Full Transcript

·YouTLDR

City of Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board Meeting - 01/27/25

44:16EnglishTranscribed Jun 15, 2026
0:28

e

0:58

e e

1:55

you

2:00

okay good evening everyone it's uh 6:04

2:04

p.m. January this uh 27 20,000 uh

2:12

2025 this is

2:14

the meeting of the Harrisburg zoning

2:17

hearing board okay so there's some

2:20

administrative Stu we take here first

2:22

okay call meeting to order I introduce

2:25

myself I'm Claude fips I'm the uh chair

2:28

of the Z hearing board

2:30

okay um since my other my other person's

2:34

not here tonight so before I continue um

2:38

since I will be the only person hearing

2:40

it um do you guys you have an option you

2:44

can have your case continue to the next

2:47

uh hearing board meeting which would be

2:48

in February or if you feel as though I

2:51

I'm sufficient enough for you to hear it

2:53

hear it your choice Andy rebu I'm with

2:56

Lamar Advertising here in Le Mo the

2:59

applicant right right and we're

3:01

certainly thrilled to be here and thank

3:02

you for your time so okay and just then

3:07

we'll have just for um so applicant you

3:09

agreed that Mr fips can hear and decide

3:12

the case tonight correct correct correct

3:14

excellent thank you okay good so now

3:17

I'll add my other colleagues to the

3:20

discussion to my left is our um

3:24

solicitor for the sunning hearing board

3:27

okay in front of me is the director of

3:30

planning for city of Harrisburg Mr

3:32

Jeffrey

3:34

Knight and and Sol and assistant

3:37

solicitor for the Harrisburg city of

3:39

Harrisburg miss

3:41

Cameron hello okay um a little bit of

3:46

formalities

3:50

um uh the zoning hearing board functions

3:54

as a a formal board which means we have

3:57

a we our records we have keep records of

4:00

this so we have a stenographer okay and

4:03

in case of appeal your appeal will be

4:05

made through the uh Court Common

4:08

please so we basically look at we we

4:14

make a transcript the only report is

4:17

like a court of law our decisions must

4:19

be based off of fact and law not the

4:22

popularity or unpopularity of a project

4:24

or what it seems to the board to be a

4:27

good or bad project in other words

4:29

applicant must must meet a legal proof

4:32

burden of proof that proves the elements

4:35

of the variance or special exceptions to

4:37

their requesting okay the law that we're

4:40

governed by is the City Zoning codes and

4:42

the PA Municipal planning code

4:48

okay I think it's SP about it since I

4:52

don't like we have we have people in the

4:53

audience um for each case um people

4:57

anybody who's here repres the case from

5:01

from the in the audience they will be

5:03

allowed to get up and speak Only Rule is

5:06

is that you must give your name and your

5:08

address and if you're going to speak on

5:10

the property you must be in close

5:11

proximity to the to the property in

5:14

question okay so um okay ready yep call

5:19

first case solic uh so it is application

5:23

2595 uh before I read the exhibits and I

5:26

know uh Andy reuk right uh for for the

5:29

app

5:30

uh before I then forget why don't we

5:33

just do it so uh we have application

5:35

2595 you are also the applicant for 2596

5:38

correct okay U so uh would you agree

5:42

then with the same thing for that for

5:44

that case for application 2595 that Mr

5:46

fips um um he and decide that case as

5:49

well similar to uh application 2595 yes

5:53

sir excellent thank you so uh with

5:56

application 2595 the exhibits uh B1 is

5:59

the proof of publication and Patriot

6:02

news January 12 and January 19 2025 B2

6:06

is the letter sent from the planning

6:08

director to the applicant notifying of

6:10

tonight's hearing B3 is a hearing notice

6:13

that's posted on the property B4

6:15

applicants and notification letters to

6:17

required neighbors

6:18

B5 is the application with an attached

6:22

narrative and then there's exhibits A1

6:24

through

6:25

A10 uh B6 is a property and tax document

6:29

with uh and along with the letter of

6:31

permission which is part of B5

6:33

establishes the applicant standing uh to

6:36

pursue the zoning relief B7 is the

6:39

planning Bureau case report and B8 is

6:42

the city of Harrisburg Planning

6:44

Commission resolution so we have B1

6:47

through

6:50

B8 thank you um now um we'll swear in to

6:54

swear in Mr Knight and I'll just swear

6:57

in the applicat too can it's where the

7:00

information you're going to give is

7:01

truth and nothing whole truth nothing

7:03

but the truth I do I do okay thank you

7:07

okay why don't we do right and you are

7:09

Michael

7:10

Adams and Andy rbuk okay just keep your

7:13

hands up go ahead Mr okay so good you

7:17

swear the information that you're going

7:19

to present is truth whole truth nothing

7:21

but the truth I do thank you very

7:24

much uh yes so the um current

7:27

applications uh before the board for

7:30

$25.95 uh involve the replacement of an

7:34

existing double-sided static billboard

7:36

on the property at 833 Paxton Street uh

7:40

this portion of the property is actually

7:42

just to the south of Interstate 83 which

7:44

bisects the property uh East West um the

7:48

