Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes with Proviso.
Thank you, counsel.
Thank you.
Number 14, MI 2023-005-683-1306, Calla Hill Street.
Adam Laver is the attorney.
there's a letter of support
non-opposition from
the Calahill Neighborhood Association
and a letter of non-opposition
from Council Member Squilla
Good morning Mr. Chairman
You've already been sworn just for the record
could you please state your name?
Adam Laver
L.A. V.S. and Victor
E.R. Blank Rome 1 Logan Square
Could you identify your client, their relationship to the property?
Certainly, Mr. Chairman.
Blanchrome represents LLCP Callow-Hill LLC and its principal, Michael Wax, W-A-C-H-S, owner of the subject property.
And our vice chair has just a few questions for you, sir.
Thank you.
Counsel, do you agree to waive the reading of the refuse or stipulate to its accuracy?
Yes, Mr. Vice Chairman, I do.
Have you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits to proceed with this case five days in advance of this hearing?
Yes, Mr. Shahid, I have.
Thank you. Please proceed and show your screen.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
On the screen before you is the subject property.
It is the under construction property here with green insulation, green building materials.
just to place it in context for you. As members of the board are familiar, this section of the
city was formerly very industrial in nature, and you can see the amazing buildings surrounding like
this property just to the north and other tall
masses of structure which are non-conforming in nature and leave something of a canyon effect
in this area. But it's a neighborhood that's very desirable to people who have been there for long
and people who want to come and make it home. By way of background, the board previously approved
the new construction that you can see here under construction, completing construction of a seven story.
see here uh under construction completing construction of a seven-story multi-family
apartment building with 181 residential units round floor retail commercial along callow hill
interior loading and 55 off street interior accessory parking spaces the record reflects
past support for the project which has been renewed as i believe mr chairman you mentioned
at the start of the hearing, I'd like to mention the prior position of support from the coordinating
RCO, which was, quote, the CNA board supports the project unanimously, and we appreciate the
density at this long vacant lot in our neighborhood, end quote. The application before the board today
concerns accessory signage only, accessory signage to make this project successful in the community
and in the greater Philadelphia area. The property itself is approximately 34,233 square feet in size.
And you'll see in these photos running on Callow Hill Street and here on the left or to the east
13th Street. To the west is the Hanover Apartments of Parkway Corporation Development
And sharing a party wall with the subject property is Reds and Sons, a beloved by many auto mechanic that's been there for quite some time.
Here's another photograph just to give you a sense.
The subject property is owned CMX4.
The proposal, as I mentioned, concerns accessory signage.
Two signs, one that I'm indicating with my cursor, a projecting sign along Callow Hill Street at the eastern portion of the facade, three feet wide by 17 feet, eight inches tall, total projection of three feet, 10 inches, 15 feet, six inches above grade.
In addition, along that shared party wall with the auto body, a leasing banner facing east along 13th Street, 18 feet wide by 27 feet tall between the second and fifth stories.
Here you can see a rendering of the leasing banner. I'd like to note that this has been revised following discussions with the community and depicts the name of the building, Hannah, and the muse, if you will.
And here you can see the proposed projecting sign in an elegant Art Deco-like black and white.
I bring up a letter that was shared with the community concerning low-level lumens.
This is dated December 14, 2023, to which ownership absolutely will abide.
The notice of refusal concerns the tight restrictions on signage, restrictions that this board has deemed appropriate for variance for other projects in the area, likely based upon the nonconformities that I mentioned and the uniqueness of the properties there.
The scale of the proposed signage in the context of the existing site and surrounding nonconformity structures meets the scope and spirit of the code.
There is support documentation from the coordinating RCO.
We appreciated the collaboration with Callow Hill Neighborhood Association.
And I note that their letter states that the association, quote, finds the size, height, and projection dimensions of the signage to be acceptable.
We appreciate that the applicant took our recommendation to redesign the marketing banner sign, end quote.
This sentence goes directly to the nature of the variance relief being requested, and Council Member Squilla offers his non-opposition as well.
Mr. Chairman and members of the board, the authorization of variance relief will not alter the character of the neighborhood or district or be detrimental to the public welfare.
Indeed, should the board grant the requested relief, it will allow a project to succeed where hardship had previously been determined on the site.
The proposal fits into the surrounding neighborhood as evidenced by the non-opposition of neighbors, which speaks to the granting of relief being a benefit to the public and within the spirit of the zoning code.
The proposed variance would represent the minimum variance to afford relief and will
and will represent the least modification possible of the regulations at issue.
represent the least modification possible of the regulations at issue.
The grant of variance relief will not substantially increase congestion in the public streets,
increase the danger of fire or otherwise endanger the public health, safety, or general welfare.
In fact, it would be legitimate to note that actually having these two signs will allow the
property to be more easily identifiable and be a benefit to the safety this will not adversely
affect transportation or unduly burdened water sewer school park or other public facilities
there are no environmental issues mr wax the owner is here to adopt and affirm at the appropriate
time thank you bring him on mr labor mr wax would you kindly raise your virtual hand to be
acknowledged by Chairman Bergman. They've been allowed to speak. Good morning, Mr. Wax. Could
you state your name, please, and spell for the sonographer? Michael Wax, W-A-C-H-S. Right. Do
you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Proceed,
Mr. Laver. Thank you. Mr. Wax, have you been present during the entirety of the virtual
hearing before the city of philadelphia's owning board of adjustment in this matter
i have and would you adopt and affirm the testimony that i've offered this morning as your own
i would thank you questions from the board
no chair no mr chairman no chair questions or comments from our attorney hillograms
Ms. Laver, just one quick question.
You mentioned that there were some changes made as a result of community feedback.
Did any of those changes impact the location or size of the proposed signs?
