Okay. Thank you. All board members are ready. Okay. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. My name is Frank DiCicco. I'm the chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. We have a quorum, so I'm officially calling this session to order. In attendance is the vice chair of our board, Ms. Carol Tenere, our board members, Mr. Thomas Holloman and Mr. James Snow, and also our board secretary, Confessor Plaza.
it. As you probably are aware, today is our fourth day of holding virtual hearings. Oh,
excuse me, I keep forgetting. Along with us on the board is our city solicitor,
Sharon Saleta, and our board administrator, Ms. Tanya Sunken. While we may have to make some
adjustments along the way, our plan is to call each case and basically proceed as we would have
in a live hearing. We ask that attorneys for applicants or other interested parties
identify themselves for the record when the case you'll be participating in is called.
We will then hear the applicant's presentation followed by any presentation by attorneys
representing other parties. Interested parties and members of the public not represented by
counsel will then be given an opportunity to testify. We will finally hear from the
recommendation of the Planning Commission. At the hearing's conclusion, the board
will either vote the matter immediately or hold it for discussion in executive
session. Any case held for discussion will be voted on the record at the next
scheduled July 29th morning session. A couple of changes related to the virtual
format. First, we will be administering oaths to individual participants prior to their testimony
rather than to the room as a whole since we have no room. Second, for the benefit of anyone
participating by phone, we ask that attorneys, witnesses identify themselves prior to speaking
or testifying. Third, we would like to advise everyone that this proceeding is being recorded
and by participating, you acknowledge your agreement to be recorded.
And okay, and if you wish to testify, please raise your hand. Ms. Sunkett will
recognize you at the appropriate time, and we will ask all participants, other than the
attorneys who are representing their clients, to limit your conversation to no more than two
minutes. Thank you. Carol?
Carol, you're muted.
Start again.
Am I calling that case?
1525 South Columbus Boulevard.
Calendar number 31820.
1525 Christopher Columbus Boulevard.
Frank.
This is a delay list vote. There are two related cases that are going to be voted. One is an appeal against L&I. The other is a request for a special exception. They will be voted separately.
Who will be going first? Is it Mr. Primavera? Mr. Mattione?
No, no.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We don't have anyone here. Okay.
Okay. So we're ready to do the vote, correct, Sharon?
Okay. Calendar number 31820. 1525 South Columbus Boulevard. On the matter of the appeal against
L&I, my vote
is to grant the appeal
against L&I.
My vote is to grant
the appeal against L&I.
Unmute yourself, Jim, and Tom?
My vote
is to grant the appeal against L&I.
we need your vote. You were muted.
Apologize for that.
appeal granted um if the two members who were not present for the original hearing could certify on
the record that they have read the transcript please yes i certify that i've read the transcript
Yes, I certify that I've read the transcript.
just may certify that i read the transcript
I certify that I've read the transcript as well.
State your name, man.
Apologize.
Professor Plaza.
James Snell.
Thank you.
All right, then we go to the next calendar, correct?
Calendar number 38216.
This is a request for a special exception.
My vote is no.
Proviso also do not, I believe that this does not meet the requirements
for a grant of a variance.
My vote is no.
This does not meet the requirements
for the granting of a variance.
My vote is no.
Proviso all does not meet the requirement
for a granting of the variance.
My vote is no.
It does not meet the requirements
for granting of a variance.
My vote is no.
It doesn't meet the requirements
for the granting of the variance.
And just to be clear,
it the no vote is that it does not meet the criteria for a special exception in
the alternative it also does not meet the requirements for a variance that's
correct thank you we proceed with the regular calendar list I assume these
are can these are continuances do we do this first yes yes calendar number three
39282-1619 Elaine Street, calendar number 38334-198 West Ashdale, calendar number 37290-2033 East Wishart Street, calendar number 39283-4230 Otter Street,
calendar number three seven two eight nine five forty nine East Luray calendar
number three eight three seven four six seven five six Geyers Avenue calendar
number three eight two two four nine one eight East Shelton Avenue
now we'll begin the hearings calendar number three eight three seven one two zero one two
north eighth street the attorney is enjin but before you begin mr jen uh are there any other
requests for continuances if so please raise your hands so miss sunken can recognize you
good morning good morning do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its
accuracy i do and do you also swear or affirm to tell the truth and nothing but the truth
Thank you.
