Okay, any comments from the board? No.
Planning Commission.
This property is indicated for neighborhood commercial mixed-use
on the city plan. Given the site's history, we have no objection to
Thank you. Calendar number 39411, 2000 South Crosskey Street. My vote is yes.
My vote is yes. My vote is yes.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Calendar number 39535, 2217 North 10th Street.
Zim, you agree to waive the reading of his refusal and stipulate to its accuracy?
Thank you. Again, Mr. Jen, you're under oath, so please proceed with your testimony.
Thank you. Zen Jen, Z-H-E-N-J-I-N, here on behalf of CJB Homes LLC, 1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Suite 1838, Philadelphia EPA 19103.
This is an application for variants to allow the front setback to, because this property is a RM1 property that is abutted on both sides by a two-story structure.
So the code requires a minimum setback on the third floor of eight feet.
We met with the RCO APM, and it was not a heavily attended meeting, but the neighbors that were in the area that did attend and the board itself of APM is aware that most of the three-story structures do not have setbacks on that block.
so having a new structure be proposed with the setback really is not consistent with what's
already existing in the area. So they supported our request for the variance not to have the
front setback to keep the looks more consistent to what is already there on the block. This is
the sole variance requested as the property's rear yard space, open space, and use itself is
permitted by the code. Any plans you can share with us? Yes, let me share that now. I'm sorry.
I was looking at my plans and I forgot to click share. So this is the structure plan. As you can
see there is the required open space rear yard. The design is a three-family
structure. However, this is RM1 and the lot is large enough to support the
requested variants by Wright.
I do have here also the floor plans.
So again, the variance is for the third floor unit on the front for the eight foot sit back.
As you can see, the space here is designed that there's a court as well as a rear yard large
as well as a rear yard large enough to meet the open space requirements therefore we're asking for
enough to meet the open space
the board's consideration and not requesting not requiring the third floor setback for this
particular proposal. Thank you. Any questions from the board? No. No.
Hello. Anyone else wish to testify? If so, please raise your hand.
I believe my client, representative for the company, Mr. Chagai Bader, is here.
Can you bring him on, please?
You can unmute yourself and speak.
Yeah, no.
Mr. Bader, please identify yourself. Spell your first and last name for the stenographer.
My first name is Chagai Bader, C-H-A-G-A-I.
My last name is Bader, B-A-D-E-R.
I live in 10845 Renaud Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thank you.
Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
You heard my testimony to the board.
Can you verify that it is true and correct and adopted as your own?
Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Planning Commission.
Properties indicated for residential use on the city plan. Given the block pattern,
we have no objection to the granting of dimensional variance. Thank you, Ron. And I
just want to make sure is there anyone else who wishes to testify on this matter?
If you haven't raised your hand, please do so now.
no hands chair thank you tanya calendar number three nine five three five two two one seven
north 10th street my vote is yes my vote is yes my vote is yes thank you thank you have a good day
likewise thank you calendar number three nine four nine one 59 north i'm sorry three nine four nine
one through 59 North 2nd Street Oleg you've been promoted to panelists you
can unmute yourself to speak as well as share your screen as necessary good
morning members of the board thank you for having us before you today please
Please spell your name for the stenographer first.
My name is Oleg, O-L-E-G, Sokolov, S-O-K-O-L-O-B of RS Law Group, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1005, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103.
I will waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy.
And you can swear and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Yes, I do.
Thank you.
Please proceed.
I'm sorry.
Let me just turn up my volume on you guys a little bit.
Thank you very much, members of the board. We are here seeking a variance, allowing us to extend an existing open space nonconformity onto the fifth floor.
Currently, the building is nonconforming and the building sits in the middle of the block requiring a 25 percent rear yard open space.
this is requested to be extended
apologies currently the nonconformity is
sorry to interrupt could you
share those plans with us please
yes one moment please
thank you
I'm going to share the renderings
if I may first
i'm sorry i i got a new computer and not all the settings are ready for uh
no problem we understand thank you
Okay, I should be good to go.
All right, here we go.
These are the renderings of the property. As you can see, what we're going to be doing is building a fifth floor onto this as depicted here in gray.
Additional photos here.
And here as well.
It has ocean views.
I'm sorry?
Well, the screen, you have partial, part of it is your screen is showing the property, and then it has an ocean view.
I was looking to see how much they were going for.
I wish North 2nd Street had ocean views, but unfortunately, we don't get many of those in Philadelphia.
Thank you.
Although, if you could somehow approve an ocean view for us there, that would be phenomenal.
You could first to know.
So, as stated, we will be building this fifth floor. What we are requesting is additional coverage of the open area of the property to extend to the fifth floor as well to a nonconformity of 11%.
The reason for this request is twofold.
First, the recent change in the building code has required that this property have two means of egress.
That obviously is taking away from our square footage and ability to offer more square foot in the area.
I'm pulling up plans right now for you.
Second of all, as you can see, this property is very narrow and very long with windows only on the eastern and western facades of it.
Therefore, the building to allow for more natural light is going to have light wells, as you can see depicted here, here as well in the plans.
So that as well as taking away from functional square footage.
The property, the request to have the additional space on the fifth floor was presented to the Old City District RCO, where we received support for the project.
