in. You're welcome. Is there any other questions or comments from the virtual audience? I see no
hands, Chair. Planning Commission? Thank you, Chair Bergman. Ian Hegarty for the Philadelphia
City Planning Commission. The comprehensive plan recommends no change to the existing
residential single-family zoning at this location. However, given the unusual existing structure
and the adjacent development context, we recommend that the Board grant the variance.
Thank you. MI 2021-004372, 1331 South Percy Street, I vote yes with revised plans, one page.
carol tanari my vote is yes with proviso james snell yes with proviso
thank you counsel thank you very much have a great day you too
mi 2021 004386 1519 cybert street rco fifth council district letter of support
sokoloff attorney
good morning mr chair members of the board oleg sokolov here on behalf of the applicant crete
llc could you spell your name for the court reporter please absolutely o-l-e-g s-o-k-o-l-o-v
address is 1700 market street suite 1005 philadelphia pa 19103 do you swear a firm
to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth i do the vice chair has a few questions
for you hello do you agree to waive the reading of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy
yes i do miss vice chair it appears that you've submitted all the required documents is that
correct that is correct you may proceed thank you very much once again good morning mr chairman
members of the board Oleg Sokolov here on behalf of Crete LLC 1519 Seabird Street if we are here
seeking a a use variance and if I may share my screen please to go through our exhibit packet
Yes. Thank you.
I cannot tell. Are you able to see that? We are. We can.
All right. Once again, here is our refusal. We are seeking
to use the property as a two-family dwelling in an RSA 5 building, no dimensional variances of any
type. Here's our deed package, evidencing ownership, Crete LLC.
our tax clearance certificate
currently the property is an empty lot creed llc is developing a number of
vacant lots on this block in fact the board granted a exactly analogous variance request
for a property at 1513 Seabird Street I believe maybe a month or a month and a half ago and it
is exactly the same type of development so when I get to the pictures of the property itself you'll
see that we are keeping it completely in line with the character of the neighborhood and the
block including the bump outs as as you see in the current properties
once again just a picture of a property across the street
and some more images of the lot and the street itself here's the property itself it's located
and some more images of the lot.
between north 16th and north 15th street between ingersoll and thompson on west siebert cyber i've
you know members of the board i apologize but after doing i think the third variance
on this block i still don't know exactly how to say that street properly
here's a rendering of the property as you'll see as i discussed earlier the
bump out is you know to keep in line with the character of the neighborhood as is
you'll see the property is in an rsa5 district as i stated however the board has granted a
number of variances on this block including one to the current applicant at 1513
Here are the elevations of the property and some floor plans.
The first two floors will be one unit and floors two and three will be a second unit.
Both units will be a little over a thousand square feet.
the upstairs unit will be 1200 square feet and here is our project information form
our application for appeal
our certificates of mailing to the nearby neighbors the rcos
shows the affected RCOs. Evidence and photos of our zoning notice
posters hung at the property and then our letter of support from the friends of the 47th ward
at this time if i can ask a member of my client
Mr. Petroschansky to just raise his hand to adopt my testimony.
Could you state your name and spell it for the court reporter?
It's Robert Petroschansky. That's P-E-T-R-U-S-H-A-N-S-K-Y.
do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
yes i do proceed council thank you mr petrosansky you were you were able to hear my testimony
given this morning i was okay and do you adopt my testimony as your own i do adopt your testimony
as my own is there anything you would like to add to the board no you covered everything okay thank
you very much questions from the board please
Questions from the board? No, Mr. Chairman. No, Mr. Chairman.
Questions from the virtual audience? Chair, we have Monica D'Antonio.
Please unmute yourself and wait for the chair.
Hi, could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, please?
Sure. My name is Monica D'Antonio, M-O-N-I-C-A, D-E-A-N-T-O-N-I-O.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, or nothing but the truth?
Who's she?
