difficulties now i wanted to show you that that uh and i'll do that in a minute but anyway and i
have my neighbor next to me vince de leo he's on site have him have him put his name can we have
him put his name and address on the record please can he hear me yes yes yes okay let me raise the
hand mr de leo wait a minute wait a minute he's in the room with them wait a minute wait a minute
Wait a minute. If you have somebody who wants to testify, just have him say his name and I'll swear him in.
Go ahead.
Vincent DeLeo.
Could you state your name and spell it for the court reporter?
Vincent DeLeo, V-I-N-C-E-N-T, D-I, capital L-E-O.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, I will.
Okay. Go ahead, Mr. DeMarco.
Just in your own words, Mr. DiLeo, tell the board where you live in relation to this property and if you support the requested relief.
I live in the 5100 block of Knox Street.
The next block, right? That's the next block, right?
Yes, yes.
Go ahead.
And there's plenty of parking over there. I haven't really seen any problems.
Like, like Jerry said, there's like every three houses, they have driveways and they can fit three, three to four cars in those driveways.
So I don't, I don't see where it's any problem.
You know, it's like I said, it's been there over 25 years.
And like I said, it'd be devastating to have to, you know, try to convert it back to a single family dwelling.
All right.
Is that your case, Mr. DeMarco?
Pretty much, Mr. Chair.
We had an RCO meeting.
It was an odd scenario.
There was only one neighbor.
It was Mr. Mingo who voiced support for the application.
And the rest were just members of the RCO.
And he was the only neighbor there, and he was in support.
And so all the neighbors that we have spoken to support the application because it's a long time.
It's been there a long time.
There are a handful of other multifamily dwellings on the lot, but it would be, and my clients are of limited means.
They're local. They're in the neighborhood. They're not absentee landlords. There's trash storage.
They have longtime tenants who appreciate the opportunity to live there, and it would be a difficult and a catastrophe for them to have to convert to single family, and they lack the means to do it, and it's not of their own making.
the hardship is not one that they created they inherited it from their parents so i would say
there's go ahead that that's all i have thank you question questions from the board no mr chairman
oh mr chairman questions from the virtual audience or comments uh chair bergman this is tanya
i hate to interrupt but i just wanted to confirm that we have um the letter from the community um
and the position is opposed.
We do.
Okay, thank you.
That's fine.
Questions from the virtual audience.
Anybody have a question?
Mr. Chair, I have Ms. Alice with her hand raised.
Mr. Chair, I have Ms. Allison with her hand raised.
Hi, could you state your name and spell for the court reporter?
Yes, Allison, A-double-L-I-S-O-N, Weiss, W-E-I-S-S, Solo Germantown Civic Association.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
proceed yes thank you uh we were the overlapping rco and affected rco and we attended the rco
meeting and the community felt that they were not presented interior photographs to substantiate
the claim that this property has been a two-family property because we could not find
any records to indicate that that there has been uh rental licenses or permits to
uh construct a two-family or any kind of uh you know information that would show that this had
been and is a two-family situation so the community was opposed
there were four members who opposed thank you and thank you for calling in so mr demarco do
you want to very brief response mr chairman uh the community as it's defined would be the near
neighbors who received notice of this of the meeting and none of them have voiced objections
in fact the only neighbor that attended the zoom a meeting was mr mingo who was in support the
other members, so-called members of the community, were the coordinating RCO and Ms. Weiss who had
issues with the application. But the actual neighbors that are impacted and are nearby,
such as Mr. DeLeo and Mr. Mingo, have no objection to it. So my client has testified truthfully that
this property has been a duplex for 25 years. We've shown you the multiple meters. There's
multiple water heaters, and I'm having trouble showing my screen, but I'm going to, anyway,
there's the meters. There's clear proof that it's an existing duplex. My client has long-term
tenants, but I understand that Ms. Weiss had concerns and doesn't think that this is a duplex,
but we can't get a rental license because this is why my clients are here now. They're trying
to get this resolved they're trying to get this finally legalized it's been that way for 25 years
their mother did it and jerry can you just verify did your mother was your late mother
that converted the property to a duplex while she owned it is that right
jerry are you there okay all right all right mr demarco i understand
i understand everything you're saying thank you for your time planning commission i'm sorry chair
This is Tanya. We do have a representative from the council's office. Mr. Richardson,
may we acknowledge him? Sure. Thank you. I'm allowed to speak.
Thank you again. Mr. Richardson, just state your name, please. Sure. Charles Richardson,
Office of Councilwoman Cindy Bass from 312 City Hall. Also, the 12th Ward coordinating RCO did
send something, but they sent something late as, you know, unfortunately it did not reach you.
