It's a viable neighborhood.
Okay, any other questions for,
Thank you very much for your input. We appreciate it.
Thank you.
No question.
Anyone else?
But I do have some comments for the board to consider, Mr. Chair.
First, the photos were taken by me within the last couple months.
The photos were taken by me within the last couple months, so they are an accurate depiction of what's currently on this block.
I even drove by the block earlier today, and it's in the same condition.
The photos that I presented are evidence of what is on this block, along with the photos of the church on the corner that has been approved for same use, visitor accommodations,
the same use that we're asking for here today. As far as any comments about roof decks, first,
I do have photos even. There are other roof decks on the block. So it's not just my client that has
a roof deck. And we're not here today for the roof deck. As far as parties or any of the other
activities that have been raised they're not illegal activities first and secondly these
activities could be used by um a long-term tenant so the activities are not exclusive to
a short-term rental that would be a deciding factor here i mean my client by right could
have four units here, he could rent the apartments out to college students, and they could be
partying all the time. So I think the fact that there's a roof deck here is should not be any
factor to be considered. Okay. Anyone else in the virtual audience?
Yes, I have a DVS with their hand raised. I'm promoting the panelists right now. They'll be
back in short. Sorry, I'm not very good with technology. No, that's okay. Could you please
state your name and spell for the stenographer? Yep. So the first name is Divya, D-I-B as in
Victor, Y-A. My last name is Sud, S as in Sam, O-O-D as in David. All right. Do you swear or
firm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth yes are you a neighbor yes i live
on that 1900 block sure please proceed yes so i just kind of i think three actually who i've never
met explain summarize this much better than i could i'm not very good at these things but
But I definitely disagree with the way this block has been presented as dreary or non-residential.
I live and own one of those single family homes that are on the block, and that weren't included in any of these photographs.
Are you in favor of this or against?
I am against this.
Okay. All right. Thank you very much. We do appreciate you waiting around so long at the call.
Thank you. Is there anyone else in the virtual audience?
I do not see any further hands, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, one more comment I would like to make is that the comments we heard today in
opposition were general comments to short-term rentals and they were not specific to this
particular property. There were no issues raised with this particular property as to noise or
anything else okay planning commission amy boyd with the planning commission the comprehensive
plan recommends no change in zoning from the existing cmx to commercial mixed use
the appellant has not demonstrated that there are unique physical conditions or circumstances
of the property that would prevent it from being used in conformance with the zoning code
the city planning commission recommends that board deny the proposed variance for visitor
accommodation so we're going to i'm going to hold this till next wednesday at two o'clock we'll vote
I'm going to take it to executive session and just see where will the board members stand on this, okay?
Thank you very much, and we're sorry you had to wait around all day long.
I noticed you came kind of early, too.
You didn't come at 3.30.
You were here about 2 o'clock, and Porter Leonard's been here with you the whole time, but we appreciate it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
So MI 2025, 000395, 831 North 2nd Street.
Kevin Valentine is the attorney.
I hate, they got a quote.
Oh, he's on the, okay, all right.
Sir, could you please state your name?
It's spelled for the court stenographer.
Yes, my name is Kevin, K-E-V-I-N, Valentine, V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
um could you identify your client the relationship to the property my client is um 831
my client is um 831 property llc they are the owners of 831 north second as well as 833
north second and i see that you have a letter of support from northern liberties
with some provisos yes our vice chair has a few questions for you sir good evening council do you
agree to weigh the reading of the refusal or stipulate to his accuracy i do have you emailed
in all the required documents and exhibits as needed to proceed with this case five days in
advance of this hearing. With the exception of the deed and the tax certificate, yes, my client
was on vacation. I just got those in yesterday. Okay, I believe we received everything, so we're
good to go. Okay, thank you. Please proceed and share your screen. Might need to get you promoted.
Yes, I did.
I am promoted.
Share.
If you excuse me, I'm trying to share the referral notice.
It is not sharing.
Did we have it on your computer before?
I'm sorry?
Was it up before?
Yes, yes.
I'm just trying to let's say okay say again
Here we go. Got it.
Here you go.
I think I am there. Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Now, I am.
Are you able to? No.
I just did. Yeah.
If you could stop sharing, like, that's the thing, but stop sharing.
Okay, alright.
Got you. Okay, here we go.
I just did it.
It's still not.
All right.
Here comes our experts coming up to help.
Our experts coming up right now.
All right.
Normally, I just have my kid do this for me.
So this is what I'm trying to share.
The URL.
Open it.
share right here no that's okay all right
yes okay
It's right here. This is the screen I need left for this. It's just a document. Right. I got you. Okay.
Okay. Documents.
Can we see it?
If you open up the file, I'll just go.