I'm just a resident in the Francisville area, and I just logged on today because we are concerned
about the growing density issue in this neighborhood. I think we have about eight
buildings right now that were single family and are now multifamily. So I think we're concerned
about this growing issue with these multifamily homes. You said that you sent letters out to
the neighborhood. I didn't receive any of them. And I know our block captain didn't receive them
either. Okay. Are you against the building there? Yes, I am. And there are a couple of
other neighbors on this Zoom that are against it as well.
Okay, thank you.
Is there anyone else in the virtual audience
would like to make a comment. If it's the same as the last person, please refrain, but
who would like to make a comment?
If it's the same as the last person?
anyone else wants to make a comment? I see no hands, Chair. Thank you. Wait a minute. I'm sorry.
Well, it's okay. Someone just put the, they put it back down. Okay, thank you. I'm sorry, Chair.
Again, they put the hand up. I'm so sorry. Thank you. That's fine. That's fine. Caller with the
last digit, 6894. Please unmute yourself and wait for the chair.
Hi, this is Reverend Lewis Nash.
Reverend, could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, please?
Yes. Lewis Nash, senior. L-E-W-I-S-N-A-S-H.
Map RCO.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Affirm. Thank you. Proceed. Yes. This is in the 47th Ward. It's not in the Francisville
District as well. And we have offered our support with this along with friends of the 47th Ward,
Ms. Louise Bundy
and she's here
and is also in the office to
give her support as well.
Thank you, Reverend Nash.
She can speak for herself.
Ms. Bundy, could you state your name
and spell it for the court reporter?
Ms. Bundy?
you have to mute can you hear me yeah miss bundy state your name and spell for the court reporter
my name is louise bundy l-o-u-i-s-e b-u-n-d-y and i didn't even realize that but that's why i
mentioned he can be long-winded do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and
nothing but the truth. I do. Proceed, Ms. Bundy. I would like for this to be a part of our
neighborhood, but I was told that this is the person that spoke ahead of us. They're dealing
with Francisville. This is not Francisville. Thank you, Ms. Bundy. Thank you very much.
i'm giving my support for it okay thank you miss bundy any other comments from the virtual audience
chair we have kristen platt please unmute yourself and please wait for the chair
would you state your name and spell for the court reporter
sure kristen platt k-r-i-s-t-e-n p as in paul l-a-t-t right do you swear or firm to tell the
truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth i do proceed i am also a uh live in the francisville
area and i just wanted to state that i did not receive any letters about this uh proposal either
and i am against it thank you very much planning commission
thank you chair bergman ian hegarty for the philadelphia city planning commission
members of the board in 2015 the zoning map was amended in this area in accord with
recommendations from the comprehensive plan and with the support of the community and city council
we don't believe the hardship claim here of the applicant is supported with evidence of
unique physical circumstances or conditions of the property however given that previous
variances granted by the board have drastically changed the surrounding context against the
adopted zoning city planning commission has no objection to the granting of the variance
thank you mr eckery mi 2021 004 386 1519 cybert street i vote yes carol tenary my vote is yes
james snell my vote is yes
thank you council thank you very much members of the board have a great day
MI 2021-002188, 2013 Poplar Street, RCO Francis' letter of support.
Pro se case, Jonathan Arthur Arnina Nuna Marchetti.
They're coming back in as a panelist.
Thank you. Chair, can you hear us? Yes. Could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, both of you, please? Yes.
Yes. Could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, both of you, please?
Yes. My full name is Jonathan Arthur, J-O-N-A-T-H-A-N, Arthur, A-R-T-H-U-R.
Nina, N-I-N-A-M-I-R-A-C-H-I.
Right. Do you both swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
A couple have a few questions from our vice chair.
Hi. Good morning. Have you emailed the exhibit packet with the required documents consisting of proof of ownership, tax compliance, a copy of the refusal or referral, photos under plans of the property, five days in advance of this hearing, and have you met with an RCO, and do you have a letter?
Yes. The package was emailed over by our architect, Frank Cutherson, who's also here with us today.