There is also an opposition. Councilwoman feels that she never likes to do legalizations, especially since the folks did conversions without the benefit of permits or anything along those lines.
We do note that there was a rental license back in 2004, which has lapsed since then, but that seemed to be for a single family household that they were renting out, not as a duplex or multifamily.
So the Councilwoman is opposed to granting this variance.
Thank you.
Planning Commission.
Ron Bednar, City Planning.
The property is indicated for a residential on the city plan.
Our adopted district plan recommends no changes to the existing single-family resident zoning at this location.
the applicant's hardship is not supported with evidence of unique physical circumstances or
condition of the property that were prevented from being used in conformity with the code therefore
we recommend the request of variance not to be granted thank you MI 2021 002429 5012
Knox Street I vote no Harold Tenere my vote is no Thomas Holloman my vote is no
Ishmael Shahi, my vote is no.
Ishmael Shaheed my vote is no
Thank you.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Is there anyone in the virtual audience whose case has not been heard?
Still waiting?
Thanks, everyone.
Thanks, everyone.
Long day, but we appreciate it.
Thank you.
Have a good night.
this is an early night though but we do have someone we're doing okay we're doing okay with
times yeah so we have um craig maladocious his hand is raised and we have another person if you
can allow them to speak we have a case we have people with their hands up after your last
question. Oh, okay, sure. Yeah, absolutely. Oh, it's the Eastwood Community Group.
Mr. Craig Melodosian had his hand right now. Good afternoon. Hi, could you state your name
and spell it for the court reporter? Yes, Craig, C-R-A-I-G, last name Melodosian, M-E-L-I-D-O-S-I-A-N.
I'm the coordinating RCO
Ward 40 Republican RCO
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
What case are you talking about?
Well, on the calendar appears
6101 Harley Avenue
This had been previously
continued
So, I guess the reason I've raised my hand is a point of clarification.
The original applicant who appeared before us had engaged in illegal construction on the back of his property.
Right.
When it came to the first hearing.
I'm sorry.
We can't really discuss the case if the applicant is not here, but it was the last one on the list here.
Okay, I'm sorry.
I, yeah, I, I, I, I don't, okay, fine.
Oh, so Mr. Maladolson, just hold a second.
Let's see if the applicant is here.
Uh, let's see if we have, we do have a quorum.
Right.
Kwong Lee?
I have a lot of, um, to speak.
He should be promoted.
he's the applicant i understand
mr lee has been promoted
hi mr lee
mr lee could you state your could you state your name and spell for the court reporter
you need to unmute yourself if you there you go
Hi, could you state your name
and spell for the court reporter?
My name is W-E-N-Q-I-A-N-G-L-I
Do you swear for him to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Are you ready to go on with your case today?
Chair, if I can ask,
sir, do you have your documents
available to present on the screen yes okay chair okay so mi 2021 002611 6101 harley avenue
um our vice chair has a few questions for you hi have you emailed the exhibit packet with all
of the required documents consisting of proof of ownership tax compliance a copy of the refusal or
referral photos and or plans of the property five days in advance of this hearing and have you met
with the rco and do you have a letter we have we have the letters
Mr. Lee do you have all your did you send all your documents in
Tanya do we have all those documents yes Mr. Letta's comments do say that it appears that
everything was provided and they're good to go right we have a letter of opposition
just for your information.
I see it, yep.
Mr. Lee, take your screen
and you can start.
Give us, give us access to your screen.
Give us
access to your screen.
Okay, sir, you have two devices on.
One is like a Yai Ting Zhao, and then one you have.
You have to mute the other one, and then present your device.
Thank you.
um sir so if someone is assisting you yes yes good morning this is a yawking show
wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute he can testify but we just need to get his
his could you put his things up on him on the screen okay i'm sorry cheer this is tanya again
Mr. Lee, do you need an interpreter? Because legally, we would have to provide an interpreter
for you. You cannot use someone in the family to interpret. So please respond to that question.
Yes, we have a partner.
I'm sorry?
Yeah, we have another applicant on the other line. Can you connect to me?
okay but i'm asking do you need an interpreter we would have to continue the case if you need
an interpreter we have to get an interpreter for you you cannot use someone in your family
or friend to interpret yes yes you need an interpreter yes i do so that's why i'm stating
we would have to continue this case we're legally bound to have a neutral interpreter
so no one from the family can i can i do the interpreter as you know as a friend no you cannot
sir all righty so what i could do is i can work with you to get a quick turnaround
for a continuance and um chair bergman i would recommend that we continue this case
because we are legally bound
I understand, I understand
that's good
Mr. Chairman
I represent you on the other line
as an applicant
so can they represent me?