1. 1304-06 S. 9th St. (aka the Metro PCS store at 1303-05 E. Passyunk Ave.)

Applicant is seeking to legalize the current use – cell phone retail store. Committee voted 6-0 in non-opposition with the provisos that the applicant secure a permit for the canopy sign, remove the roll down grate and replace with one that conforms with the city regulations and consider removing imposing bulletproof glass from inside of store. ZBA hearing date is currently scheduled for Tuesday, January 24 at 9:30am.

2. 1323-25 S. Warnock St. (aka Attention 2 Detail car detailing)

Applicant is seeking a variance to allow for use as an auto detailing shop and to obtain permit for a sign. Committee voted 6-0 in non-opposition.

Applicant originally began his business traveling to clients to power wash and detail their cars at their location. He used the garage on Warnock to keep his van. Last spring a few of his clients stopped by at various times to see if they could get their cars done. After this had a happened a few times, others from in the neighborhood began inquiring about getting their own cars cleaned and detailed. Soon the business at the Warnock Street site picked up and became as large or more than the mobile business. Since he started off as a mobile business, he didn’t have any experience with zoning and was recently told by an L&I inspector who saw the business in operation that he would need a variance given the single-family residential zoning of the property. Based on his accounting of how he runs his business and absent any opposition from the immediate neighbors, the committee voted 6-0 in non-opposition with the provisos that auto painting, auto body work, degreasing, and engine cleaning would not be allowed and there would be no compressors or loud noise before 10:30am, and no Sunday hours. Applicants ZBA hearing is February 15, 2012 and calendar number is 16469.

3. 1132-34 S. 9th

Informational presentation only to inform committee and neighbors (of which there were none in attendance) of plans to expand Connie Ric-Rac into the property next store to its current location in order to set up a kitchen and additional restaurant style seating. There will be no breach between the two properties. Patrons of Connie’s will be provided table service such that wait staff will bring food from next door to the current space. The new space also allows for others who aren’t patronizing Connie’s for a show to stop in and try what the proprietor assures will be a dining experience unlike any other in South Philly. Their next step is to schedule a hearing with the ZBA to receive their referral (note: not a refusal… a referral essentially means that permission is granted for the proposed use and the burden of proof to disallow the use falls on any opposition to prove a harm, rather than the burden being on the applicant to prove a harm should the proposed use NOT be allowed). They will be back in front of the civic association Zoning Committee for an official vote in the future.

1323-25 S. Warnock St.
(a.k.a. the auto detailing shop near the corner)

Details: Applicant is seeking an auto-detailing shop with one flatwall non-illuminated, accessory sign on the first floor in the same building with an existing single-family dwelling. The proposed use, auto detailing with an accessory sign, is not permitted in this zoning district.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1304-06 S. 9th St.
(a.k.a. the Metro PCS store on East Passyunk Avenue)

Details: Seeking a permit for the retail sale of cell phones and accessories on the first floor rear in the same building with an existing two-family dwelling above. Note: This case will be about the uses on the first floor, not the two-family dwelling above. ZBA hearing for this case (#16154) is on January 24, 2012.

1134 S. 9th St.
(a.k.a. Connie’s Ric Rac at 1132 S. 9th St.)

Details: Seeking a permit for expansion of their facilities to establish an eat-in and take-out restaurant, that would primarily serve patrons for the 1132 S. 9th St. venue as well as the general public. This is an INFORMATIONAL presentation only. The owner of the facility will be on hand to give more details about his plans and to get feedback from the Zoning Committee and neighbors. No vote will be taken on this case.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1157 S. 12th St. Applicant is seeking to legalize a currently disallowed three-family use of a building that is zoned R-10A (single family). The Committee voted in opposition to this project at its September meeting. ZBA hearing is scheduled for January 10 at 9:30am. Calendar number is 15756.

2. 1526 S. 10th St. Applicant is seeking to build a three-story addition on top of an existing one-story structure for use as a single family residence. Refused for various reasons including exceeding maximum allowed height. Committee voted in non-opposition to this project at its December meeting. ZBA hearing is scheduled for January 11 at 4pm. Calendar number is 16654.

Any neighbor with an interest in the outcome of these cases should attend the ZBA hearing. Results of the hearings can be gotten by calling the ZBA at 215-686-2430 and giving the calendar number. It is recommended to wait a couple days after the hearing date to allow time for the decision to be entered into their system.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1304-06 S. 9th St (thru to East Passyunk Ave)
: Applicant is seeking a permit for the retail sale and rental of mopeds and accessory equipment on the first floor front and for the retail sale of cell phones and accessories on the first floor rear in the same building with an existing two-family dwelling above. The proposed retail uses are not permitted in this R-10A (single family) zoning district. This case will be about the uses on the first floor, not the two-family dwelling above.

