okay. And with that support, Reverend Jenkins, you come to the ZBA with not just the support of the two RCOs, the lead and supporting, but you also have the support of the council person. Is that correct?
That is correct. They also submitted a support letter as well.
Okay. Well, that being the case, we would like to just turn the presentation over to the ZBA.
If there's any additional questions specific to the use, we would be happy to answer those at this time.
Any questions from the board at this time?
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
I have a question about the from the drawings that I see there's a basement first floor
and a mezzanine three levels which level are the bunk beds they will be in the basement
Now, according to the drawings, I don't see any windows in the basement.
There is not any windows in the basement.
However, the one thing that we will be adding is ventilation.
There are three exits out of the basement.
One is out to the backyard.
uh yard um one is up through uh um the front stairwell which leads out the front door
and one is out the back um uh stairwell um and and out the back door upstairs on the first floor
so there are three exits there yeah okay but for sleeping space you need natural light so you need
some windows yeah is there an opportunity uh mr jenkins
or ever jenkins to uh to um create any window space in the in the space
belief the building in the area in the basement area
even it would be
possible possible but difficult i mean we would have to open up the sidewalk
on the front of the building and and then dig through and then open up the
wall which are 32 inches thick and create a window space there is there is
there is a window in the basement it is but it is on the other side and it's so
So when you, the area where they are sleeping, if you go up those two steps to the left,
there is one window there.
So your masonry walls are party walls?