applicants are uh in addition to

7:51

relocating uh the sign itself uh to

7:54

accommodate the expanded Highway

7:56

footprint um on the same property uh the

7:58

applicant will be replacing one of the

8:02

signed faces with an LED sign signed

8:05

face which has internally uh illuminated

8:08

signage and uh electronically changing

8:10

messaging um and in addition to that uh

8:13

the double-sided billboard or flat

8:16

double-sided billboard um is going to be

8:18

converted to uh a two-faced billboard

8:20

with about a 25 foot Gap uh between them

8:23

um the zoning code allows uh anything up

8:27

to a 5 foot Gap to be considered um a

8:29

single

8:30

uh two-sided billboard so this is

8:31

technically two different signs so uh

8:35

the applicants are requesting relief

8:38

from both um the prohibition against uh

8:42

electronically changing messages and

8:43

internally eliminated Billboards as well

8:45

as for the separation distance between

8:48

the two signage faces um as noted uh

8:52

this property uh this billboard is

8:54

located in kind of the uh storage area

8:57

lay down area of the peny supply

9:00

uh property uh it will be moved uh

9:02

slightly uh to the South and I believe

9:05

to the east a little bit from where it

9:06

currently is located um largely the

9:11

context of the sign will not change it's

9:13

an industrial property a largely

9:14

industrial Corridor uh the to the West

9:17

is railroad tracks uh to the east is um

9:23

surface parking lots uh so uh the

9:26

context of the um uh signage is not

9:29

changed in um and otherwise uh

9:32

the proposal um involves uh the kind of

9:37

the consolidation of of many static

9:39

faces as shown in the uh map that they

9:41

have uh that the applicants have

9:43

provided at the Planning Commission

9:44

meeting um so that is their

9:46

justification for consolidating it into

9:48

the uh single um digital signage phase

9:53

with all that being said uh the Planning

9:55

Commission recommends the zoning hearing

9:56

board approve the request uh with the

9:59

following conditions uh if the board

10:01

approves the applicant's request as

10:03

submitted the applicant will be in

10:04

conformance with the rules and

10:05

regulations set forth by the

10:06

Pennsylvania Department of

10:07

Transportation and receive approval from

10:09

set entity subsequent to decision by the

10:11

zoning hearing board uh and this was a

10:14

condition that was added um in a recent

10:17

case at 1500 Paxton Street that the

10:19

applicants were uh that these

10:20

individuals were the applicants for as

10:22

well uh so we decided to continue to

10:24

this case and

10:25

2596 uh the applicant will limage will

10:27

limit message transition to six

10:29

transitions per minute per previous

10:31

approval for a similar proposal granted

10:32

by the zoning hearing board and again

10:34

that references the case for 1500 Paxton

10:36

Street uh finally the applicant should

10:38

ensure that the footprint of the

10:39

relocation site is outside of the AE uh

10:42

100-year flood plane the proximity of

10:44

the new billboard structure support

10:46

structure to the a flood plane boundary

10:48

uh is such that the designation of the

10:50

proposed location cannot be confirmed so

10:52

when looking at the site plan provided

10:54

by the applicants and then uh comparing

10:56

that to uh our digital zoning map with

10:59

the flood plane information it was a

11:01

little um unclear as to whether that

11:02

would be out uh the current foot

11:04

footprint of the sign is in uh the the

11:07

100-year flood plane so it wouldn't

11:09

change anything from a um you know

11:11

hydrologic standpoint uh but it would be

11:14

preferable if that were moved out of the

11:15

flood plane um you know both for

11:17

conformance with our City's flood plane

11:19

regulations and also for the applicants

11:21

benefit to sure that it's avoids being

11:24

impacted by a flood event uh the

11:26

Planning Commission uh recommends the

11:28

zoning hearing board approve the request

11:29

for the following reasons uh the

11:31

variance relief requested by the

11:32

applicant is intended to offset the loss

11:34

of 18 structures with 30 signage faces

11:37

at various points along the stretch of

11:38

Interstate 83 running through the city

11:40

due to the highway widening project and

11:42

a similar proposal was reviewed and

11:44

approved by the zoning her board in

11:45

November 2023 as the property is located

11:48

in an industrial and auto oriented

11:50

Corridor and will face a widened Highway

11:52

and

11:53

railroad its installation should not be

11:55

detrimental to the general character of

11:57

the

11:58

neighborhood thank

12:00

you thank you very

12:04

much

12:06

yeah give I'll give three quick thoughts

12:09

again I'm the general manager of Lamar

12:11

Advertising the billboard company here

12:13

yes and we're always thankful and

12:16

appreciative of the city and as a

12:19

property owner as a business person and

12:21

as a partner with uh the city folks with

12:24

a lot of different things so thank you

12:27

um the pendot project is a kick and rear

12:29

end if you're coming in Northbound on 83

12:32

and you cross the river between the