Okay, great. You may proceed.
Thank you.
So we are the owners of this property, and this is around an overhead door that was installed in the rear of our residence.
After buying this property, we noticed a rash of different thefts, cars that were broken into in the area,
including some patio furniture that was tucked up against our house that was taken out of our backyard
and out of, you know, a desire for our personal safety and some large glass doors at the end of
the property, we contacted a contractor about installing this door. He installed that not
knowing about the zoning variance. It's six feet apparently that was allowed by Wright and a 10-foot
door was installed. The contractor then recommended Mr. Cutherson to work with us
to obtain a variance for that gate.
We met with the local RCO on actually September 21st of last year.
They gave their approval for the project and asked that we send out the required mailing
once those posters had been hung, which we've done and submitted as proof as part of that packet.
There were no formal responses to the project as a result of that mailing.
um if we could promote Mr. Cupperson as the architect um also to attest to Mr. Arthur let
me ask this do you have any photos or anything you can you could you share the screen with us
please I sure can
the full packet but i'll jump to the pictures which i believe are towards the end we don't
see it yes mr arthur on our screen pauline could you talk to we're good we're good we're
my back didn't hit share sorry about that okay um so the property photos here are before the door
um so this is the rear of our house um the air conditioning unit back in this corner is where
some um personal property items were taken um and a car next door and down the block was broken into
so the door has been placed here at the entrance to our property.
I don't believe we have any after photos in here, but Mr. Cutherson, our architect, may.
The drawings are right above that show the details of that gate.
The 10-foot elevation, and again, right at the extreme rear of the property.
So this is what is in question.
all right mr arthur i don't think we really need your architect at this point
questions from the board no mr chair
questions from the virtual audience
i see no handshare planning commission
thank you chair bergman ian hegarty for the philadelphia city planning commission
members of the board in uh 2018 the zoning map was amended in this area in accord with
recommendations from the comprehensive plan the fence requirements from the zoning code
are intended to maintain light and sight lines along public streets these gates we feel violate
this intent without a clear hardship requiring such a tall and opaque fence.
We would not be opposed to a shorter fence or one with some degree of
translucence or being able to see through.
So we would recommend that the board deny this variance.
Mr. Arthur, do you have any comments?
I believe the neighbor with a similar gate had this approved
um a couple of years back before the delays from the pandemic um okay thank you thank you
a couple of years back before the delays from the pandemic.
mi 2021 002 188 2013 poplar street i vote yes carol ternary my vote is yes
what was your vote is yes yes thank you that's three votes Mr. Arthur you you're fine great thank
Thank you.
MI 2021 002197 2056 Ellsworth Street, Point Breeze CDC letter of support, Councilman Kenyana
Johnson letter of support, Daniel Mita attorney.
Mr. Mita is coming back in as a panelist.
Good morning, Mr. Mita. Could you state your name and spell for the court reporter, please?
Yes. My name is Dan Mita, spelled M-I-T-A.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
the vice chair has a few questions for you good morning mr me did you agree to wait the reading
of the refusal and stipulate to its accuracy i do um it appears based on my notes that you've
submitted all of the required documents is that correct that is you may proceed thank you uh good
morning mr chair and members of the board uh as mentioned earlier my name is dan meta with duane
Morris and we're here on behalf of the applicant the Neighborhood Garden Trust of Philadelphia
Trust also known as the Neighborhood Gardens Trust which is a 501c3 Pennsylvania non-profit.
The relief requested is for a dimensional variance. The subject property is located in a
rsa 5 zoning district which has a minimum rear yard dimensional setback
of nine feet and our application is requesting for a proposed 0.89 feet
as the chair mentioned our exhibits package is timely submitted includes letters of support from
the rco as well as from the friends of the concert garden which the property is affectionately known
as which is a neighborhood-based volunteer group established back in 2017 that's responsible for
the upkeep and programming of the construct garden. Mr. Mehta do you want Mr. Mehta would