Unfortunately, we were not able to get a hold of anyone at Councilman Squilla's office to get a letter of support, but we see no reason why the project would be denied.
we are not infiltrating in any way onto the light or air of our neighbors. Further, we had a long
discussion with our immediate neighbors who are both in support of the project. We also have our
architect Charles Kerr from Cadre Designs here on the line if the board has any particular questions
for them or any questions for me to answer. This property is a CMX3. Obviously, no use change is
being requested and the property will be used as short-term stay apartments the
current plan is to build 16 apartments on in in this property the property was
previously used as a warehouse to store plumbing supplies and other sort of
equipment and supplies.
Can you conclude with your testimony, sir?
Thank you.
There is a letter, I believe, of support from the Old City District as well.
Questions from the board?
Anyone who wishes to testify in this matter, please raise your hand now.
No hands, Chair.
Thank you.
Planning Commission?
This property is indicated for mixed use in the city plan.
Given the site constraints, we have no objection to granting of the dimensional appearance.
Thank you, Ron.
Calendar number 39491.
59 North
2nd Street. My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
Thank you. Tanya
and or Sharon, is there any
on the other unfinished business?
No, that's the end of the session.
Okay. We'll see everyone
back here at 2 o'clock.
Okay. All right, be safe.
all right you be safe
no not yet but everybody can hear you
that's outside of here and i'm the chair vice chair of the zoning board of adjustment
i will be participating in today's hearing along with the board secretary confessor plaza
and board members thomas holliman and james snell board administrator tanya sunkett and board
attorney sharon saletta are also in attendance for those of you who haven't yet participated
in one of our virtual hearings i'll go through some of the basics of what you can expect first
will begin this morning's or this afternoon's session by reading a list of cases to be
continued. If you believe any announced case is being continued in error, we will give you
an opportunity to respond. After requesting the continuance list and receiving any feedback,
we will take any additional continuance request. Once we've confirmed which hearings are being
continued, I will begin calling the remaining cases listed for this session. As we go through
the scheduled hearings, please note the following changes related to the virtual format. First,
we will be administering oaths to individual participants prior to their testimony. Second,
for the benefit of anyone participating by phone, we ask that attorneys and witnesses identify
themselves prior to speaking or testifying. Third, we'd like to advise everyone that this
proceeding is being recorded and that by participating, you acknowledge your agreement
to be recorded. Fourth, for anyone participating by phone, if you wish to testify, you must raise
your hand by hitting star nine, then star six to unmute yourself. Finally, to enter an appearance
statement, call 267-270-5548 and leave your email address and the address of the property at issue.
With that being said, I'd like to announce that the following cases are being continued.
Calendar number 39370, 5900 North 5th Street. Calendar number 39603, 3854 Brown Street.
Calendar number 39559, 2402 North 29th Street, number 1. Calendar number 39445, 2628 Webster
Street, calendar number 39372-2209 South 63rd Street, calendar number 39969-2029 Randolph
Street, and calendar number 39370-5900 North 5th Street.
Are there any cases I've just listed as continued that have been listed in error?
No hands, Vice Chair.
Thank you.
Are there any additional continuances?
Ms. Tenere, can I, this is Sharon Saletta, Board Attorney Sharon Saletta, I'd like to
say that the Councilwoman and RCO have requested that the appeal for 646 North 32nd Street
that the hearing be continued. The attorney is Rachel Pritzker. She, I believe, is here and
wishes to speak on this matter. Okay, Rachel, can you please say your name and address for the
record and spell it, please, for the synonym? Rachel, R-A-C-H-A-E-L, Pritzker, P-R-I-T-Z-K-E-R,
Pritzker Law Group 1635 Market Street Suite 1600 Philadelphia PA 19103. Okay and this is for
calendar no it's appeal it's an appeal and it's for 646 North 32nd Street. Do you swear to tell
the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Yes. Okay you can speak. Yeah so I have reached out
to the RCO a number of times. I know that the council office and the RCO requested a continued
We actually didn't receive, under this new council member or from the planning commission, the coordinating RCO.
So we were going off of Mantua Civic, which we had met with probably a year ago on this.
met with probably a year ago on this. So we're happy to comply with the continuance. I just,
So we're happy to comply.
you know, would just hope, I know that everyone is working really hard and trying to move all
this stuff forward. So if we could at least try and get on the calendar as soon as possible,
that would be greatly appreciated because this has been sitting since before March. So, you know,
we're happy to comply with that and want to help work through the process. But, you know,
it can be tough on applicants when we've um we're having trouble you know communicating
with some of these groups and and just missing some information so just wanted to to let you
know that and know that we were prepared to be on the record today presenting this case and look
forward to an opportunity to come in front of the board again okay thank you is there anyone else
here who wishes to speak we have richard whitesmith you can unmute yourself and speak
good afternoon this is richard weitzman i i'm not sir can you put your address on the record
please of course it's uh three north second street suite 200 philadelphia pennsylvania 19106
and do you swear you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth i do thank you i had raised
my hand vice chair when you asked if there was any other matters for continuance and i just left
it raised so i i'm not here on behalf of miss pritzker's case uh but i do have a i'm appearing
on behalf of a of another attorney who has a matter before the board this afternoon
okay well first we're going to handle miss pritzker's case um which will be continued that's
The address is 646 North 32nd Street.
Now, can you tell me which case you're here requesting a continuance on?
Yes, it's 4861 North Howard Street, calendar number 39377.
Okay, and the reason for a request for continuance?