12:34

river and like 19th Street you would

12:36

have seen 18 billboard faces coming and

12:39

going when the Project's done you'll see

12:42

four maybe six if we get lucky it's a

12:45

real change and and that's my third

12:47

thought we're we're fortunate to have a

12:49

good business and and keep a good

12:51

business but this is a struggle so one

12:53

way that we can kind of get back to even

12:55

is to get approval to do this Mike Adams

12:57

runs our real estate department he's a

12:58

he with a nice guy and he's going to U

13:02

chip in any questions or information

13:04

that you might want right yes and they

13:07

have yeah okay I said that basically

13:10

what we gave the Planning Commission was

13:11

an overiew what

13:14

structures show you get more of a visual

13:18

it's a lot easier to see it on a map

13:20

than it is to talk about so that was

13:22

what I have I have you have any direct

13:26

questions very

13:30

one thing I should have asked you and

13:31

your address you give address yes my

13:34

home address

13:38

noet thank you thank you um that's been

13:42

the home of the billboard company since

13:44

1930 is that amazing yeah General lot

13:49

yes Jeff I was G to ask you a question

13:52

the existing signage it's it it's not

13:55

contained inside the current flood plan

13:58

is it the existing sign the support

13:59

footprint is in the flood plane okay the

14:01

one the location they're proposing looks

14:03

like it's out of the flood plane but

14:04

it's a little difficult to tell so our

14:06

recommendation is if they're able to

14:08

negotiate it with the property owner to

14:11

perhaps move it a little further south

14:13

uh from where the proposed location is

14:15

just to ensure is out of the flood PL

14:17

and this is basically replacement sign

14:18

you want to take down the non-electronic

14:21

signs and basically put up something

14:23

that's going to be around for a while

14:27

correct um

14:30

basically question self

14:32

explanat right does it anything for you

14:35

t so to add to

14:38

that okay anybody else here on this I

14:43

just have one question so with the sign

14:45

even though it's it's a v-shaped though

14:48

since the one is more than 5 feet that's

14:50

why it's right considered but it is like

14:52

a vshape kind of okay I got

14:55

it okay so um

15:00

I can't ask for a motion because I'm the

15:01

only motion person so am I'm allowed to

15:04

basically say you know based off of what

15:06

I've read and your

15:08

presentation um the other thing is the

15:11

the three conditions they're fine yes

15:13

okay that's correct okay good okay okay

15:17

so I would basically recommend approval

15:20

of this just say yeah you you approve

15:23

approve it with the you approve it with

15:26

the conditions of the Planning

15:27

Commission Planning Commission yes okay

15:31

so then that's what we'll do and we'll

15:33

issue the written decision um in line

15:37

with that like the other one you would

15:38

have received um with that other

15:42

application so um we can move on to

15:47

2596 same and do and do that um

15:52

everybody who was here Mr Knight's still

15:54

under oath and the applicant the two for

15:57

the applicant are still under growth so

16:01

um why don't I just do then the exhibits

16:04

and then we'll take it from there all

16:07

right okay so we have

16:10

2596 uh 3737 and 3745 North 6 Street uh

16:16

the exhibits uh B1 proof of

16:19

publication uh Patriot news January 12

16:22

January 19 2025 B2 is a letter sent from

16:26

the planning director to applicant

16:27

notifying of the hearing B3 is a hearing

16:30

notice posted on the property B4

16:32

applicants and notification letters to

16:34

required neighbors B5 is the application

16:37

with attached narrative and Exhibits it

16:40

at A1 through

16:42

A1 uh B6 or Grant of easements and a

16:45

special warranty deed establishing the

16:47

applicants standing to pursue the zoning

16:49

relief B7 planning Bureau case report B8

16:54

is the city of Harrisburg Planning

16:55

Commission resolution so with that we

16:57

got B1 through

17:03

and uh sure so um case 2596 uh this is

17:08

while it represents a similar proposal

17:10

uh to that of the F last case uh the

17:13

conditions are a little bit um different

17:15

uh so in this case they're proposing to

17:18

replace a two-sided static billboard

17:21

with a single-sided uh billboard with

17:24

the LED um sign phase and uh

17:27

electronically changing mess

17:29

uh in addition to that uh they are

17:32

relocating the sign uh from the

17:35

Northfolk Southern Railway yard uh which

17:38

is technically addressed as 29 98a

17:41

Industrial Road um just to the West uh

17:45

and the property of the West is I

17:47

believe 3737 North um 6th Street uh that

17:51

and 3745 are both owned by the same

17:53

entity um and they'll be Loca relocating

17:57

that uh billboard base into the parking

18:00

lot uh of that business it's going to be

18:03

occupying um a single parking space per

18:06

the testimony of the uh applicants of

18:08

the Planning Commission meeting uh

18:10

they're also locating it uh as far in

18:13

the Southeastern corner of the site as