Proposed moped business was a rental operation run by the people who run the Philly Moped Rentals at 231 N. 2nd Street. The permit for sales of cell phone and accessories was to legalize an existing use, the Metro PCS store on Passyunk Avenue. After much discussion about the suitability of the location on S. 9th Street for moped rentals and the sequence of events that had led to the unauthorized use of the space by the existing cell phone store, the Zoning Committee voted 4-1 in opposition to this application. (Opposed: Digiulio, Gumbel, Fortino and Pohlig. Not opposed: Wise) It should be noted that members of the committee expressed support in general for the moped rental business but had concerns about the location of that business in an R-10A (single family) parcel and in the middle of dense, residential block. The committee also took an INFORMATIONAL vote (not official) to determine opposition or non-opposition to an application that would ONLY include legalization of the existing cell phone store and voted 4-1 in non-opposition to that.

Applicant’s Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing is Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 9:30 AM and their calendar number is 16154.

2. 704 Alter Street: 
The official notice from the Zoning Board of Adjustment continues to say that applicant is seeking a permit for the erection of a three-story addition with covered balcony from 2nd thru 4th floor on an existing one-story structure for use as a six-family dwelling total and four accessory interior parking spaces. This is what the applicant brought to the October Zoning Committee meeting. However, based on communications with a representative of the applicant, the Zoning Committee is expecting to see revised plans that would result in either a three- or a four-family dwelling (edited to clarify… applicant IS proposing a four-family dwelling). In October the Committee voted in opposition to the six-family dwelling plan but offered the applicant the change to revise the plans and come back.

Neighbors of the project expressed concern about the traffic on a very small side street that has very little room for existing cars and requires some amount of vehicle shuffling when large trucks such as city trash trucks need to navigate the block. The Zoning Committee voted in non-opposition by a 4-1 count. (Not opposed: Digiulio, Gumbel, Wise, and Fortino. Opposed: Pohlig) The Committee requested the following provisos be made a part of this application:

Trash storage to be in the garage.
Non-opposition was for plans showing a 4-family dwelling submitted to Zoning Committee on 11/15
Commercial trash pick-up once per week. Trash contractor will have key and will conduct trash pick up during normal business hours.
Lighting on street level for security.
One interior parking space per unit included in leases for the tenants at no additional charge.

Construction provisos:
All construction will take place between the hours of 8am and 5pm from Monday to Friday and no loud construction will happen on Saturdays.
Dumpster for construction waste will be kept in garage during construction, not on sidewalk.
No street closures.

This applicant’s Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing is scheduled for TODAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011 at 2:00pm, ZBA Calendar No. 16330.

We encourage any interested parties to attend the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing and offer testimony directly to the ZBA at 1515 Arch Street on the 18th Floor.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1304-06 S. 9th St (thru to East Passyunk Ave)
Applicant is seeking a permit for the retail sale and rental of mopeds and accessory equipment on the first floor front and for the retail sale of cell phones and accessories on the first floor rear in the same building with an existing two-family dwelling above. The proposed retail uses are not permitted in this R-10A (single family) zoning district. This case will be about the uses on the first floor, not the two-family dwelling above. Applicant’s Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing is Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 9:30 AM and their calendar number is 16154.

2. 704 Alter Street
The official notice from the Zoning Board of Adjustment continues to say that applicant is seeking a permit for the erection of a three-story addition with covered balcony from 2nd thru 4th floor on an existing one-story structure for use as a six-family dwelling total and four accessory interior parking spaces. This is what the applicant brought to the October Zoning Committee meeting. However, based on communications with a representative of the applicant, the Zoning Committee is expecting to see revised plans that would result in either a three- or four-family dwelling. In October the Committee voted in opposition to the six-family dwelling plan but offered the applicant the change to revise the plans and come back. This applicant’s Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing is scheduled for WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011 at 2:00pm, ZBA Calendar No. 16330.

We encourage any interested parties to attend the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing and offer testimony directly to the ZBA.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1520 S. 6th St and 1521 S. Marshall St.
Applicant is seeking the relocation of lot lines to create one lot from two existing lots. This property contains a previously approved 3-family dwelling (a two-family dwelling in the two-story 1520 S. 6th and a single-family over a garage in the two-story 1521 S. Marshall). The refusal is for lack of sufficient open space, rear yard area and rear yard depth.

