is driving up onto the sidewalk area and of note this sidewalk here is the property of the city
of Philadelphia's parking lot not any single family home. A close-up at A5 of the very narrow
of Phillip Street. A6 is the end of Phillip Street showing the fire hydrant, the adjacent
property owners with their flowers. And then A9 is the double lot open air spot that exists
at 1422 through 24. Of note this is over 22 feet in width so anyone who's making a turn coming in
and out of this double wide spot is going to have a much wider radius to make that turn safely
and appropriately as opposed to someone leaving the proposed development with the
and appropriately as opposed to someone leaving the proposed development with the 11 or 12 foot
curve cut and the garage opening of what was 9 feet in which they're proposing to increase to 12.
As I mentioned earlier at the at the northern end of Phillip Street there's a large city parking lot
where neighbors are able to adequately park their cars.
this is the perpendicular garage street at 812 as you'll see there's not a single
parking space here or all street parking space
and for the record this is exhibit neighbor exhibit b which is the google aerial and right
where my cursor is right now, it's Phillip Street as it comes off of Reed, Geyer Street
which we just saw in the pictures is where my cursor is right now and at the very end
is where the proposed development is. I do note that Penn Support is opposed to this
project rightfully so. This is creating a turning radius that's not acceptable for
kind of single-family home on such a small block in the city of Philadelphia. So our understanding
that Councilman Squilla is also opposed to this project and my client continues to be opposed to
the type of parking setup that's being proposed. Mr. Nockam said at the beginning of this presentation
referenced that my clients are opposed to any development. That is certainly not true. My
clients live next to single-family homes at 14, 23 through 25. As she was growing up, she's a
lifelong resident, has been there since the 1950s. She herself has owned and improved this property
throughout the entirety of her life. As the neighbors in here know this family very well,
the famous band of brothers, Babe Hefford is her uncle. This is a family that's been here,
knows the community knows what's safe everyone who is a part of this community from councilman
squilla to penn sports opposed this project for a good reason and with that i have no further
questions and if the board has had my client adopt my testimony you said your client on then we'll
get back to mr notkinson miss heffern yes did you hear my statements to the board today yes i did
do you agree with my statements and their factual accuracy did i misstate anything no do you adopt
those statements as your own absolutely i do thank you i'm sorry i have to swear her in
just give us your full name spell your full name and i'll swear you in jacqueline j-a-c-q-u-e-l-i-n-e
heffron h-e-f-f-r-o-n do you swear for him to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth
yes i do sir you've already given your testimony uh that you adopt mr toner's
testimony, so we won't need to do that again. Mr. Notkinson.
Yes, a couple items. Again, this is not unheard of that someone's driving down South Phillip
Street. Mr. Toner, during his testimony, indicated that it would be difficult to turn on to
South Phillip Street. My understanding is that the individuals who own the property with the
off-street parking have an SUV. In terms of the illustration, I don't know if that illustration
indicates it's an SUV that you know that's in the garage so I don't know what where he gets that from
thirdly I would like to show the if Mr. Toner can unshare a screen the video that's a fair and
accurate description rather than just that little section of it to show exactly what you know what
what can be done on that street.
So I would ask that the board elevate,
oh, I see, Ms. Amazon is on.
And again, just to point out,
we're dealing with an elevated sidewalk,
so it's not easy.
Plus, we're dealing with a dirt vacant lot,
which you know again adds its challenges but as you can see um and and by the way the other thing
is to for time purposes this is at one and a half speed that was saved so I just want to you know
make sure that the board actually knows that that's the speed that you know the video showing
is actually one and a half speed of that so I don't know why anybody would want to be jumping
curves like that but no i don't know they would have a curb cut if yeah we're just trying yeah
no i'm just trying to show because i was trying to show the board because it's the easiest way
no i'm just trying to show because i was trying to show the board because it's the easiest way
yeah which is hard so this is this was a hard scenario but i wanted to show
we also have a smart card which it was much easier to do obviously so it can be done
but you're dealing with a you know an elevated curb here which makes it really difficult to back
out so even with even with those challenges we were able to do that and the people who live at
420-22
I guess it's 424-26
you know
are parking in and out every single day
well I just have to interrupt
again but I understand
the curb cut would make it easier but now
looking at it coming out of the garage
what do you do with where the
rear tires are jumping the curb it's not
your client's property
no I hear
you and that's
that's a dead end
and he just
went on the property
of 1421
to execute that
all right okay
and the fire officer
all right Mr. Nakerson do you want to get
your client to adopt your testimony
sure Mr. Archer can you virtually
raise your hand
don't have to speak
Mr. Archer, please spell your full name and I'll swear you in.
Bill, B-I-L-L, last name Archer, A-R-C-H-E-R.
You swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, I do.
Mr. Notkinson.
Yeah, Mr. Archer, you heard everything I stated today.
Is it true and correct?
And do you adopt as your own testimony?
Thank you.
Questions from the board?
No, Mr. Chair.
No, Chair.
No. Anyone else to testify in this case, please raise your hand.
Okay, we have a caller with the number ending in 2-1-9-8. I can allow them to speak if you wish.
The caller with the phone number ending in 2-1-9-8, please identify him or herself.
hi hi it's megan andrews m-e-g-a-n-a-n-d-r-e-w-s you swear affirm to tell the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth i do please proceed i just wanted to give you
the measurements of the street and um the other person gave that to you that was my only that was
my only hand raised you want to give us the measurement you said no when i raised my hand
before they were asking the measure of phillip street i apologize but you have it so everything's
fine thank you thank you anyone else to testify in this case
caller we have a patrick uh fitz maurice i can allow him to speak at this time sir
mr fitz maurice please spell your full name i'll swear you in
Patrick Fitzmaurice, P-A-T-R-I-C-K, F-I-T-Z-M-A-U-R-I-C-E.
