We've been waiting all day for this, but go ahead.
Could you state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Certainly.
Charles Richardson, R-I-C-H-A-R-D-S-O-N, Office of Councilwoman Cindy Bass Room, 508 City Hall.
Do you swear or affirm the tell the truth, told truth, nothing but the truth?
Please proceed.
Councilwoman has no opposition to granting the variance.
Thank you very much for taking the time to call.
Anyone else in the audience?
No further answer, Mr. Chair.
no further answers thank you planning commission thank you chairman and board members good evening
david effecto with the city planning commission the comprehensive plan recommends no change to
the rm1 residential multifamily zoning at this location the zoning in this part of the neighborhood
dates to 1933 the appellant proposes to install projected signs at the entrance to an elementary
school the appellant has shown that the proposed projecting signs will not injure the use of
adjacent property the city planning commission recommends the board grant the proposed use
variance for projecting signs thank you mi 2025 001 548 926 to 76 east chelton avenue i vote yes
michael johns my vote is yes cheryl gaston my vote is yes tenetta graham my vote is yes
ryan mcadams my vote is yes i win my vote is yes thank you council number 11 mi 2025
0-0-1-5-5-4
South Juniper Street.
Richard DeMarco is the attorney.
There's a letter of support from the
Veterans Stadium Neighbors Civic Association.
There should be
coming back in as a panel shortly. Sure.
Thank you.
there we go takes forever to join Mr. Chairman hi Mr. DeMarco how are you could you please state
your name and spell for the stenographer hey it's Richard DeMarco last name spelled d-e-m-a-r-c-o
you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth
yes could you identify your client your relationship to the property
Yeah, Michael Locantor is the owner.
And do you waive the reading of the refusal and agree with its accuracy?
Why don't you start your presentation?
Thank you.
All right, Mr. Chairman, this is a dimensional variance for, let me put the refusal up.
Can you see my screen?
We can.
is it's the eight foot setback variance for the third story. This this is around the corner from
me. This is a neighborhood very that I'm very familiar with. This particular street is Juniper
Street. So the only variance we require is we're asking for is the eight foot to not have to set
back the eight foot on the third story. This variance has been granted in this particular
community by this board on several other very recent occasions that the RCO that I'm also
involved with is fully in support of these types of variances, especially on Juniper Street.
So what I want to show you about that is the Juniper Street properties, this is the front
photo, they're very shallow. So if you look here,
they're very shallow. So if you look here, you only have basically a 36-foot depth of the
property. So when you do the third story, if you have to set back the eight feet, it cuts in
significantly into the third story and makes it extremely difficult to pull it off. I'll show you
the site plan real quick, and you'll see what I mean. I'm sorry, I meant the floor plan. If you
look at the floor plan here, this is the stairwell that's already existing, and you have to connect
the stairwell to that third story. So the eight-foot setback does create a very difficult
situation. We as a community have supported these types of variances. The neighbors were
not in opposition. As a matter of fact, a few people came in and support. Other people do want
going to do this type of thing in the future. I don't know that I will be doing it, but many other
people have taken advantage of it, and we do as a neighborhood support that because the properties
are only two stories, and it's a nice neighborhood, and they're very squat properties. They have some
good open space, but they're very shallow. The tax clearance, so to zero tax balance,
The only other thing I want to say about that, he did try to download it. It was saying that he passed the tax clearance, but he was unable to download the actual sheet. But there's a zero tax balance. And I know that we're sure that he's clear, but we had trouble getting the actual.
I think we're okay with that.
All right. Very good. So I'll ask, under those circumstances, we have support from the RCO. The neighbors are in support of the variance. I'll ask you to promote Michael Locantore to panelists so he can adopt my statement.
My statements.
So, Mike, raise your hand virtually at this time.
We'll be back in as a panelist shortly, counsel.
Mike, can you hear me?
I can hear you. Can you hear me?
Yes, sir. Michael, could you, thank you.
Could you state your name and spell for the stenographer?
Michael Locontore, M-I-C-H-A-E-L-L-O-C-A-N-T-O-R-E.
Do you swear or affirm that tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Mr. DeMarco, please proceed.
Mr. Locontore, did you hear my factual presentation of the board today?
I did.
It is a true and accurate. And can you adopt it as your formal testimony in this matter?
Yes, I can. Mr. Chairman, with that, I would move into move my exhibits in the evidence, ask and I rest.
Thank you. Questions from the board. A little punchy after all that waiting.
How many other third story editions have been built on Juniper Street?
uh on juniper
i believe there's three three three yeah and i know gary street has has one uh my block has
three neighboring block has two um yeah and do any of the ones that have already been built
Did they also skip having the third floor set back?
They all have not stepped back, and they have all received variances for that.
There's maybe one or two that predated the change to the code that required this variance,
but this board has granted, I think, about eight of the variances recently on this.
And have you talked to your contiguous neighbors at 3222 and 3218?
Yes. Yes, I have. And are they both in support of your proposal?
Full support on board with it. Yeah, I did instruct Mr. Locontore to speak with them and he did so.
And no one was in opposition at the neighborhood meeting.