Committee voted 5-0 in non-opposition. This case is scheduled to be heard by the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (18th Floor, 1515 Arch Street) on October 19, 2011 at 5pm.

2. 704 Alter Street
Applicant is seeking to erect a 3-story addition on top of an existing 1-story structure for use as a 6-family dwelling. Refusal is for proposed use (6-family dwelling) which is not permitted in this single family zoning district. Zoning is also refused for insufficient open area, rear yard depth, rear yard area, insufficient size of off-street parking spaces and for exceeding maximum height and number of stories.

Committee voted 5-0 in opposition. This case is scheduled to be heard by the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment on November 2. Check back on this website for the time of the hearing.

The committee will be sending letters to the ZBA expressing their decisions in these cases and the reasoning behind these votes. In the interest of transparency, copies of these letters will be available on this website.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. The Committee strongly urges neighbors who are interested in the outcome of these cases to attend the ZBA meetings.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1520 S. 6th St and 1521 S. Marshall St.
Applicant is seeking the relocation of lot lines to create one lot from two existing lots. This property contains a previously approved 3-family dwelling (a two-family dwelling in the two-story 1520 S. 6th and a single-family over a garage in the two-story 1521 S. Marshall). The refusal is for lack of sufficient open space, rear yard area and rear yard depth.

2. 704 Alter Street
Applicant is seeking to erect a 3-story addition on top of an existing 1-story structure for use as a 6-family dwelling. Refusal is for proposed use (6-family dwelling) which is not permitted in this single family zoning district. Zoning is also refused for insufficient open area, rear yard depth, rear yard area, insufficient size of off-street parking spaces and for exceeding maximum height and number of stories.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1520 S. 6th St and 1521 S. Marshall St.
Applicant is seeking the relocation of lot lines to create one lot from two existing lots. This property contains a previously approved 3-family dwelling (a two-family dwelling in the two-story 1520 S. 6th and a single-family over a garage in the two-story 1521 S. Marshall). The refusal is for lack of sufficient open space, rear yard area and rear yard depth.

2. 704 Alter Street
Applicant is seeking to erect a 3-story addition on top of an existing 1-story structure for use as a 6-family dwelling. Refusal is for proposed use (6-family dwelling) which is not permitted in this single family zoning district. Zoning is also refused for insufficient open area, rear yard depth, rear yard area, insufficient size of off-street parking spaces and for exceeding maximum height and number of stories.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.

1. 1214 S. Juniper St.- (2) new 4th story roof access structures with (2) new roof decks; replace existing curb cut and create (2) interior parking spaces; 6′ high fence; to be used as 2 family dwelling (previously approved) with storage on a portion of 1st floor (previously approved) in R10-A. Refused for use as 2-family, exceeding maximum height, and # of stories. The parking spaces require a certificate from the ZBA.

Voted in non-opposition unanimously. Please note that the 2-family dwelling had already been approved. This case was only to seek approval for the height and number of stories.

2. 1243 S. 7th St. -erection of (4) story structure with cellar, roof deck, and rear balconies at 2nd & 3rd floors. To be used as a single family dwelling in R10-A (single family). Refused for open area, height, and # of stories.

Voted in non-opposition unanimously. Neighbors on the side street behind this property (Sheridan Street) had expressed concerned about sunlight blockage. Applicant agreed to pursue some kind of translucent wall for the rear parapet wall around the roof deck.

3. 1422 S. 9th: Legalization of a two-family dwelling. Refused for two-family use in single-family use (R10-A) zoning district.

Voted in opposition unanimously. The ZBA hearing for this property was on September 14. We will update with the outcome from that hearing when we get it.

4. 1157 S 12th: 3-family dwelling. Refused for 3-family use in single-family use (R10-A) zoning district.

Voted in opposition unanimously. ZBA hearing for this property had been September 13 but was continued in order to grant PSCA time to hear the case.

5. 1437 E. Passyunk Ave.: Seeking variance for use as a bakery. Refused because property is zoned single family (R10-A) and use as commercial property (bakery) not allowed.

Voted in non-opposition unanimously.

The PSCA Zoning Committee meetings are opportunities for neighbors to hear the details of zoning applications within our civic association boundaries. The Zoning Committee does not make any final decisions on these zoning applications, but we do send letters to the Philadelphia Zoning Board Administration. Those letters outline the neighbors’ thoughts on the application and the Zoning Committee’s decision either to oppose or not oppose the proposal. Check out Passyunk.org for more information following the meeting about how the board voted and information about the ZBA hearing dates for these cases.

Zoning Committee meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at S.P.O.A.C.