18:16

possible given proximity to the elevated

18:18

highway there um which uh will keep it

18:21

away from the uh nearest Residential

18:26

Properties um this property is and

18:28

project site is unique in that um the

18:32

properties themselves are within the

18:33

city but everything uh to the north and

18:36

west is actually in squ Township uh so

18:39

the properties the Residential

18:40

Properties that'll be impacted by this

18:42

um or or that are within the uh buffer

18:45

area are um located approximately 150 uh

18:48

feet away I believe uh from where the

18:51

proposed new signage um location is um

18:56

and then in addition to that uh uh yeah

18:59

so they'll have an off- PRM sign within

19:00

250 ft of the residential L line um now

19:05

the you know justification for this is

19:08

is similar it's part of a larger

19:10

consolidation of signage faces lost like

19:13

Highway uh changes um and also

19:15

modernization of the applicant's uh

19:19

inventory um having one digital signage

19:22

face as opposed to a numerous you know

19:24

static faces um is not only you know

19:27

better for the applicants but results in

19:28

the loss of visual clutter uh along

19:31

these corridors um and the property um

19:34

or the signage facee will be facing to

19:38

the east uh so it will be overlooking uh

19:40

the Northfolk Southern Rail Yards uh the

19:43

industrial properties along Industrial

19:44

Road and uh the Interstate 81 Highway um

19:48

so it will actually remove a signage

19:50

face towards uh the residence of ss

19:53

Township um so that all being said the

19:57

Planning Commission

19:59

recommends that the zoning hearing board

20:00

approve the request with the following

20:01

conditions uh the board approves the

20:03

applicant's request as submitted the

20:05

applicant will be in conformance with

20:06

rules and regulations set forth by the

20:07

Pennsylvania Department of

20:09

Transportation and receive approval from

20:11

said entity subsequent to decision by

20:13

the zoning hearing board and the

20:14

applicant will limage limit message

20:16

transition to six transitions per minute

20:18

per previous approval for a similar

20:20

proposal granted by the zoning hearing

20:22

board uh the Planning Commission

20:24

recommends the zoning hearing board

20:25

approve the request for the following

20:26

reasons the applicant has previously

20:28

received relief for an electronically

20:30

changeable LED message board from the

20:32

zoning hearing board in November 2023

20:35

and both the current proposal and the

20:36

relocated one at 833 Paxton Street will

20:39

result in the consolidation of static

20:40

sign faces via LED message boards

20:43

creating an overall reduction in the

20:44

amount of visual plight with respect to

20:46

the height the proposed off street sign

20:48

will retain the same height as the

20:49

existing sign located 147 fet East of

20:52

the proposed site and is necessary to

20:53

permit visibility to passers by on the

20:55

elevated highway to the South uh the

20:57

applicants off premise signage mitigates

20:59

potential impacts on Residential

21:01

Properties to the north and west by

21:02

proposing a one-sided billboard which

21:04

faces East overlooking the Norfolk

21:06

Southern Railroad tracks warehouses

21:08

along Industrial Road and Interstate 81

21:11

and finally because there's an existing

21:12

billboard visible to surrounding

21:14

residents that is being relocated as

21:16

part of this request the project will

21:18

not introduce a new off- premise sign

21:20

and thus will not create a new visual

21:23

obstruction one question I have for you

21:25

Jeff um and I saw this is a

21:29

this sign is going to be elevated pretty

21:32

much up to 40 feet above the ground or

21:35

uh I don't remember off the top of my

21:37

head with I was going to ask that it was

21:39

it said like the total you know whatever

21:42

the the with the sign it looked like the

21:45

top of the sign may be like 68 it's 68

21:48

60 60 something sticks in my head I can

21:51

find out exactly but essentially if you

21:54

look at the sign the sign height that it

21:56

is today

21:58

almost be identical because right it's

22:01

over 40 it's not perfectly level but

22:03

it's pretty close

22:09

Rises that's correct yeah and my second

22:11

question is s a Township because I when

22:13

you said 3700 block of north 60 I said

22:16

wow you're right on the borderline okay

22:19

um is will there be any push back from

22:22

sanana Township from their from their

22:25

plan organization I both sent them a

22:28

letter spoken with them and sent them a

22:31

copy of The Proposal before

22:35

we say we have received nothing from sus

22:38

attach okay right okay thank you

22:40

so we start asking about your project I

22:44

about the project I I just add one

22:45

thought here we have a really good

22:47

relationship with the railroad folks and

22:49

they're a big property owner not only

22:51

here in Harrisburg where we have you

22:52

know 50 to 100 Billboards on their

22:55

properties but Across the Nation but

22:57

they grew

22:59

and they took what were three tracks and

23:00

made them six and put us right in the

