And it appears that you've submitted all the required documents.
I would just like to add the meeting summary from the RCO as an exhibit.
I can forward it.
I can forward it.
Thank you.
You may proceed.
Thank you.
May I share my screen?
Sure you may.
is everyone able to see that
yes okay thank you um madam chair mr chair um as you see in the packet and members of the board
um we have the zoning permit application the application for appeal
the project information form and if i'm going too fast please let me know i just want to get
through this for you um the deed for the property it's in the name of kimberly deerstein d-e-r-s-t-i-n-e
the certificate of tax clearance the impacted neighbors who were served with a notice for the
hearing, the proof of mailing, as well as the proof of posting
on the property for the hearing.
This is the refusal.
We're seeking a variance for an erection of a multifamily
household unit containing six units.
The RCO met, and their concerns were for the roof deck.
So we agreed that we would submit the proposal with a proviso
with no roof deck.
At this time, showing the plans.
Here you see what the plans will provide for six units.
And again, we will submit a proviso with no roof deck.
At this time, I would like to show the photographs.
This is a view facing 1720 North 24th Street.
you see here the property this is the rear of 1720 north 24th street
This is the rear of 1720 North 24th Street.
This is a view looking to the left of 1720 North 24th Street towards Ridge Avenue.
A view looking across from 1720 North 24th Street.
This is a view to the right looking down towards Clifford Street, the 2400 block.
This is a view of 1721 North 25th Street.
this is a property that was similarly developed this is a view of 1737 north 24th street again
another property that has been similarly developed and this is a view of 2410 clippard street this
is a properly down property down the street uh from 1720 north 24th street that has been
similarly developed at this time this is the meeting summary form from the meeting that occurred
on March 16, 2020. I'm sorry. It occurred on March 2, 2022, and there was no opposition except for
the provision of no roof deck. At this time, if there are no questions, I'd like to call
Kimberly Deerstein.
Deerstein has been allowed to speak.
Could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, please?
Kimberly Derstein.
D-E-R-S-T-I-N-E.
Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Good morning, Ms. Derstein.
Could you please state your relationship to the property?
I'm the owner.
Thank you.
And did you hear my testimony on your presentation today?
I did.
and do you agree and adopt the presentation and testimony given here today for the purposes of
the property located at 1720 north 24th street yes i do thank you i have no further questions
questions from the board
no mr chairman questions or comments from the virtual audience
we have a handout by leslie um coldwell i will allow them to speak at this time if that is okay
Yes. Could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, please?
Could you unmute? Please unmute if you were to speak.
Hello? I'm sorry.
No, that's okay. State your name and spell for the court reporter, please.
I'm Leslie Caldwell. L-E-S-L-I-E-C-A-L-D-W-E-L-L. Anyway, my sister Kelly-
Wait a minute. Wait one minute.
You swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Proceed.
I was just saying my sister Kelly Lewis is on here, but y'all, she can hear everything, but y'all cannot hear her.
That's for a different case, I believe, Mr. Chair.
That's the one that was before this.
That was before.
I'm sorry.
Anyone have a comment from the virtual audience about 1720 North 24th Street?
i see no other hands mr chair planning commission morning chair bergman this is ian hegarty
representing the philadelphia city planning commission last name hegarty h-e-g-a-r-t-y
do you swear for him to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
yes sir i do
all right thank you board members uh in 2014 the zoning map was amended in this area in accord
with recommendations from the comprehensive plan, this parcel was intentionally not changed
at CMX2 zoning. Under the CMX2 zoning, two dwelling units and a ground floor commercial
unit would be permitted on this lot, which is just over 1,000 square feet. While we agree
that a hardship exists for strict adherence to the ground floor commercial requirement,
we believe the degree of the variance being requested in this case exceeds the minimum
necessary to make viable use of the property. So our recommendation in this case would be for
the board to grant the variance but to permit only up to three dwelling units.
MI 2021 004628 1720 North 24th Street. I vote yes. Proviso only three units and no roof deck.
Carol Tenere my vote is yes with proviso. Thomas Holloman my vote is yes with proviso.
James Snell yes with proviso. Ishmael Shaheed yes with proviso.
Thank you.
Mr. Chair, can we go back one more time to that case earlier?
Sure, Chair.
Kelly Lewis, please raise your hand in order to be recognized.
Ms. Lewis has her hand raised.
Do I promote her?
Please.
yes please jason
so we're coming back in as panelists
um miss lewis could yes i'm here could you state your name and spell it for the court reporter
k-e-l-l-e-w-i-s right do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the
truth? I do. Our vice chair has a few questions for you. Okay. Good morning. I assume that you've
submitted all of the required documents. I have. Thank you. You may proceed. Hold on a minute.