Do you swear if I'm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Please proceed.
Good afternoon, board.
My name is Pat Fitzmaurice.
I'm the president of the Pennsport Civic Association.
Just a point of clarification, we did submit our letter to ZBA, the applicant and councilman
school's office, on August 31st.
I'm actually a little upset that Alan took my thunder when he read most of our letter in,
so I'll try to keep it brief. As noted by the applicant, we met with the applicant and we
opposed the application. In addition to basing our opposition on the strong opposition from the
immediate neighbor and neighbor across the street, we independently arrived at our opposition based
on our belief that a driver attempting to access the garage could not be expected to access safely,
consistently, without damaging the curb, steps, or properties of the adjacent neighbors.
If the applicant wants to show a video of the car pulling in and argue it shows a safe pull-in,
then it must also address that for every pull-in, there's a pull-out. And the video of the pull-out
speaks for itself. The driver almost strikes the opponent's parcel. He almost strikes the rear
curb and plugs. He almost goes on the curb across the street. And the angle shown by the applicant
doesn't show this, but perhaps the opponent wants to show the full video. When pulling out, the
driver rides on the opponent's curb. And this is all with someone directing the driver while he
drives extremely slowly in daylight. I failed to see how someone could be expected to safely
navigate this street during the life of the garage. Alan said it would probably be a smart
car utilizing this, but Mr. Chairman, you hit the nail on the head with your comment that it could
not be expected that the owner would only use a small vehicle. Despite changing the size of the
Despite changing the size of the curb cut, the applicant did not change the dimensions of the garage to suit only smart cars, and the reason is obvious, because the garage can and will be used by vehicles of all sizes, including large vehicles.
curb cut, the applicant did not change the dimensions of the garage to suit only smart car.
Alan stopped reading our letter when we began to discuss the neighbor with the carport, but I think we need to talk about it.
If that needed a variance, that predates my tenure with the Civic Association, and I don't know what went on there.
Our board raised that carport at our community meeting.
The owner said he can't access his carport without riding on his curb.
While the applicant may characterize it as do as I say and not as I do,
I like to think of this as it's my property and I'll break it if I want to.
The opponent doesn't have the cardboard and the video clearly shows her property will be affected.
In conclusion, our board had our monthly meeting last night and agreed that we should voice our opposition live
to convey our serious concerns about this application.
We fail to see any hardship requiring a variance and we hope the board denies this request.
Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony.
Anyone else?
I'm no further ahead at this time, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Planning Commission.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ian Hegarty for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
Members of the Board, the comprehensive plan recommends no change to the residential single-family zoning at this location.
Vehicular access to the property is indeed constrained by the narrow street and by the lots location at a dead end.
however the street width does not provide enough room to turn a vehicle around without encroaching
on the sidewalk which appears to pose a threat to the fire hydrant as many of the testifiers have
pointed out. This applicant is not entitled to an off-street parking spot either. The City Planning
Commission would recommend that the board deny the variance. Thank you. MI 2021-002209
1423 South Phillip Street my vote is no. Carol Tenere my vote is no. Professor Plaza my vote is
no. James Snell my vote is no. Thomas Howellman my vote is no. We will now move to case number four
MI 2021 that's 00211 1501 Master Street. Meredith Ferlinger is the attorney of record
I understand that Councilman Clark's office acted as the coordinating RCO and I'm also
been told that Mary Jones will be representing the council president in this matter.
Mr. Chair when you called out the calendar number it's MI-2021-002311.
wrong i apologize no apologies necessary okay all right uh meredith or mr bovay who was
oh you've got meredith today i got meredith okay i think you've got him later i'm sorry
yeah well my it's a bad day all the way around for me all right uh please proceed with your
testimony. Meredith Ferliger, F as in Frank, E-R-L-E-G-E-R of Dilworth Paxson, 1500 Market
Street, Suite 3500E. Can you confirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do. Okay, Ms. Denary has questions for you. Hi, do you also agree to waive the reading of
the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy? I waive the reading. I don't stipulate to its
accuracy i will address that okay great 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 to all of the above i i believe
the letter was just sent this morning i'm hoping you have it from um mary jones from the council
president's office i haven't seen it yet but okay i i can bring it up it was a letter of non-opposition
subject to some provisos which we will be helpful that will be she'll be here uh yeah here i still
think i'm in the building okay you may proceed thank you uh good afternoon mr chairman members
of the board uh just to address real quickly the issue of the accuracy of the referral um this is
something that we continue to bring up. It says that the request here is for single-room residence,
which as I've addressed in the past, would basically be a rooming house where you are
renting rooms. That is not what this is. This request should be for group living.
And the last time that we had something similar, you did issue a proviso in that case that the
approved use was group living and not a single-room residence rooming house. That is actually
one of the provisos that the council president's office issued in their non-opposition letter.
So, as you know, we are here today with a request for a special exception for a property
So as you know, we are here today with a request for a special exception for
located at 1501 Master Street.
The owner of the property is TPA Partners, LLC, and here today I have Ohad Feigenbaum.
They purchased the property in 2018 after it was constructed by a former owner.
I also have with me today Craig Deutsch of Harman Deutsch Architecture that can answer
any specific questions you might have related to the buildings. Now this request is in some ways
familiar to many others the board has seen, but there are some critical differences and caveats.
To give you some background, the structures that I'm about to show you were finished being built
in 2017. So as you can see, let me change the view of this. As you can see in Exhibit 5,