23:02

middle so the guy that runs the yard

23:05

there said we can't get you safely to

23:08

your billboard because we can't stop the

23:11

Amtrak trains versus the norfol trains

23:14

so we've been very limited we've been in

23:16

maybe two times over the course of two

23:19

years and so the railroad fully

23:21

understood they said we know you have to

23:23

take your board down they were crying

23:25

about it but you know because they like

23:27

the money but

23:29

this was the answer was to get relief

23:31

from uh from the the city with the the

23:34

variants we need and then move move it

23:36

up to a single-sided unit right at 100

23:40

yards away maybe right

23:44

mely 67

23:46

ft yeah thank you anything add um no I

23:50

said

23:51

you Prov that stand

24:03

um okay so it's is that the two

24:05

conditions there's two conditions

24:07

correct two conditions fine right okay

24:12

um okay Mr

24:14

fips pretty pretty good so I um I move

24:19

to I'm going to approve this with the

24:21

two condition stated by the Planning

24:24

Commission yep okay and yes I I've

24:27

actually area so I know that

24:29

yard still play area and yeah that would

24:32

be very I can to understand the safety

24:34

issue too you can't service that at all

24:37

ways currently yeah approve thank you

24:40

okay yep we'll get the decisions out but

24:42

Yep they're approved so all right you

24:50

too

24:56

excellent why them and everything

25:00

and you

25:02

know

25:04

res commercial coming down coming back

25:07

to haris movie studio the studios and

25:11

cleaners and stuff over in stores so

25:13

okay so

25:15

yep so ready okay so turn it back over

25:19

to you Mr Conor okay so we are 20 uh

25:22

application

25:24

2597 2300 North 7th Street

25:29

and uh are you Mr Ali okay Mr Ali so uh

25:33

you probably heard me uh in talking to

25:36

the other applicants um are you

25:40

agreeable to having just Mr fips uh the

25:44

chairman of this board hear the case

25:46

tonight and decide it um otherwise there

25:50

usually is another board member which it

25:52

would be then a quorum to be able to

25:54

decide this um but uh then it would have

25:57

to be continued to next month so you

25:59

have the option to agree to have Mr fips

26:02

here and decide it tonight or agree to

26:05

continue until next meeting up to

26:08

you okay so you agree then Mr fips can

26:11

hear it and decide I apologize I've seen

26:14

you before and I I I've met you and I

26:16

I've got to make sure it was just it was

26:18

something p a passing thing but okay

26:21

thank you okay so let me uh read in the

26:25

exhibits

26:28

so uh we have B1 proof of publication

26:31

and imp patriate

26:33

news uh January 12th January 19th 2025

26:37

uh letter sent from the planning

26:39

director to applicant notifying of

26:40

tonight's hearing B3 is a hearing notice

26:43

posting on the property B4 applicants

26:46

notification letters uh to required

26:49

neighbors B5 is the application with a

26:52

photo of the uh parking area and the

26:55

plan for the rear parking area B6 is the

26:59

installment sales agreement and the deed

27:01

establishing applicants standing to

27:03

pursue the zoning relief B7 is the

27:06

planning Bureau case report and B8 is

27:08

the city of Harrisburg Planning

27:10

Commission

27:11

resolution so we have B1 through

27:17

B8 right Mr Knight still sworn in from

27:20

the prior applications uh yes so

27:23

2597 uh the applicant is uh proposing to

27:26

establish a me processing use on site

27:28

which is permitted by right in the

27:29

industrial district in which the

27:31

property is located uh and is therefore

27:33

requesting relief from the off street

27:35

parking requirements for such a use

27:36

which are outlined in section 7-3 27.6

27:39

of the zoning code uh per those

27:42

regulations uh the pros use would

27:44

require one parking space for 1,000

27:46

square ft of gross floor area or one

27:48

space for each employee based on the

27:50

floor area of the building the proposed

27:52

use would require seven off street

27:53

parking spaces um and as uh the board

27:56

members can see uh in the documentation

27:59

provided by the applicant uh there was a

28:02

informally lined parking lot I guess I'd

28:05

say at the at the rear of the property

28:07

um I that was done I think sometime

28:09

after September 2023 I want to say

28:11

looking back at Google streets view

28:13

images and uh may have been an effort by

28:16

um the either current or former I think

28:19

the applicants in the midst of uh

28:20

purchasing the property Uh current or

28:22

former um property owner uh to create

28:26

you know space uh uh spaces um on site

28:30

to accommodate new businesses um now the

28:33

the issue kind of becomes with respect

28:35

to the site plan that they've given you

28:36

is that they've got two spaces on either

28:39

side of a Central Drive aisle um but the

28:42

spaces to the right as you go in uh

28:44

their formal establishment through you

28:47

know this process uh would basically

28:50

cause uh the vehicular access to this

28:52

property to be um blocked as well as to

28:55

the property of the north um and so the

28:58

