So, Mr. Consul, our vice chair has a few questions for you.
Good afternoon.
Have you submitted your documents and exhibits 14 days in advance of this hearing?
I did.
I can answer these, Alexandra.
At the end, you'll be able to talk.
All right.
Thank you.
And do you waive the reading under refusal and simply to its accuracy?
All right.
Thank you.
As interpreter, just stay on, please, just in case there's something we need you for,
I appreciate it, sir.
Okay. All right, Joe. All right. Good afternoon, Chair Bergman, members of the board. Good to see you again today. Joseph Consul. I'm here with MS Labs, Inc. and Alexandra, who is on the call.
This is for a use variance for personal services, specifically a small beauty salon within the two lower commercial floors of an existing mixed-use building.
It's in the RMX3 district.
The third floor is a dwelling unit.
It's a pretty narrow refusal.
As you know, RMX3 permits retail sales and commercial service uses, but it's only approved for 25% of the total gross floor area.
And so, as you can see on the refusal, we're at about 65% of the gross total floor area.
So, we need variance relief for her to operate her salon.
um i will show you the pictures this building was not built uh to make that um that percentage work
appropriately so that would be our our hardship it's the external of the building
it's the internal
all and again alexandra will be here to answer any questions about the intended setup and that
sort of thing in a second it's a work in progress it's a very clean space
photos see the outside on the second floor my client prepared an evacuation plan
something showing the layout I'll leave it on I'll leave it on there the proposed manicure
and hairdress areas pedicure area bathrooms lounge um that sort of thing uh we believe this
is a pretty low impact use uh her intent and again she can confirm it would be to have an
appointment-based salon with a reception and waiting area manicure pedicure stations hair
service areas two private rooms a restroom and support spaces uh we don't believe this will cause
any undue burden on the community or the traffic or the parking or any anything like that uh the
rco gave their i mean as good as you'll get from chinatown it's their vote of non-opposition
they raised reasonable questions about waste disposal and ventilation
uh and they eventually came to a space of non-opposition uh and we have we have a way in
and we have a weigh-in from the upstairs neighbor.
She signed in saying, she wrote a note saying she's not objected to the proposal
and seeks approval of the variance.
I believe this is, in her mind, a pretty low-impact use
and one that she's okay with having underneath her.
So I'll go through just the final items quick,
and then we'll go back to the floor plan.
There's a non-opposition letter.
Support from Sophia, as mentioned, the lease and the letter of authorization from the representative, Philip, who owns the LLC that owns the building, the tax clearance certificate valid through November 13th, proof of mailing.
and that's it so i'll go back to the floor plan um as i think that would be the only thing that
would potentially generate questions from the board um other than that i would would open it
up she uh she's well enough to adopt your testimony correct yes um alexandra did you
hear my testimony just now regarding your proposed use at the property yes I did do you agree with
what I said and do you adopt it as your own yes absolutely okay we'll open up the questions from
the board questions from the board yes ventilation how are you venting uh the um salon I know with
these places they tend to have a very strong smell or odor or whatever whatever the chemicals are
that they're used for I don't know polishing or cleaning or whatever so it's
your plan for ventilation okay so this is gonna be European style salon this
we're not going to use any strong orders materials and all as we know how to
smelling in Asian songs there is a dust collectors mounted in on the tables and
And there is already was ventilation before us, but you were not providing any orders at all.
All the questions.
I believe this is the second floor lounge space where the kitchen is.
Is that like for the employees or your customer and employees?
That's for the employees.
We're preparing coffees and teas to give to the customers.
but mainly
like your break space
exactly yes
and the lounge area on the second floor
either for the employees
other questions
do you have a picture
of the front
of the building
like where people would actually
come into the property
is this the front
this is just the
inside if you will
scroll a little bit up, you will see that up front. Yes, here we go.
So that's the entrance. Did you want to see the inside, board member?
Okay. I'll just scroll through them again.
