ZBA Hearing - March 22, 2023

that we are discussing is recognized as basement, the basement space, the basement level. That's

the way it's recognized for the lease purposes. Application is for assembly and entertainment

it on the same lot with other various uses this in fact is the space that we're discussing at the

basement level will be the main stage area and some offices uh a bill code door area for

bringing in equipment we've got some side salons and studios and we've got additional

studios off the side here with a main uh restroom and some laundry as well this is the property in

question i'll pull out a little bit so make it easier for you to see and box popula is already

here right down the street is the underground arts uh this is an already an event space that's used

on a regular basis for artists and different events.

As you can see, here's underground arts over here.

Here's the property in question.

Vox Populi is already identified as being a part of the space.

And this will just further bring arts and entertainment to that particular area.

We did, in fact, I have a tax cert, by the way,

and the lease. We did, in fact, meet with the neighbors. We have 55 individual households

that were mailed. Again, over 25 folks in attendance. The space is a safe space for

artists and artisans. It'll be open exclusively from 7 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Saturday, and

Sunday, primarily for jazz, classical, comedy, and drama. And the neighbors requested two times

weekly private trash removal if the space is being used to its full potential, which we do

hope, in fact, it will be. That's about it. I want to introduce my client, Echo Vola Soprano. Please

raise your hand, Echo, so that you can be recognized for the board.

Yang Vola had their hand raised.

Do I have a lot of them to speak?

Could you state your name and spell it, please, for the court reporter?

Yes.

Yang Vola, Y-A-N-G-V-O-L-L-A.

Right.

Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

I do.

Counsel, proceed.

Thank you.

Ms. Vola did you hear my presentation to the board this afternoon? I did, thoroughly. Is it true and

accurate to the best of your knowledge? Yes. And do you adopt it as your own testimony? I do.

I have nothing further, Mr. Chair. Questions from the board? No, Mr. Chair.

Questions or comments from the virtual audience? Yes, I have Mr. John

mr john strubel with his hand raised i've allowed him to speak

hi could you state your name sir and spell it please for the court reporter

uh yes my name is john strubel j-o-h-n-s-t-r-u-b-l-e do you swear or affirm to tell the truth

the whole truth is nothing but the truth yes i do are you a neighbor in the area uh i am a direct

uh neighbor we live uh caddy corner they are in on the northeast corner of levington wood and we are

on the southwest corner okay machine sir all right i'm a little baffled uh we did write a

letter up from cald hill neighborhood association i'm also representing the cald hill neighborhood

association i'm on their zoning board we uh their zoning committee and we sent a letter

I copied it to Mark Squilla. I also copied it to Vern. He did not mention that to you guys today,

but in that letter, we basically supported what they want to do there, but we want to have

provisos. The provisor, as Vern mentioned, would be the hours of operation, and we'd also like to

have that proviso. The applicant would have necessary security people to keep the noise

down at certain times and work with a landlord to make sure that there's no trash buildup on the

street. This neighborhood is a IRMX, which sort of sounds like it might need to trouble. We have

sort of sound like it might lead to trouble we have industrial and residential mixed together but

industrial and residential mixed together, but we see a new one.

we seem to be working pretty well so far but that's what I like to see on on the vote that

I like to see those provisos added thank you okay Mr. Chair Mike uh we acknowledge the Callow Hills

letter uh because they weren't the uh coordinating RCO we did not submit submit it however we

appreciate their support my client agrees to work with them with their provisos obviously those

provisos are uh not enforceable by this board but uh they certainly my clients certainly will work

with them in making sure that uh their concerns are met uh as she will with the pcdc is there

anyone else in the virtual audience who has comment then no further hands mr chair okay

Planning Commission. This is Ron Bednar, City Planning. While this property is currently zoned

for industrial residential mixed use on the city plan, the proposed use will have no more of an

impact than would be expected to have given its specific location. Therefore, we recommend that

the board grant the special exception. Thank you. MI 2022 006194 319 to 25 North 11th Street.

I vote yes with proviso. Use limited debasement unit. Thomas Tollamick, my vote is yes with proviso.

James Snell, my vote is yes with proviso.

Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes, with Provisor.

Thank you, counsel.

Thank you all.

Have a good evening.

Okay.

Is there anyone in the virtual audience whose 330 case has not been called?

I do not see any hands, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, everyone.

We've done a little later today, but we've got a lot of work done and a lot of large cases.

I mean, the case in Center City, adding additions to that large building in Center City, and

And, you know, the restaurant case took us a little bit longer, but I appreciate everybody's

help and it was really a good day.

Thank you.

Thanks.