proposal for the four spaces as shown on

29:00

that site plan um two of those would not

29:03

be legal because they prevent um legal

29:05

access to those properties and and and

29:07

while that might be less of an issue for

29:09

this current applicant if they if they

29:11

sold it or if they wanted to lease it to

29:13

a different uh tenant so an auto repair

29:15

shop in the future they would need to

29:17

have access to that thing um and if

29:19

those were formerly established bases

29:21

for such use that would be obviously a

29:25

conflict there between those two things

29:27

so uh in reviewing this the planning

29:29

Bureau uh effectively looked at the site

29:33

plan that the applicants provided and

29:34

said you know the two spaces um to the

29:37

left as you go in so they're at the West

29:39

westernmost side of the property uh are

29:41

viable they aren't blocking anything um

29:43

those two yep those two aren't blocking

29:46

anything so they can count towards uh

29:48

the required uh seven offre parking

29:50

spaces so then the applicant would be

29:52

needing to make up five spaces or

29:54

request relief from five spaces uh now

29:56

the applicant has uh committed to

29:59

providing secure bike storage uh for um

30:02

uh potential employees uh which is one

30:05

of the um criteria allowing relief from

30:08

off street parking uh additionally uh

30:11

the prevalence of on Street available on

30:14

street parking in the surrounding

30:16

streets um and by looking at the

30:19

frontage of the property with the uh

30:22

streets uh we determine that they have

30:24

sufficient parking um along the blocks

30:27

uh to along 7th Street and Emerald

30:29

Street to accommodate any demand um now

30:32

that it was brought up at the Planning

30:33

Commission meeting uh that there are no

30:35

parking signs on the Emerald Street side

30:37

um those also are a relatively recent

30:40

addition and um I reached out to the uh

30:44

City Engineer's office because I wasn't

30:46

quite sure why they were added if you U

30:48

and they were installed before our

30:49

current city engineer was um uh in his

30:53

position um and if you look at them it's

30:56

not really clear while they while they

30:58

why they were added um it's a one-way

31:00

street so it's not like two-way

31:02

traffic's going through um there aren't

31:04

any curb Cuts or things like fire

31:07

hydrants that would prevent them uh I

31:09

know especially when we've had um uh

31:13

Staffing vacancies in the city Engineers

31:15

Department sometimes things don't get

31:17

the correct vetting uh when it comes to

31:20

things like requesting uh no parking

31:22

areas or something like that on streets

31:23

and it may have been a request from um

31:25

again the current or SL former Park

31:28

property owner here or some residents

31:30

nearby but from what I could tell there

31:32

was no justification for the

31:33

installation of the signs and while the

31:35

city engineer indicated some preliminary

31:37

agreement on that he hasn't fully gone

31:39

through everything and said all right I

31:42

like looked at our paperwork and yes

31:44

these were all vetted and approved uh so

31:46

he seems to think that there's a good

31:48

possibility that they could be removed

31:50

uh which would then accommodate the um

31:53

uh vehicles of any either customers or

31:56

workers of the business although I don't

31:58

think they really do customers because

31:59

they uh repackage meat and um send it

32:02

out for um wholesale and Retail um sales

32:06

uh so given all those things we felt

32:08

that the uh nature of the business and

32:10

the conditions and context of the

32:12

neighborhood uh did justify the request

32:14

U and it is a special exception so the

32:16

burden of proof on the applicant is a

32:18

bit lower than if it were say a variance

32:20

application um so all of that being said

32:23

uh the Planning Commission recommended

32:26

that the

32:28

zoning hearing board approved the

32:29

request with the following conditions uh

32:31

the applicant must remove the informal

32:32

parking spaces along the rear of the

32:34

building as such spaces prevent

32:36

vehicular access to the subject property

32:37

and the property of the north and that

32:39

was what I had just uh described a

32:40

little bit in the applicant at the

32:42

Planning Commission meeting indicated he

32:43

was um willing to paint over those lines

32:46

so that uh they're removed uh the

32:48

applicant should create a secure indoor

32:50

location for bike storage or construct a

32:52

concrete pad with bike racks uh in the

32:54

grass strip adjacent to the vehicular

32:56

access point um and we just want to make

32:58

sure that uh those are formally you know

33:02

established on site so that it's not

33:03

just oh yeah I'm going to have people

33:04

bike and then they're locking it up to a

33:06

bench you know in the in the shop or

33:08

something like there's a a way for them

33:10

to be locked up securely so that they

33:12

don't have to worry about them being

33:14

stolen uh and finally uh the applicant

33:16

must install physical obstructions along

33:17

the curb along the frontage with both

33:19

