Category: Zoning

Zoning issues related to Frankford

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Busy Night at Frankford NAC Zoning Meeting

The Frankford NAC zoning board met on April 13th to hear the following cases:

4200 Torresdale Avenue– Continued from last month.  Hearing date 5/10/2017 – SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) STATICALLY ILLUMINATED FLAT-WALL SIGN AND THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE ERECTION OF THREE (3) AWNINGS (NO SIGNAGE) AND STAIRS & RAMP IN RIGHT-OF-WAY (PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE AE FLOOD ZONE). SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN APPLICATION. FOR USE AS PERSONAL VEHICLE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WITH ACCESSORY SIGNAGE. – continued

5400 Large Street – PERMIT FOR PROPOSED HAIR SALON (PERSONAL SERVICE) ON 1ST FLOOR, BASEMENT- VACANT WITH EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING ON 2ND FLOOR IN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE. Non opposition

5070 Whitaker Avenue– Variance to have barber shop on the 1st floor and a single family dwelling on the 2nd floor. Hearing date 5/3/2017 – PERMIT FOR PERSONAL SERVICES (BARBER SHOP) ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF AN EXISTING ATTACHED BUILDING WITH AN EXISTING TWO-FAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING ABOVE. Approved

2114-16 Orthodox Street– Combining both properties into 1 OPA account. Variance for 8 family dwelling.  Hearing date 5/9/2017 -APPLICATION FOR THE LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT TO CREATE ONE LOT (PARCEL 1) FROM TWO EXISTING LOTS (2114 ORTHODOX ST AND 2116 ORTHODOX ST) SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN ON SUBMITTED PLAN. FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING FOR EIGHT (8) DWELLING UNITS IN EXISTING ATTACHED BUILDING.  See previous story about this address at this link.  Approved with Proviso. Applicant must provide trash receptacles and designated area for resident

5411 Oxford Avenue– Expand catering hall into 5413-17. Combine into one OPA account. – Hearing date 5/10/2017 – PERMIT FOR THE LOT ADJUSTMENT TO CREATE ONE (1) LOT FROM TWO (2) EXISTING ZONING, DEED AND OPA LOTS (5411-13 OXFORD AVE AND 5417 OXFORD AVE). SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN ON PLANS/APPLICATION. 1ST FLOOR OR STRUCTURE FOR USE AS NIGHTCLUB AND PRIVATE CLUB (CATERING VENUE), 2ND FLOOR FOR USE AS TWO (2) FAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING. NO SIGNS ON THIS APPLICATION. One resident elegible to vote attended and opposed the permit, however a proviso was put in stating the catering hall must have in their contract that people using the space must use Valet parking.

The next meeting of the Frankford NAC zoning board will be held on May 11th at 7 PM at 2nd Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow Street.
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Frankford NAC Zoning to Hear 2114-16 Orthodox Application

The Frankford NAC zoning board will meet on April 13th at 7 PM at Second Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow Street.  The following applications will be reviewed:

2114-16 Orthodox Street– Combining both properties into 1 OPA account. Variance for 8 family dwelling.  Hearing date 5/9/2017 -APPLICATION FOR THE LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT TO CREATE ONE LOT (PARCEL 1) FROM TWO EXISTING LOTS (2114 ORTHODOX ST AND 2116 ORTHODOX ST) SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN ON SUBMITTED PLAN. FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING FOR EIGHT (8) DWELLING UNITS IN EXISTING ATTACHED BUILDING.  See previous story about this address at this link.

2114-16 Orthodox Street from Google Maps

4200 Torresdale Avenue– Continued from last month.  Hearing date 5/10/2017 – SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ONE (1) STATICALLY ILLUMINATED FLAT-WALL SIGN AND THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE ERECTION OF THREE (3) AWNINGS (NO SIGNAGE) AND STAIRS & RAMP IN RIGHT-OF-WAY (PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE AE FLOOD ZONE). SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN APPLICATION. FOR USE AS PERSONAL VEHICLE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WITH ACCESSORY SIGNAGE.
5411 Oxford Avenue– Expand catering hall into 5413-17. Combine into one OPA account. – Hearing date 5/10/2017 – PERMIT FOR THE LOT ADJUSTMENT TO CREATE ONE (1) LOT FROM TWO (2) EXISTING ZONING, DEED AND OPA LOTS (5411-13 OXFORD AVE AND 5417 OXFORD AVE). SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN ON PLANS/APPLICATION. 1ST FLOOR OR STRUCTURE FOR USE AS NIGHTCLUB AND PRIVATE CLUB (CATERING VENUE), 2ND FLOOR FOR USE AS TWO (2) FAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING. NO SIGNS ON THIS APPLICATION.

