Anyone else?
Chair, we have Heather Roman.
Hello, Heather Roman.
Hi, Heather. Please give us your full name and address.
Hi Heather, please give us your full name and address.
Yes, it's Heather Roman, 1755 Waterloo Street.
Yes, it's Heather Roman.
We're in the firm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Please proceed.
So the only, I guess, additional item, because I fully agree with everyone else's statement so far
and opposed to this property, but the only new I would just say that
And they stated that Cecil B. Moore is a commercial corridor, and I do not agree with that.
And I also would state that the zoning map that they showed was very carefully curated to show what they were wanting to present as far as zoning.
So the entirety of the rest of the housing around is still single-family housing, and that's just a very small section for zoning that was shown.
um the only other thing i would just add was that they again did not talk to any of the
neighborhood in advance of proposing this project so we would just i think that's the only other
new items aside from everything else everyone else has said thank you very much for your
testimony and your patience anyone else no more hands here rather than cross-examine mr chairman
there are just two things that i'd like to say briefly the letter from the rco uh acknowledges
that there were at least six meetings i i know i was a little taken back by that statement also
for the record howard street uh according to philadelphia water department records has uh is
50 feet wide which is not considered a small street by philadelphia standards waterloo i
would concede is a small street thank you i apologize i misspoke i thought it was a little
bit more narrow howard street okay thank you uh planning commission mr chairman and members of
the board this is mason austin representing the planning commission um the properties are
indicated for industrial use in the comprehensive plan but were rezoned in 2017 to single family
residential use multi-family housing would be allowed by a right in the retained historic
structure which would be appropriate given the proximity to the market frankfurt line
however the proposal for the rest of the site matches neither the comprehensive plan nor the
zoning and the density and height significantly exceed the number of units that would be permitted
even in nearby multi-family zones accordingly planning commission staff is opposed to the
granting of the variances thank you very much
am i somebody somebody asked me was somebody trying to speak no
okay uh mi 2020-000832-1700-06 north
mr chairman you're on mute we can't hear you frank you're on me i'll try that again
I'm sorry, all day this computer. MI 2020-000832-1700-06 North Howard Street, my vote is no.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is no.
excuse me um if you're going to vote yes on this i believe there are revised plans
is that correct mr labor i was just about to uh mention that well since i voted no who
what does the vice chair then she voted yes does she propose the uh yes that's right
right so we re-vote yes with revised plans consisting of one pages two pages
yes for proviso yes for proviso
my vote is still no and i believe mr holliman's vote is still no my vote is no
thank you okay next case mi 2020-001-530-5027 spruce street thank you mr chairman members of
the board good evening good evening Rachel please identify yourself spell your name and we'll swear
you in I'm sorry Rachel I promoted you to panelists thanks Tanya please proceed good evening chairman
members of the board rachel pritzker r-a-c-h-a-e-l p-r-i-t-z-k-e-r 1635 market street
suite 1600 philadelphia pa 19103 we're determined to tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the
truth yes please proceed carol rachel to agree to wait the reading
please proceed carol rachel do you agree to wait the reading of refusal and stipulate to its
accuracy yes do you also have you also emailed a an exhibit packet with proof of ownership tax
compliance a copy of the refusal and referral photos and or plans of the property five days
in advance to of this hearing and have you met with the rco and do you have a letter yes okay
you may proceed. Thank you. I'm going to share my screen. I'll make this brief. So this is 5027
Spruce Street. This is a proposal of an existing structure that is zoned RSA 3 that was previously
approved by this board quite a bit ago for four units. We are proposing a fifth dwelling unit
and are looking to obtain a variance for this fifth dwelling unit and a waiver from the required
parking and residential district. I will show you photos of the property, but it's an existing
structure um located on 50th and spruce with no ability to provide the three parking spaces
um just so that the board is aware there are many other multi-family properties um on this
block specifically because the properties on this block tend to be quite large in nature
for example our property is uh again rsa3 but it's about a 5100 square foot structure on a
2 000 square foot lot and given the additional livable space in the lower level of this structure
we are seeking to add an additional unit to provide a more affordable unit for the neighborhood.