Good morning.
Pardon me, Zinjin.
Did you have witnesses we need to bring forward?
I have one witness, which is the representative of the company here also on Zoom.
He's Mr. Arif Ali.
Mr. Jin, do you swear and affirm the test?
Do you swear and affirm?
Did you swore him in already, Carol?
Yes, swore him in already.
I apologize.
I'm programmed to do it.
I'm sorry.
I know.
So sorry.
Good morning.
Zen Jin on behalf of 2012 North 18th Street, LLC.
My address is 1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1838, Philadelphia, PA, 19103.
This is an application for a new construction on a currently vacant lot on North 18th Street.
The application is to seek a use of the property as a duplex.
I am going to share with the board the exhibits at this time.
Is that coming up?
Yes, we have it.
It's coming up now, yes.
Okay, excellent.
Let me move up a little bit here.
The deed is to 2012 North 18th Street, LLC.
This property is a vacant lot, and essentially it's going to be a new construction.
What the nature of the block is that it is a student housing block that is primarily multifamily.
So as you can see, the properties on both sides are already used as multifamily as well.
already used as multi-family as well as in addition most of the block is in
fact multi-family despite the single-family zoning. We're proposing a
duplex in about the same size and design as the existing properties. The
layout will not include any bedrooms in the basement. I know the plans are a
little let me shrink that down a little bit so we can see the plans a little
better from different views. The property will have a basement. There will be no bedrooms in
the basement. There will be an open living space in the basement with the bedrooms placed on the
first floor reversing the design of a typical unit so there are no sleeping spaces in the basement.
So first floor and basement would be one unit and second and third floor would be an additional unit.
This is the proposed layout. It will be used as two-family dwelling. The community met with us through the 32nd Democratic Ward. Let me expand that. I believe 100% would be easier to view.
we met at the Church of the Advocate prior to the pandemic happening and it was well attended
and we did get support for this proposal primarily because the neighboring residents are aware that
this is predominantly a multi-family block this is a duplex proposal and the increase in density
Even though there is an increase in density, it is not unusual for that block.
In addition, we have entered into a sanitation plan and also agreed to work closely with the Susquehanna cleanup
to make sure that trash is always managed by the developer directly, as well as in coordination with the community group,
to make sure that trash does not become an issue,
which is a predominant issue in that area
for multifamily dwellings.
So as a result, we did get support from the community
for this proposal.
Again, the proposal itself is consistent
with what is on the block.
We're in the middle of the block
and practically everything in the surrounding buildings
are used in some type of multifamily format.
The property itself will be set up with the smaller rear yard, which actually isn't unusual for that area.
Again, the community find that larger rear yards sometimes will become party spaces.
They actually prefer that we have the design as it is designed.
there are no roof decks on this so there are no areas above the building where people can end up
at as well. So we would ask the board's favorable vote on this matter. Again from a light standpoint
there is a light well designed into the building so that there's light coming in as well to the
residential spaces.
Ken, do you want to ask your client
if he adopts your testimony?
Is Mr. Ali on the line?
Yes, I am.
Would you please, sir, would you please
spell your name for the record
and identify yourself?
Yes, my first name is Arif
and it's spelled A-R-I-F.
My last name is Ali
and it's spelled A-L-I.
Your address, please.
We're going to affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Mr. Ali, can you also state your address for the record?
2012 North 18th Street.
I mean, your address, your actual address.
1000 West Gerrard Avenue.
Thank you.
You heard my testimony to the board.
Would you please confirm that it is true and correct, and would you be adopting that as your own testimony?
Yes, true and correct, and I will adopt that as my own testimony.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Anyone else to testify on this case?
No hands are up for this case.
Questions from the board?
Planning commission.
Chairman and members of the board, this property is indicated for residential use on the comprehensive plan.
And due to the multifamily nature of the block, we have no objection to the granting of the
variant.
Thank you.
Calendar number 38371, 2012 North 18th Street.
2-0-1-2 North 18th Street my vote is yes. My vote is yes. My vote is yes. My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote.
My vote is yes. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you. Before you begin Carol I have a question I thought
earlier we were going to hear from a representative from Councilwoman Gatier's office
about a continuance. Did I misunderstand that? No that case is listed for this afternoon not this