Yes, I am. I'm on a laptop.
Okay, so on the bottom, you should see something in green called share screen.
if you press on that, and then go to your actual documents that you want us to view,
click on those, it should come up on our screens. So it should be on my screen?
I mean, there's all these boxes and I have them already up like in like Windows Explorer. I just
don't see that here. Right, so you have them up on your computer, right? Yes. So in order for us to
see them at the bottom of this here zoom presentation you should see a button that
says share screen i did that and a window opened up okay and then click on the actual documents
that you want us to view there we go you see that okay so this was the email i sent to you guys this
is all the documents so here is the plot plan i believe yes so let me make that smaller so the
property is 301 St. Vincent. So Mr. Thietry? Yes. I'm sorry it's me again. So we only see the email.
We need for you to open up the documents within the screen so we can see it. I did. Let's try
I did. Let's try that again.
that again. Do you see it but do you which which screen?
Do you see, but do you, which screen has the red box around it? Do you see a red box around your screen? That's the one that we will be able to view. So right now, it's only the email.
So do you have these documents already open? Because that would be best.
so unshare your screen hit the green button again and then when you hit the green button
to share your screen only click on the documents not the email so this that still didn't work
so let's get all righty we see your exhibit okay you see that yes we see that okay so the property
is 301 St. Vincent. It is the building kind of like in a center there outline with a bunch of
chairs and seats. We've had this property vacant for a while. We've had a few churches and community
centers interested. A church has applied and the gentleman Carlos Banabi will speak, I guess,
after I'm done presenting what he would like to put in there. We proposed that we were going to
install off-street parking. So at the bottom of the property where you see the two handicaps,
followed by regular parking on the right
and additional parking on the side down here.
Crispy fried chicken.
Plus they can park down the driveway also.
Let me see if I can show you pictures of the property.
This is an aerial view of the property.
Are you able to see that?
Did that come up?
Good, this is working.
St. Vincent Street is a two-way street
and it ends at Shelbourne where it's one way you can only go left. This is an overview of the
property. We had a meeting with the RCO and the RCO gave us their support. Some of the neighbors
were concerned maybe about street parking and noise and we agreed to make sure that there was
enough off-street parking at the bottom of the property. Along this wall where you see that
backhoe park, that's a supermarket. So there would be all the parking would be along the back of this
wall here and where you see these white trucks parked on the side that will be designated
specifically for it for the street property um this is all like below level down here where the
parking is it's not street level and when i show you like a front picture of the property you'll
be able to see that uh let's see if i have that here so here's a picture of the property from
down the driveway. Like I said, it's below the street. Where I'm standing is actually
where some of the parking would be. So if we scroll down, this is a picture of the back
of the building. There are to the left some row homes and to the right of the picture.
Those are mostly twins. Where those trucks are parked along the fence line, and there's
a railroad track back there behind that tree line. Those are railroads. Where those trucks
are is where parking will be assigned for the church inside is basically a couple offices in
the front and restrooms and then in the back is strictly just an open warehouse space where
the church is looking to have their gatherings and this is what the street looks like out the
front door. This is St. Vincent. It's a two-way street. This is looking up Shelbourne. It's a
one-way street. That's us having the sign on the door. This is where the cars are parked there.
That's where I was talking. Behind the supermarket is going to be designated strictly for the church.
That's another unit on the property that's currently rented by Gene's Hospital. I mean,
any parking except one spot and again that's the aerial view let me go up to the front picture of
the street level uh i think i skipped that where it was opened on another page let's see this is
so that's the street level um there's a front entrance for the offices and a double entrance
there for the warehouse portion so basically we're just looking for a variance for a uh
for a church to rent the place.
And if Carlos can raise his hand,
he can tell you about what he would like.
Oh, there's going to be no construction.
There's no renovations.
He's taken it as is,
utilizing the space as it currently is.
So Carlos, if you want to raise your hand,
you can tell them about what you would like to do
at the property.
Mr. Benavine has been unmuted.
can you hear me yes yes sir please identify yourself for the right
Can you hear me?
Yes, sir.
Please identify yourself for the record.
My name, first name is Carlos.
Last name is Benabe, B-E-N-A-B-E.
We're going to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
And if you can give us a summary of what it is you're doing, we would appreciate that.
So our religious services actually will be on a Sunday's CDA ministry.
That's the name of the church, actually, has been in ministry for 15 years.
We work with the community.
We have different programs for the community, like for children and youth.
Of course, the main service, which is Sunday, and then the next two days of the week, one
for the children and youth ministry and the other for family gathering.
um again we we come out with a big plan to work with the community we come out with ideas
um uh as as we always has in the past we are not a new church or a new uh religion uh organization
we've been as a religion organization for 15 years um we just moved to this community but um
we've been in, you know, active as a religion organization.
Thank you. Any questions from the board? No. No. Anyone else would like to testify in this case?
If so, please raise your hand. Here we have Hillary Emerson. She's been unmuted.
it. Thank you. Good evening, Ms. Emerson. Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the board.
