ZBA Hearing - May 1, 2024

There's just some more photos.

And we have interior photos as well.

Not quite sure if you're interested in seeing them.

But I think more importantly, I want to make sure that you know that we did mail 156 individual households.

It's not only the RCO meeting, which was sparsely attended, but also for today's zoning hearing.

Of course, the interior is in good shape and well-appointed.

And we have a whole host of interior shots for your review.

Because of the decades-old use being what it is, because we have the unanimous support of the registered community organization and the district council person, and because it would be entirely impossible to turn this two-family dwelling into a single-family residence for the first time in about 60 years and still

make it worth anything. We respectfully request the granting of the variants. And with that,

I'd like to call Irene Homa to the stand, if she could please raise her virtual hand.

Irene Homa has been unmuted and allowed to speak.

Irene, could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer?

i-r-i-r-e-n-e homa h-l-m-a thank you do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth

and nothing but the truth yes please proceed counsel thank you mr chair miss homa did you

hear my presentation to the board this afternoon yes is it true and accurate to the best of your

knowledge yes i just would like to also add this house has been built in 1790 and it was a two

family house from 1790 there you go so the 18th century and uh do you adopt my testimony as your

own yes thank you that's all i have nothing further mr chair thank you questions from the board

no chair no chair questions or comments from our attorney hillary emerson

not at this time mr chair questions or comments from the virtual audience

i see it oh hey is chair planning commission so i run bed and rc planning property is indicated

for residential use on the city plan given the documented use history physical conditions of

the site. Recommend the request of variance. Thank you. MI 2023-006-950-536-Mancho Street. I vote yes.

James Snell, my vote is yes. Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes. Thank you, counsel. Thank you. Have a

good evening. Okay. Number seven. Number eight. MI 2023-007-018-2346 East Allegheny Avenue. Joseph

Consul is the attorney. There's a letter of support from the Southport Richmond Civic Association.

Joseph Consul has come back in as a panelist now, Chair. Okay. And Mr. Chair, we also have a letter

non-opposition from council member squilla oh thank you uh mr council we've spoke a couple

times today just for the record state your name please joseph council could you identify your

client a relationship to the property yeah my client is miss evelyn cortez the owner of the

yeah my client is miss evelyn cortez the owner of the property our vice chair has just a few

property

questions sir well afternoon counsel do you agree to weigh the reading of the refusal or stipulate

to its accuracy i do have you emailed in all the required documents and exhibits that is needed to

proceed with this case five days in advance of this hearing yes thank you counsel please proceed

and share your screen okay uh something done all right coming packet yep we're good all right

joe console 2346 east allegheny avenue this property is owned by evelyn cortez uh if you

look back in the zoning archive uh it's been um a bunch of uses related to uh medical uses

it's been a pediatrician's office it's been administrative offices for a hospital uh and

several other uh sort of corollary uses but uh what it's not been is residential um residentially

zoned so um i'll show you the here's what the current pictures look like um from last september

it was a pediatrics office see the sign there there's the side of the building

and there's if you're on allegheny looking at the building property is zoned rsa5 but does not and

has not functioned as a single family property we're here because my client is seeking to use

the property as a child care center she uh in november received a family daycare permit but

is seeking to increase the number of children that she has in the space

and that's where we're at with this variance

we went in front of the south port richmond civic association it was um a what i thought was a very

positive meeting um there didn't seem to be any any criticism or provisos everyone seemed to like

miss cortez and her plan for for the space it's for opposition but i'm not exactly sure what that

was about here's proof of mailing sent 150 pieces and the meeting was well attended at

it was an in-person meeting at their uh the boxing gym which is a cool spot to have an rco meeting

uh included is photos and plans

showing the the space it was uh pretty easy to port over this space from the doctor's offices

to um the uh potential child care space a lot of the rooms lent themselves well and didn't

require much intervention from my client we included the deed and the proof of tax compliance

in the packet as well as a copy of the floor plans showing the layout of the property the basements

just for storage and utilities and the space for the uh the daycare will be on the first the second

floor the number of children would be determined by a review from pennsylvania based on the square

footage of the property uh with that i'll call miss cortez uh evelyn if you're there could you

raise your virtual hand.

Evelyn Cortez has been

unmuted and allowed to speak.

Hi, could you please state your name and spell

for the court stenographer?

Yes.

My name is Evelyn Cortez.

E-V-E-L-Y-N

C-O-R-T-E-Z.

You swear

or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth,

nothing but the truth?

I do. Please proceed,

counsel good evening miss cortez did you hear my um presentation just now about your property on

allegheny yes i did do you adopt it as your own yes is there anything you'd like to add to the

board no okay nothing questions from the questions from the board no chair no chair questions or

comments from our attorney hillary emberson not at this time mr sheriff questions or comments

from the virtual audience.

I see no hands at this time, Chair.

Planning Commission.

This is Ron Bednar, City Planning.

The property is currently indicated

for residential use on the city plan

or adopted district plan,

however, recommended a change

to commercial mixed-use zoning at this location.

Therefore, we recommend

the request of various programs.

Thank you.

MI 2023-007-018-2346-East Allegheny Avenue, I vote yes.

James Snell, my vote is yes.

Ishmael Shaheed, my vote is yes.

Thank you, board.

Is there anyone in the virtual audience who's...

Is there anyone in the virtual audience whose case has not been called from the 3.30 list?

I see no hands at this time, Chair.

First and foremost, Emily, thanks for coming here again.

We appreciate your help.

And thanks to everybody.

We had a, I thought it was a decent day and we got done a fairly decent time.

Thank you all.

Good job, Chair.

Thank you.

Thanks, Chair.

Thanks.

have a good night

good night everyone

good night everybody