These are the neighboring properties that the board can see. 20, 23, 25, 29, 31, 33, and 41 are
all multifamily despite being RSA 3 properties. And again, our property is the largest on this
block at 5,100 square foot building on a 2,000 square foot lot. We met with the coordinating RCO,
tax clearance, the deed. Again, this is just the zoning map of the area so the port can see.
Aerial photos, you can see how large the structure is compared to the neighboring structures.
We met with the coordinating RC. This is an outside photo of the property.
Just want to make a point to show the storage space right now, as you can see,
um with has um not only windows for egress but there are is a door up to grade as i know um
is important for uh egress and uh fire considerations so we are compliant that
way just want to make sure to show that to the board these are the other units just so the board
can see let me um see if we put the other ones in here these are all the other units five units
um here so as you can see there's a door up to grade so it's not nobody's going to be climbing
out of these windows you can actually access this unit separately um so that was important
consideration and then lastly we met with the uh here's the entrance as you can see
we met with the um i think it was garden court um on october 14th here's the letter uh we had 10
in support, one in non-opposition and did obtain a letter of support from the organization. Here's
our proof of mailing. And we also got letters of support from near neighbors. The owners of this
property actually own a couple of nearby properties. And we had a lot of the tenants speaking
to sort of the appreciation for the affordable unit and how nice of a way that they keep these
properties. And we're excited to see that there was going to be another opportunity for someone
to be able to live in this neighborhood.
So we also had them get some of the near neighbors as well
who also attended that meeting.
I'd like to bring up the plans really quickly.
I'm just going to stop sharing
so we don't have to look at my atrocious inbox.
just to make sure there are no questions about plans on the site and while i'm doing this tanya
if you don't mind bringing up um lorraine wilson drake um who is the owner of the property just so
that um she can get sworn in and adopt my testimony as well we also have the architect
as well if the board has any questions regarding the plans, which I will show right now.
Sure, can she raise her hand?
Yeah, Lorraine, can you raise your hand so you can speak?
I'm here.
A little feedback.
little feedback he has two devices connected can you mute one of uh the devices
She has two devices connected.
i just want to provide the plans for the board this is the existing lot
and then right whenever you're finished you can try unmuting yourself again so the plans
so do you have to have both devices why don't we do this uh if we can't get her on
rachel as an officer of court will stipulate that your client would adopt your testimony
thank you i appreciate that happy to take any questions uh that the board may have
any questions from the board no no
Anyone else would like to testify in this case?
If so, please raise your hand.
No hands.
Thank you.
Rachel, did you happen to get a letter from the councilwoman by any chance on this case?
no um we didn't we did send that information to their office um as did the rco but i don't
believe that we got a letter okay no worries uh planning commission mr chairman and members of
the board this is mason austin representing the planning commission the property is indicated for
single family residential and the comprehensive plan in a zone for that use the present four unit
building was constructed in 2016 pursuant to a variance which was awarded with the proviso
that the building matched the plan submitted.
However, given the support of the RCO and Neighbors,
Planning Commission staff has no opposition
to the granting of the requested areas.
Thank you very much.
MI 2020-001530, 5027 Spruce Street.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
My vote is yes.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So you want to go through the next five cases
or should we wait until tomorrow?
I think we should wait until tonight at 11.
The midnight hour.
Thank you so much, everyone.
Thank you, Tanya.
Thank you.
I know it was a long night.
Thank you.
Have a good night, everyone.
All right.
Thank you.
I'll be honest.
I didn't think.
I thought we were going to catch a break with all those continuances.
Oh, the continuances.
I know.
Well, you know, you guys have been around long enough.
You get one or two cases.
I know.
You never know.
That's okay.
We're troopers, Chair.
I'll see everybody at 9 o'clock at our executive session.
You got it all.
Stay safe, everybody.
Thank you.
Thank you, Steph.
Bye-bye.