Emerald Street and North 7 Street which

33:21

prevent illegal sidewalk parking

33:22

observed during site visits to and by

33:24

the property um and the board members

33:27

may recall we made um this a condition

33:29

of the review of 425 South 17th Street

33:32

right uh to prevent that because that

33:34

was pretty consistent and as you saw in

33:36

the existing condition photos in the

33:38

case report there's a car park there um

33:41

when I did the site visit so um in a

33:45

similar vein we want to make sure that

33:46

we're not um accommodating sidewalk

33:49

parking it tends to be pretty rampant up

33:50

there along North s Street uh on a lot

33:53

of the businesses uh Fring there so if

33:55

we're able to prevent that granting the

33:58

relief that the applicant's requesting

34:00

uh we feel that that's a good tradeoff

34:02

um as far as to what obstructions are

34:04

required um I noted we discussed at the

34:08

Planning Commission meeting that after

34:09

the zoning hearing board presuming an

34:10

approval we could discuss what options

34:12

were best whether small concrete blocks

34:14

or small little ballards we've had both

34:16

used um to address those uh the Planning

34:19

Commission recommends that the zoning

34:21

hearing board approve the request for

34:22

the following reasons approval of the

34:24

zoning relief request will enable the

34:25

occupancy and productive reuse of a

34:27

property that has been vacant since

34:29

2018 uh and there is sufficient on

34:31

street parking along the property

34:32

Frontage to accommodate worker vehicles

34:34

and the applicant is committed to

34:35

providing secure bike storage for

34:43

workers let swearing

34:46

M ra your

34:49

hand full name and address name and

34:55

address okay

34:58

information you provide is going to be

34:59

truth nothing but the truth right thank

35:02

you I have one question for you Jeff and

35:06

with the and maybe miss Cameron this

35:09

maybe go back to the

35:11

city yes uh sidewalk parking is

35:15

rampant and um HPD is enforcing they're

35:19

going through and they're they're

35:20

basically stepping up the enforcement of

35:23

people rolling their own and and parking

35:25

on the sidewalks

35:27

um with this location could be affected

35:31

behind that if if if if they do not

35:34

address what the Planning Commission

35:36

stated okay about rocking off the

35:38

basically putting some type of uh

35:40

obstructions there at the curve to stop

35:43

your customers or your workers being

35:45

able to park on the sidewalk and the

35:47

second thing new parking I'm very

35:49

familiar with the emo Street between

35:51

Jefferson and seven

35:54

street that you had a couple of

35:56

Residential Properties there not anymore

35:58

I mean I that used to be it was almost a

36:01

commercial there was some commercial

36:03

businesses that at that area and at the

36:05

Western end of this block as you can

36:07

maybe see in the existing conditions

36:09

photos there actually is on street

36:10

parking um in front of the homes that

36:12

are kind of near the intersection with

36:14

Jefferson Street um you know there are

36:17

driveway curb Cuts in the middle of the

36:18

block and of course it's sensible there

36:20

to have no parking uh within a sight

36:22

line area but for the frontage of the

36:25

building with the uh uh on Emerald

36:28

Street especially I couldn't understand

36:30

why that was there um it didn't see like

36:32

I said it seems to be maybe a year and a

36:34

half or so old um and I'm trying to get

36:38

clarity on that with the city

36:39

engineers's office but my guess is um I

36:43

I'm expecting them to probably be

36:45

removed is my

36:53

exp make the turn off of going but but

36:58

what I will say to the applicants point

36:59

you know they'll be having box trucks

37:01

making deliveries um is what they

37:03

testify to during the Planning

37:04

Commission uh and actually I'm not even

37:06

sure I I'm not even sure that Emerald

37:09

Street or any of the streets that it

37:10

would feed necessarily are appropriate

37:12

for uh tractor trailers so I don't know

37:14

that like necessarily you'd be getting a

37:16

whole lot of these um on there and in

37:19

the event that some that a tractor

37:21

trailer is delivering to either this

37:22

property or just to the south on Emerald

37:24

Street there is parking along seven

37:26

street that they can use in parking part

37:28

of the prop also had the information was

37:31

in the comp plan remember comp plan

37:33

seven Street was a major quarter that

37:36

was basically trying to be addressed

37:38

right will this have any conflict with

37:41

if we choose if we choose to implement

37:43

that plan or pieces of that plan I mean

37:45

I don't think so um I think what you

37:49

know what the comp plan envisions what

37:50

it envisions for pretty much every

37:52

neighborhood and Corridor is having an

37:54

active Corridor with occupied properties

37:57

um and not having uh you know vacant

38:00

properties vacant BL uh vacant Lots um

38:04

and so uh you know promoting the type of

38:08

um economic development that would

38:10

actually you know occupy properties and

38:11