5411-17 Oxford Avenue from Google Maps

5070 Whitaker Avenue– Variance to have barber shop on the 1st floor and a single family dwelling on the 2nd floor. Hearing date 5/3/2017 – PERMIT FOR PERSONAL SERVICES (BARBER SHOP) ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF AN EXISTING ATTACHED BUILDING WITH AN EXISTING TWO-FAMILY HOUSEHOLD LIVING ABOVE.

5070 Whitaker Avenue from Google Maps

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Frankford NAC Rules on Multi Family

At the Frankford NAC zoning meeting on March 9th residents turned out to hear the proposal by the owner of 4200 Torresdale Avenue for signs, a set of stairs and an entrance ramp.  The address, under the previous ownership has been a source of trouble and residents were concerned about its future.  The new owner is going to use it as an auto body and repair shop for their used car lot at 4530 Torresdale Avenue.

Neighbors were concerned about parking which is always a problem on the blocks near Torresdale Avenue and sidewalks being blocked by car dealers.  The owner gave assurances that the location would only be used for repairs and it has capacity for storage of 30 vehicles inside.

Unfortunately, a vote on the case could not be held because the zoning notice was not displayed according to regulations.  The case will come up again at a future meeting for a vote.

Doctor Anthony Panossian presented the case for a special exception for a dental office at 4821 Frankford Avenue. The exception is needed because this will be a group dental practice.  The practice, ArtisanSmiles, will be a full service facility providing dental, dental surgery and orthodonture.  Anesthesia will also be available which many dental offices do not provide.  ArtisanSmiles has offices now in Clifton Heights and York PA.

One resident raised the issue of parking for clients coming to the facility.  Dr. Panossian said they are willing to look into available parking spaces in a nearby lot but his architect pointed out that it is not a requirement for buildings in this zoning area.  Most clients will be coming by public transportation.

One one resident was eligible to vote and the vote was a No.

5300 Marsden Street: PERMIT FOR THE ERECTION OF A CARPORT FOR ONE PARKING SPACE (SIZE AND LOCATION AS SHOWN IN THE APPLICATION), ACCESSORY TO AN EXISTING ONE STORY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.  The applicant was represented by a friend who made the case for moving his existing handicapped parking space from the front of his home to the side.  It was agreed to support the variance with that proviso.

1257 Pratt Street: PERMIT FOR INCREASE IN DWELLING FROM SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING TO FOUR (4) FAMILY DWELLING (MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING) IN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.  The building has been a ground floor bar with 2 apartments above.  The owner wants to convert the bar into 2 apartments.  After much discussion, eligible residents voted unanimously to support the variance.

The next meeting of the Frankford NAC zoning board will be held on April 13th at 7 PM at Second Baptist Church 1801 Meadow Street.

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New Dental Office Proposed for 4821 Frankford Avenue

The Frankford NAC zoning board met February 16 and heard a presentation from the architect for Artisan SMILES on their proposed new office at 4821 Frankford Avenue.

4821 Frankford Avenue – Unit B is the second one from the right, a proposed medical office

It will be a full service dental office with dentistry, orthodontics and oral surgery.  This site was selected among several others because of location and the large office size is just what they required.

Unfortunately the zoning notice posted did not include the information required and the case will be continued until next month’s meeting.

Also on the agenda, was a zoning variance for 5300 Marsden Street.  The owners were not present so the case was continued.

A resident of the 1300 block of Fillmore Street attended to discuss the zoning of his block.  It is all single family homes but is zoned as RM1 which allows for multi family use.  Rafael E. Álvarez Febo, Small Business and Development Coordinator for Councilwoman Sanchez was present and said they would work with the residents of the block to remap it to RSA5 which is single family use.

The next meeting of the Frankford NAC zoning board will be held on March 9th at 2nd Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.

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Frankford NAC Zoning Meets Thursday February 16th

The NAC zoning meeting at 2nd Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow Street at 7 PM, will review a proposal to open a medical office at 4821 Frankford Avenue.  The building is owned by Philadelphia Suburban Development Corporation (PSDC).  The issues concerning this application are:

  •  Increase parking problems. (no parking lot)
  • The facility could be used for the dispensation of methadone.

If you remember the problems caused by the Verdell medical office and the Methdadone dispensation, you may want to attend the meeting to express your opinion.  See this link for more information.

Residents of the blocks closest to the facility will be permitted to vote.  It is noteworthy that the Nicholetti’s who run PSDC, also owned the building where the Verdell office was at 4606 Frankford Avenue.

Also on the agenda for the meeting is 5300 Marsden Street.  The owners want to legalize a car port.

The meeting was scheduled for February 9th but was cancelled due to the snow.