So that's the external entrance.
all right um alexander is this looking in from the main entrance yes exactly that's that's what
you will see when you will enter the this big black door okay
all the questions questions from our attorney no questions at the time from the virtual audience
i see no hands at this time chair planning commission
yeah say your name does a bit fusillade with the planning commission
right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
the comprehensive plan um this is liz fusely from the philadelphia planning commission
The comprehensive plan recommends no change to the RMX-3 zoning at this location.
The use variants, if authorized, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood
or district in which the property is located.
The Planning Commission recommends the board grant the requested variants for personal services
on the first and second floor levels.
MI 2026-004502-1233-35 Hamilton Street.
I vote yes.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes.
Tynetta Graham, my vote is yes.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is yes.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is yes.
Taya Wynn, my vote is yes.
Blayla Beebe, my vote is yes.
Thank you.
Interpreter, thank you very much.
And Joe, thank you.
Thanks.
See you in a little bit.
Number nine.
MI 2026-004-032-4133 West Gerrard Avenue.
um andrea dunbar and alan jones are the owner occupants pro se it's a pro se
andrea dunbar has been promoted to panelists
Hello, how are you doing?
This is Andre Dunbar and Alfred Jones.
Could you please state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Yes, my name is Andre Dunbar, A-N-D-R-E,
Last name Dunbar, D-U-N-B-A-R
And I have Alford Jones, my partner
Who's going to testify?
Andre, Andre Dunbar, I am
Okay, so do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
The whole truth and nothing truth?
Yes, I do
And you have a letter of support from East Parkside Avenue
And also a letter of support from Council Member Gauthier
Our Vice Chair has a few questions for you
Good afternoon
Have you submitted your documents and exhibits 14 days in advance of this hearing?
Yes, I did.
And is your understanding that you're here for multifamily three dwelling units?
And is your understanding that you've been refused because of your RSA 3 zoning district?
This prohibits this use and you need some accessory parking spaces.
Do you understand that to be your refusals?
Yes, I do.
All right.
Thank you.
You can share your screen and proceed with your case.
Tell us what you want to do.
That's it right here.
First of all, I'd like to say good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the board.
Again, my name is Andre Dunbar, and I am the owner of this particular property, 4133 West
Gerard Avenue.
I'm here today to request a re-approval of a use variance to permit a three-unit dwelling
inside the existing structure.
I also want to emphasize right from the onset that this is the exact same project with the exact same dimensions, footprints, and layouts that this board previously approved.
There's absolutely no changes to the building or the scope of this project since it was last granted.
We are back before you today solely because our previous zoning provisions and permits expired due to an extraordinary consequences and delays beyond our control.
So why don't you put your video on and start showing us the property and your plans?
Can we share?
How do we share?
Can you see the property?
Sir, sir, sir, sir.
So you're the one testifying, right?
You're the only one can really speak. I'm sorry. Can you can you can you guys see the screen?
No, sir, we can't. I'm sorry to interject here. This is Ian Haggerty. Sir, if you want to show
your screen, you're going to have to pull up the documents that you want to share first. And then
you're going to see a button in your zoom window below where your video is. And there should be a
button there that says share. It looks like an arrow pointing upwards. That'll allow you to pick
the window that you want to share to the board. Okay. Okay. So where's that button? Okay. It says
share and I am attempting to share it with you. Can you guys see? No, after you click the button,
it should be asking you what documents
do you want to share. After you click on that
document, it should open right
Are you in the room? It looks like you're in the document.
Don't click that share.
One second here.
I'm trying to share my screen here.
Is this them?
Is there a share?
Okay, here we go.
Can you guys see what I'm sharing?
Okay, there you go.
It's coming up now.
It's coming up.
So that's your house. Yes. Okay. Yes. That's the property 4133 West Gerrard Avenue. That's that's the property in question. That's what it looks like now. And I'm moving forward to show you the plans and the previous before and after pictures.
So that's your house?
Yes, that's the problem.
When were you originally approved?
I was originally approved back in 2000.
Go to the original pre-approved page.
One second.