Okay. And then what's the proposed new use for the third floor?
I'm sorry. You want to go ahead, Mike? It's the single bedroom for the single family home.
Yeah. So basically the third floor, we're just going to have master bath, master bedroom. We're going to have the washer and dryer up there and a closet, walk-in closet for the bedroom.
Other questions?
And this will still have a driveway? Does it have a driveway?
Yes. There's a driveway in the back of the house as long as with a parking spot.
Yeah, there's a private rear drive that serves all of the homes on.
that's right here questions questions or comments from our attorney hillary emerson
That's right here.
Questions or comments from our attorney?
not at this time mr chair questions or comments from the virtual audience
you're not seeing any hands raised for the matter mr chair planning commission
good evening chairman and board members david effecto with the city planning commission
chairman and board members the comprehensive plan recommends no change to the rsa5 residential
single family zoning at this location the city rezoned this neighborhood in 2018 in accord with
recommendations in the comprehensive plan at that time this property was zoned rm1 residential
multifamily the appellant has not shown that they would suffer an economic detriment if they were
forced to comply the dimensional requirements in the rsa5 zoning district city planning commission
recommends the board deny the proposed dimensional variance thank you mi2025 001 554 3220 south
Juniper Street, I vote yes.
Michael Johns, my vote is yes.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is yes.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is yes.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is yes.
Ryan Wood, my vote is yes.
Thank you, Mr. DeMarco.
Thank you, everyone. Have a great night.
Is there anyone in the audience who a 2 o'clock case has not been called?
Don't let any answer, Mr. Chair.
Okay, we're going to go right to the 3.30 list.
good afternoon everyone my name is bill berkman and i will be chairing this meeting of the zoning
board of adjustment with me is our board member cheryl l gaston president mr chairman board
member tanetta graham president mr chairman or board member michael johns president mr chairman
our board member ty winn president or board member ryan mcadams president mr chairman also
President is our Attorney Hillary Emerson, the Zoning Board Director Ian Haggerty, and our Board
Administrator Lakeisha Dandy. A record of this hearing will be posted on the ZBA website.
By participating, you consent to be recorded. This is an in-person meeting with remote capabilities.
Whether remote or in person, if you call to speak, you must state and spell your name
and then wait to be sworn in. Once you've been sworn in, please state your name each time before
beginning your testimony any person may enter their appearance to become an interested party
to a case there are three ways to enter your appearance you can identify the case property
address on your zoom webinar you can see a staff member or you can call the cba appearance line
by the close of business tomorrow call 267-270-5548 leave a message that includes your
email address and the address of the property appeal case the following guidance is for our
remote attendees. First, when directed by the chair, you must raise your virtual hand
in order to be recognized to speak. Second, if you are called to testify, you'll be prompted
to join as a panelist. Please accept the request and turn on your camera. Third, the webinar Q&A
is for questions about the hearing. Do not comment on cases in the Q&A. And fourth, if you're
participating by phone, press star nine to raise your hand and star six to unmute. Let's look at
our schedule for this afternoon.
Number four, MI-2025-000-943-3210,
and North 5th Street.
This case is continued till
2-11-26 at 3-30.
Number 5.
MI 2025,
000-972-5200 Comley Street.
This case is continued
to 2-11-26 at 3-30.
are there any other requests for continuance
good evening mr chair this is jason hander i will be your co-host for the session
i have a hand up from evie riaz i will allow them to speak
hello good afternoon i'm here um for 45 30 brinkston rigston street 45 30 um
hold on one minute 45 30 blackston street are you the owner are you no i'm the expediter
the original expediter gone and he had an emergency we need to talk to the owner is
He had an emergency.
We need to talk to the owner.
Is the owner here, please?
The owner here, please.
No, the owner's not here.
No, he's the owner.
Okay, they're going to continue?
They're asking for a continuance?
Correct.
Number three.
Sorry, Ms. Reyes, we'll take the request this time,
but please note that we really need to receive these requests
from the property owner who is seeking the variance.
Okay, thank you.
So when is the continuous day?
We'll give that to you now.
Okay, thank you.
My 2024-005-972-4530 Blackston Street.
This case is continued to 2-11-26 at 3.30 p.m.
And Ms. Reyes, one additional question.
Will the property owner need an interpreter for this matter?
Yes, thank you so much.
What language?
Spanish. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good day, everybody. Bye-bye.
So, number one, MI 2024, 005-959, 1300-02 Harrison Street. No exhibit, second listing.
The list of the owner is Jermaine Oates.
Yeah, I do not see any hands raised, for that matter, and I do not see that person's audience.
Thank you. So this is the second listing. We have never heard from the listed owner. MI 2024-005-959, 1300-02, Harrison Street, I vote to dismiss.
Michael Johns, my vote is to dismiss.
Cheryl Gaston, my vote is to dismiss.
Tanetta Graham, my vote is to dismiss.
Ryan McAdams, my vote is to dismiss.
Iowan, my vote is to dismiss.
And number two, MI 2024-005-964-1444 North 2nd Street.
Elizabeth and Pablo Massas are the listed owners.