Thank you.
yes there we are the um department of thank you so much yeah um l and i issued a referral
for um this property because under section 14 503 um eating establishments in the north
Delaware Avenue overlay district are, um, require a special exception, um, for restaurants, eating
establishment, drinking establishments. My client is trying to, um, open a Japanese noodle, um,
establishment. Yeah. On eight 31 North second, um, on the third of, uh, March, 2025, he met with
the um northern liberties um neighbors association and that is where the um
the um support letter with the provisos um came up let me see if i can locate that
he's trying to get back to my screen
this is going to take a couple minutes
we should maybe do O'Brien
because he's on the line
we get him on
how are we doing
is it moving
I think this just opened the press.
After the dreary comments, I'm not saying it.
I think this place opened.
I think they just opened one of these
from the time.
Is this our last case?
all right i'm um presenting now the um the support letter with the provisos um as you can see um
nlna supported the project but wanted to ensure a few things they
okay so i think we got to move on to the next case and we'll come back at the end all right
is there a way you go in the back and maybe somebody can take a look at that for you okay
All right, so let's – we know O'Brien's out there.
MI-2025-000-396-6228 Ridge Avenue.
William O'Brien is the attorney.
There's a letter of support from Central Roxborough.
The vote was 20 in support, 13 in non-opposition, and 4 in opposition.
there should be coming back in shortly mr chair
Hi, Mr. O'Brien. I guess you got tired of enjoying our company down here.
hi mr o'brien i guess she got tired of uh enjoying our company then
No, I had a civic meeting at 5 o'clock.
Just if you would, state your name and spell for the court stenographer.
William O'Brien, W-I-L-L-I-A-M, O'Brien, O-B-R-I-E-N, from the Maniunk Law Office on behalf of Angela Sposato and her brother Franco Sposato, owners of 6228 Ridge Avenue.
Okay. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, told truth, nothing but the truth?
Our vice chair has just a few questions, sir.
Good evening, counsel. Do you agree to wait to read another refusal or stipulate to his accuracy?
Have you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits as needed to proceed with this case five days in advance of this hearing?
Yes, I did.
Thank you, counsel. Please proceed and share your screen.
Thank you.
so this is a one use refusal the application is to allow the building on the screen 6228 Ridge
Avenue to be used as a visitor accommodations which allows short-term rentals it is being
used for rentals but not less than 30 days as the code allows the property is a single family home
it was built as a single family home and it is continuing it's never been reconfigured it is a
single family home it's also contributing to the central to the ridge avenue thematic historic
district. It was constructed in 1886. And as I said, it is today configured the same way it was
originally in 1886. I have some photographs of both. Well, this is the exterior I've already
shown you. Let me go through a series of photographs that show the existing interior
conditions. This is the entrance from Ridge Avenue from the inside. This is
one of three photographs of the living room, the second, the third, the dining
room, the kitchen, another view of the kitchen, exiting the kitchen to the rear
yard, the first of three bedrooms, the second and third, and the bathrooms. As depicted in these
photographs, the interior finishes are extraordinary, and it's a very welcoming
venue for some transient visitors to the Roxborough neighborhood. Manionk does have a bed and
breakfast on Gay Street. Roxborough, however, does not. So this use would allow members of the
community to receive guests for different events and have them stay conveniently
in the neighborhood. The civic group we met on April 3rd at St. Timothy's Church.
the civic group supports it with three requests which the owner agrees to one that their minimum
stay would be four days two that the building would not be reconfigured in a multi-family use
so long as it's being used for this visitor accommodations it'll stay configured as a
single family home and that the advertising will not include food or entertainment it'll be
a bare bow charter. No entertainment and no food and beverage will be provided
by the owner. The rest of the materials include the required deed, zoning notice, and UPS
certification, revenue clearance, a copy of the application for appeal, as well as the photographs
of the zoning posters. Franco Sposato is in the audience if he would wave his hand.
Okay, they have been promoted to panelists, they should be coming back in shortly.
Mr. Sposato?
Can you unmute yourself, Mr. Sposato?
There we go.
Hello, can you hear me?
I can.
Sir, could you please state your name and spell for the sonographer?
yes franco f-r-a-n-c-o sposato s-p-o-s-a-t-o could you turn your video on too please so we can see you
give me a moment here let's see in the uh share screen um oh start video here we go
hi do you swear or affirm to tell the truth told truth nothing but the truth
i do please proceed counsel thank you uh mr suzato were you in the virtual audience while
i was testifying about your property on ridge avenue yes uh did you hear my statements and
are they true yes they are and do you adopt them as your own i do okay um questions from the board
is this going to be occupied pardon me this is going to be owner occupied
No, this is not owner-occupied.
Where will the trash be stored?
It's in the rear yard. It's not visible from the street.
It's brought up through this alley and put in front on collection day.
What's the justification for having it be visitor accommodations or short-term rental and not just renting it as a difficult apartment?