6/7/05

7:30PM Zoning Case Public Hearings
Weccacoe Playground Building
400 Block of Catherine Street

All are welcome to hear and comment on current zoning cases.
Review current cases...

Zoning

The Zoning Committee is a professional advisory group comprised primarily of engineers and architects who live in Queen Village. Its job is to coordinate requests for waivers and variances by builders and homeowners in the context of immediate neighbors' concerns, construction details, historical considerations and zoning law, and to communicate its findings and recommendations to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment for ruling.

The zoning committee meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month to review cases.
All are welcome to attend.


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Upcoming Zoning Cases for 6/07/05 Meeting, 7:30PM at the Weccacoe Playground Building
(400 Block of Catherine Street):

312 MONROE STREET: The application is for the complete demolition of all existing structures on the lot and for the erection of a four story structure (42' 3" high) with two wings (A & B) interconnected by a common cellar with two stacked interior parking spaces (10' x 18') and two interior parking spaces (8'4" x 18'), all for use as a two family dwelling (size and location to be as shown in the application).

818 SOUTH FIFTH STREET: The application is for the construction of a wood deck on the third floor roof and an accessory stair from the second roof of a single family dwelling (size and location to be as shown in the application.

113 KENILWORTH STREET: The application is for the erection of a two story addition and a one story addition at the third floor level as part of a single family dwelling.








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This old school house was recently converted into
11 luxury condominiums.

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There are lots of interesting issues for all parties concerning zoning variances. They mostly center around "air rights" and blocking sunlight. Anything creative, it seems, requires using city sites to the maximum. Now you got neighbors on both sides complaining about blocked sunlight.


This is fair on both sides, but why not get these issues on the table BEFOREHAND? Why waste legal (lawyers) time? Why waste so much money on exquisite architectual plans and marvelous renderings? Why nitpick whether the cornices will line up? They won't. Why bring with loads of neighbors asking, "Do you know what the impact of the building will be on the sunlight down in the STREET?" Read, "My street."

Well a 35 foot building is a 35 foot building. There is no way that limiting the building to 35 feet will block any more sunlight than the code specified 35 foot building!

The builder said that.

The committee, basically said, "Dude, you are not getting you variance. If you want to play politics with us, we will deal ........."

OK.

So why were the neighbors so uninformed?

They had no idea who the builder is ("Sir, we do not know you. What is YOUR name?" ....... or what his company's name is. How do you decide who is qualified to bring value to your neighborhood and who will bring schlock?

James Francis is a top-notch builder.

THE BUILDER: James Francis

The company: TRISVANDIVI

The Zoning Board of Adjustments documentation.
Where are the revisions and the CURRENT information?

This was not presented at the meeting as such.


Joely



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Regular
Cal No.: 05-0440 Appl. 050217066 Zon. Class.:
312 MONROE ST
Applicant: SHAWN D. WARD, ESQ, FOR TRISVANDIVI
PERMIT FOR THE COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF ALL EXISTING STRUCTURES ON THE LOT AND FOR
THE ERECTION OF A FOUR STORY STRUCTURE (42'3" HIGH) WITH TWO WINGS ("A" & "B" )
INTERCONNECTED BY A COMMON CELLAR WITH TWO STACKED INTERIOR PARKING SPACES (10'
X 18') AND TWO INTERIOR PARKING SPACES (8'4" X 18'), ALL FOR USE AS A TWO FAMILY
DWELLING.


Regular
Cal No.: 05-0440 Appl. 050217066 Zon. Class.:
312 MONROE ST
Applicant: SHAWN D. WARD, ESQ, FOR TRISVANDIVI
PERMIT FOR THE COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF ALL EXISTING STRUCTURES ON THE LOT AND FOR
THE ERECTION OF A FOUR STORY STRUCTURE (42'3" HIGH) WITH TWO WINGS ("A" & "B" )
INTERCONNECTED BY A COMMON CELLAR WITH TWO STACKED INTERIOR PARKING SPACES (10'
X 18') AND TWO INTERIOR PARKING SPACES (8'4" X 18'), ALL FOR USE AS A TWO FAMILY
DWELLING.

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