Isn't there an attorney involved in this case too for the opposition? Yes. Could we promote
joshua horvitz please jason thank you ever so kindly
he'll be coming back in as a panelist mr chair do you want me to re-ask him that
um i i think you've represents the local yeah no he's just a attorney for the opposition yeah
mr harwood state your name and spell for the court reporter please
Joshua Horvitz, J-O-S-H-H-O-R-V-I-T-Z of Feynman, Craxena, and Harris on behalf of the Protestants.
All right.
Do you swear for him to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Thank you.
Ms. Lewis, proceed.
Could you take your documents and put it on the screen, please?
I will.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I have them on the screen.
Thank you.
You want me to go through them now?
Please.
Thank you.
This is my notice of refusal for 1501 South 50th Street exhibit, first exhibit.
The next notice is my zoning notice that I put up for March 16th, which is today at 930.
I posted it on February 20th.
The next exhibit is the Certificate of Tax Clarence, which is the Certificate of Compliance from the Zoning Board.
This next exhibit is my deed from Mr. Lorenzo Gorn that was deeded to me, Kelly Lewis, which I purchased from him at 1501 South 50th Street, the address we're talking about right now.
This is the rest of the deed.
And the next page is the transfer tax certificate.
And here are the plans for the property at 1501 South 50th Street.
February 20th is the date I posted for this meeting today, March 16th.
This is a side entrance of 49th and Paschal.
And here is the zoning board notice posted, and on February 20th, the same picture is
posting of the zoning for the zoning board for today's hearing on 49th and pascal
another picture of the area in question 50th and 50th street and this is the front entrance
of 1501 south 50th which i posted on february 20th for today's hearing
and this is another posting for february 20th of the side entrance 49th and pascal
and this is the location 1501 south 50th street this would be the entrance and this is a dead
end block with two houses located next door which are vacant
same picture
and these are the receipts for which i had the mailings sent out they were certified through
the U.S. mail to the RCO community for the hearing, for the meeting for the community.
to the RCO community for the hearing,
with the meeting for the community.
And this is the letter that was sent out
to the RCO community stating the hearing
that took place with the RCO community.
And this is from Southwest Philadelphia District Services,
the letter that was given to me
and also said to zoning that they showed that they were in support of my zoning for 1501 South 50th
Street. And that's the end of my exhibits. Thank you. Questions from the board? No,
Mr. Chairman. No, Mr. Chairman. No, Mr. Chairman.
next. Before I open up to the virtual audience, Mr. Goodman from Councilwoman Gauthier's office
sent an email with the following statement. The council member sees a child care center like this
one as a use that is community serving and complementary to a residential block, similar
to how there is corner commercial uses on residential blocks all over our council district.
There are precedents for this specific use on similar blocks throughout west and southwest
Philadelphia. Our office has received outreach from constituents about perceived impacts of the
child care center should their variance be granted. It is our belief that these perceived impacts
are small enough in scale that we can anticipate and avoid through thoughtful planning and care.
For this reason, our office commits to offer our support in convening or facilitating meetings
between the property owner and near neighbors should the variance be granted
and should there be relevant parties want our help in doing so.
We, of course, believe that the operator would care deeply about the safety of their facility
as the success of this business would depend upon it.
And we want to do our part
to make sure any perceived impacts are minimized.
Mr. Horowitz, do you want to?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
I only have a couple of questions for Ms. Lewis.
Briefly, I just want to mention,
and to Ms. Lewis as well,
I represent the Protestants in this case,
nearby neighbors.
You'll see in our case in chief,
we've submitted a petition
with over 40 close neighbors that have signed their name in opposition,
including many of the properties very close to this one,
and large ones and small ones alike.
And the people I represent are Diane Settles, Estelle Alley,
Bukola Adekoji, and Paschal Partners LP.
I do have some stuff to present, just to briefly preview to the board,
including about the RCO meeting.
we differ with what the result was even on the paperwork that was submitted to you it says that
there was a six to six vote but several of the people and anyway my people will testify to it
but several people left early and recount that anyway um but um with regards to miss lewis um
and then i'll have a case um to present when she's done but if i miss lewis i just have a couple
questions for you. I looked at your materials for the first time today, so perhaps I missed
something, but did you submit a traffic study by a traffic engineer? No, I did not submit a traffic
study by a traffic engineer, but I also know it's an area that... That's fine. So
So I understand that you operate a daycare elsewhere.
Is that correct?
My daughter and myself operated daycare a few years ago.
It's no longer operable.