Mr. No, Ms. Emerson.
The revisions addressed content in a way that was favorable to the community, and we were
pleased to have the opportunity to do that.
Ms. Thank you.
Of course.
Questions or comments from the virtual audience?
I do not see any further answers, Mr. Chair.
Planning Commission.
Thank you, Chairman, and good morning, David Fecta with the City Planning Commission.
Chairman and board members, the comprehensive plan recommends no change to the commercial mixed-use zoning at this location.
The signed standards in the Vine Street area overlay district were designed to comply with PennDOT requirements.
Since this building does not front on Vine Street, the City Planning Commission believes the variances for maximum allowable wall sign area and maximum allowable wall sign height, the two variances triggered by the Vine Street overlay, are supportable.
With regard to the other three-dimensional variances for maximum allowable sign area, sign height, and sign projection, the proposed signs would appear to be needed to signify that the building is residential.
The City Planning Commission recommends that the board grant all of the proposed dimensional variances for signs.
Thank you.
MI 2023-005-683-1306, Cal Hill Street, I vote yes.
Thomas Holloman, my vote is yes.
James Snell, my vote is yes.
Ishmael Shahid, my vote is yes.
Thank you, Mr. Laver.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
it. Have a good afternoon. Thank you. Is there anyone in the virtual audience who had a case
at 930 and the case has not been called? Mr. Chair, Sherman Toppin has his hand raised again.
I will love him to speak at this time. One more. Yes, Mr. Chair, 28, 2908
Carnwath Street, I believe is scheduled today. I must have missed that along the way. I'm sorry
about that that's fine mr top and this is hillary that case is on the 330 list this afternoon yeah
yeah yeah i thought i missed it sherman i'm sorry about that oh i probably had both of them on my
calendar at the same time so that's that that's understandable good is there anyone else whose
case has not been called i do not see any further answer mr chair thank you everyone see everyone at
two o'clock. Thank you very much. Thank you.
You know, we're at you. Yeah, chair. We have 53 attendees. You can proceed as you wish.
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Bill Bergman, and I will be chairing this afternoon's
CBA hearings. With me is our Vice Chair Ismail Shahid.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Also here is our Board Member Thomas Holliman.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
And our board member, James Snell.
And our Board Member James Snell.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Present, Mr. Chairman.
Present also is Hillary Emerson, our attorney, and our executive director, Tanya Sunken.
Here's our virtual foreman.
We advise the proceedings are being recorded.
Video will be available by contacting TanyaSunken at phila.gov.
For benefit of our court stenographers, we ask attorneys and witnesses to identify themselves before testifying.
If you're participating by phone and you wish to testify, press star 9 to raise your hand and star 6 to unmute.
To win an appearance statement, call 267-270-5548.
Leave your email and address to the property in question.
And finally, the question answer box on the screen is not for comments or testimony.
All comments should be directed to our Executive Director, Tanya Sunken.
Let's look at our schedule for this afternoon.
Number three, MI 2023-006-620-5421 Baltimore Avenue, number TA-445876.
That case is continued.
Is there anyone who has comments relative to that case?
Are there any other requests for continuances?
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. This is Jason Hand. Once again, I will be the co-host for today.
Thank you.
Hal Shermer has his hand raised. I've allowed him to speak.
Yes. Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Shermer, how are you? Could you state your name for the record and spell it for the court
reporter?
Yes. Name is Hal Shermer, H-A-L-S-C-H-I-R-M-E-R.
Go ahead. I'm sorry.
Sorry, swear me and forgot.
Right.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
What case do you want to speak of, sir?
This is in regard to 1954 Patterson, FDR Park.
It's MI-2023-006162.
I'm actually filling in.
I know that another attorney is working on the case, has requested a continuance.
I believe the two RCOs have requested a continuance.
So I am here to make sure that that request got in front of the board correctly.
Why don't we do this?
Let's there's two other attorneys involved.
Meredith Trago and also Leonard Reuter.
Mr. Chair, this is Hillary.
I just wanted to note for the record, I received a response from Meredith Trago,
who's working with matt mcclure on this case who has his hand raised i received a response to a
request for continuance but we the board never received a request for continuance so we're not
we're never clear that there was one and who was making it but mr shirmer if you could just clarify
who you're who you're representing because it we're aware there was one out there but it never
got sent directly to us and it wasn't clear who it was from. Oh, right now I'm representing two
neighbors, Rich Guerrilla and Anissa George. My understanding is that the RCOs submitted requests
for continuances and another attorney had been working on the case, Mr. Sam Stratton,
who had put in a request, but we weren't entirely certain whether it had gotten through and
apparently it hadn't yes no no no requests came directly to the board i only got a response and
it was hard to tell who had submitted the original request so okay the original should have been from
mr stretton so i'm okay here essentially uh short batting for him to make sure that the request went
through i'm glad that i no that's that's fine thank you thank you may i may respond hi hi mr
mcclure could you state your name please and spell for the courts the knocker thank you mr chairman
I'm Matthew McClure, M-A-T-T-H-E-W, McClure's M-C-C-L-U-R-E, with the law firm of Ballard Spahr, B-A-L-L-A-R-D-S-P-A-H-R, at 1735 Market Street.
I'm here with my colleague, Meredith Trego.
Hold on one minute.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, sir.
Okay, let me get Leonard on, please.
Leonard?
Leonard Reuter, if you're in the virtual audience, please raise your hand.
They've been allowed to speak.
Hi, thank you.
I don't believe I've swore you in yet today.
You have not.
Could you state your name, please, and spell for the courts and arms?
Sure. Leonard F. Reuter, that's R-E-U-T-E-R, senior attorney for the city of Philadelphia.
You swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
I do. Leonard, I'm going to start with you first. You want to make a statement relative to this case?