Hillary Emerson, E-M-E-R-S-O-N, on behalf of Councilwoman Sherelle Parker. Do you swear
and affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Please
proceed. Yes, the councilman is not opposed to the request in this case for the use as religious
assembly for the building on this property. This is kind of some odd industrial buildings
in the middle of a residential block, and they've had commercial or industrial uses in their history.
We believe the church impact will be relatively low impact as long as the church is mindful of
community impacts such as parking and noise and hours of operation, which I believe the RCO also
noted in their letter. We did attend the site visit, but we're not able to attend the RCO meeting,
but we have not received any other feedback from the community aside from the letter from the RCO.
We do support the RCO's request for a temporary variance, and we would ask that a certificate of occupancy be required because as best as we can tell in consulting with L&I, this would be a different occupancy classification, so a CO would be required.
thank you do you uh miss miss emerson did you happen to know what the uh and this may already
been spoken to i'm not sure what the terms of the temporary temporary uses um you mean the with the
lease the terms of the lease no no it is is this a purchase or is it a lease this is a lease i'm
sorry it's my understanding that this is this is a lease so there was a request for um by the rco
for temporary because this is a new use at um this this uh structure um and we would support
that request for a temporary variance do we know what excuse me this is sharon saletta just to be
clear the um applicant who is before you is the property owner the um the the occupant the lessee
will be um that they'll be responsible for the use and as far as um a certificate of occupancy
um miss emerson i believe in this case it will be required in any case because it is a change
of use and it is not residential okay so do we know the terms of the lease am i still unmuted
yeah as it relates to the length of the lease am i still unmuted
no you're not we can hear you okay um the the church signed a two-year lease with mrs detry
um effectively it was october for a two-year lease and the rco did recommend a one-year
temporary variance um to just make sure everybody gets along in the neighborhood and everybody's
okay i'm not really sure what that means a temporary variance do we have to come back a
a year from now and do this all over again?
and do this all over again or how does that work uh yes
Or how does that work?
uh so basically a year from now we we would come back and ask for another variance but
permanent because um there's no complaints i guess i don't know yeah more or less that's that's
that's part of it yes okay all right does that work so i guess i guess i'll adjust yes i mean
that'll work for us i'll just his two-year lease to say one year based on the renewal of the
variance after the first year when does the when did the lease when does the lease go into effect
well he signed it october to reserve the property i mean he actually signed in the beginning of the
year but i couldn't charge him because of covid and he right so so it'll begin this october this
past october to begin yes so we'll give you actually we'll start it in january for a year
So it will be this January to the end of December of 2021.
That will give you a couple extra months, okay?
All right.
Any other questions?
Anyone else would like to testify in this case?
There's no hands raised as of now, Chair.
Thank you.
Planning Commission?
Good evening.
Ariel DiLiberto with the City Planning Commission.
this property is owned for residential single family it is recommended for commercial mixed
use in the comprehensive plan we believe the applicant has demonstrated this use will not
cause detriment beyond what would normally be expected from this use accordingly we do not
oppose the granting of the variance thank you mi 2020-000977 301 st vincent street my vote is yes
with the proviso. Temporary variance to expire December 31, 2021. And the CO, Hillary, as
Sharon described, will be taken care of by all night. My vote is no.
Yes, with proviso. Yes, with proviso.
so. Okay. MI 2020-001823 4501 Woodhaven Road. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Mr. Bertel.
please identify yourself with a record
spell your last name
Steve Bertil
B-E-R-T-I-L
Claire Harrison Harvey and Bransburg
Market Street
14 Philadelphia PA
and do you swear and affirm
you swear or affirm to tell the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth
yes I do
sir please proceed
Bertil you agree to waive the reading of its refusal
and stipulate to its accuracy?
Also, have you emailed an exhibit packet with the required documents,
proof of ownership, proof of tax compliance,
copy of the refusal or referral photos and plans five days prior to this hearing?
Yes to all of the above,
except that our exhibit packet did not include any letter.
Oh, did you ask that?
Not yet.
Have you met with Garcia and have a letter?
Yes to the meeting with the RCO and the community group as a whole and no to the letter being included in the exhibit packet because the meeting didn't take place until last night.
I do believe that they sent something to a councilman's office, and I believe the representative
Alice may have sent it over to the VBA, but I'm not 100% sure.
No problem.
Please proceed.
So let me just clear my screen here.
Okay, so as I stated before, my name is Steve Bertil. I'm here representing the owners of 4501 Woodhaven Avenue. As you can see here, the property is zoned as CA1, commercial auto-oriented.
We are actually here for a specific unit. This property itself has been divvied up into
individual units and we're here for unit four specifically, which I will outline in a second.
We're here requesting for a special exception approval for the ability to bring on in part
for the ability to bring on and park 10 food trucks onto the specific unit in question
during lunchtime hours for use as a takeout restaurant. Before I get into the specific unit,
I want to just give a brief background on the history of this property as it relates to the
the applicants. The applicants acquired this property in 2018 at that time, and this is the
entire 4501 Woodhaven, and then the area in question is here. Again, I'll designate that
more specifically in a second. Upon acquisition of the property in 2018, the main structure of
the property was fairly dilapidated, trash here, high vacancy, graffiti, no real upkeep.