provide economic um opportunities for uh

38:14

residents um presumably that's who would

38:17

bike uh be able to bike to the uh

38:19

business um would I think be a priority

38:22

okay I apologize had here so talk talk

38:26

to me about your about your plan or your

38:34

project okay um

38:40

sanitation okay or I sanitation stuff

38:43

that you don't pack that you're not

38:44

boxing or you you're going to discard is

38:48

there has been any additional plans made

38:51

to basically for dumpsters or something

38:52

or basically moving that so it doesn't

38:55

sit during a hot summer and holding your

39:13

notes so the uh like types of customers

39:17

right this isn't a retail store or

39:19

anything like that where people are

39:20

coming in so uh you know how many I

39:24

don't know people or whatever would be

39:26

visiting the store on a daily basis

39:32

or okay and and and kind of through out

39:35

the day right not okay and how about

39:39

like the hours of operation what's the

39:41

plan for that would you

39:48

say okay

40:04

okay and the three

40:07

conditions

40:09

um and I know that you I saw the

40:12

discussion obviously at the Planning

40:14

Commission because I know applicant was

40:16

kind of wondering like what would I need

40:18

for the third condition to um uh kind of

40:22

stop the sidewalk uh uh parking and um

40:27

then so even so if it's approved that

40:29

can then can kind of be worked out

40:30

correct yeah I mean I I we try not to

40:34

have a one-size it's all like I've had

40:36

people do kind of like lower thicker

40:38

Ballers that are maybe 18 inch so

40:41

they're kind of less visually obtrusive

40:43

I guess but you can't drive over them

40:45

I've had um the applicant for 425 South

40:48

17 Street did like three foot high ones

40:51

uh that were a bit skinnier but based

40:54

closely enough that they prevented

40:55

encroachment so small little conrete

40:57

blocks if you know if they're large

40:59

enough and sufficiently um approximate

41:03

to one another would prevent driving

41:04

onto it so it's it's kind of uh we want

41:07

to make want to provide at least a

41:08

little flexibility uh for the applicant

41:10

to find something that works for them in

41:12

a cost-effective manner and and it and

41:15

it is something that the Planning

41:17

Commission has recommended and this

41:18

board has approved for other when it's

41:21

really an issue and in this instance it

41:24

it is for that location so yeah

41:33

okay you need something that's an ed

41:36

yeah it stop immovable it need it needs

41:40

to probably be you know higher than um

41:43

most Vehicles wheelbase that they can't

41:45

drive over it essentially so which is

41:47

why you were saying the lower something

41:49

lower but wider but you can't park right

41:53

and it would be more right I mean

41:55

centered in the S you know sidewalks so

41:58

they can't what would be like the strips

42:00

that are like right along the curb so

42:02

there's room to put oh the strips right

42:04

yeah there's room to put these in

42:05

without blocking the actual side okay

42:12

right so I mean you could put them five

42:15

feet apart or even 10 feet apart

42:18

somebody can't drive through those for

42:19

the most part and still gives people

42:21

right it's not just a consistent thing

42:23

it's every so often so then a car can't

42:26

fit not like a fence B Bas that you're

42:27

put right it's just so many along the

42:30

thing so to prevent you know anybody

42:33

parking there pulling along you know

42:37

definitely could be some distance

42:38

between them to to work that

42:43

yeah okay so

42:47

um I'm going to approve this based off

42:50

the recommendations made by the Planning

42:53

Commission but really paying attention

42:55

to item number the third condition

42:58

because you've asked questions about it

43:00

and I'm visualizing and I I don't want

43:04

this is a city Revenue generator because

43:06

it will become one if they if people

43:09

don't adhere to it and by putting a

43:11

baller something there for prevention

43:14

it'll have people move not make an

43:17

attempt to park on sidewalk so but I am

43:20

so you approve with the three conditions

43:23

with the three conditions stated yes by

43:24

the Planning Commission okay yes

43:27

all right written decision will written

43:30

decision will be sent to you within 45

43:32

days it'll be less than that and that's

43:34

it though and then you can just work on

43:36

whatever that will be but yes the yeah

43:40

we have some photos of some recent

43:42

installations that I can send you or a

43:43

couple other

43:45

options great thank you thank you so

43:48

since I'm the only one in meeting is

43:51

officially adjourned okay and I'll see

43:54

everybody next month um

43:57

yeah I

43:58

remember Mr

44:01

Mr 17 I remember that because we had

44:03

that discussion about people parking

44:06

here and Tom's organization is starting

44:10

to enforce and people are screaming okay

44:13

but

More transcripts

Explore other videos transcribed with YouTLDR.

Get the TLDR of any YouTube video

Transcribe, summarize, and repurpose videos in 125+ languages — free, no signup required.

Try YouTLDR Free