BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINUTES – Meeting of December 7, 2020

PRESENT:  Claire Adler, President; Steve Richman, Vice-President; Jacek Ghosh, Treasurer; Janet Finegar, Secretary; Caitlin Antrim; Alex Boland; Shakirra Clark; Chastity Houston; Joe Mikuliak; Matt Ochs; Don Phillips; Matt Ruben; Barbara Saverino; Kevin Wilkins.

ABSENT: Amy Sweeney

The meeting was called to order by the President at 6:35 p.m.

Motion: By Jacek Ghosh, seconded by Steve Richman. “To approve the minutes of the November Board meeting as presented.”  Passed 12-0-0 

President’s Report: Claire Adler. Written report attached and reviewed.

There was significant conversation about the proposal to revise or remove the riverwards' zoning overlay and the zoning committee's suggestions of revisions.

Motion: By Matt Ruben, seconded by Don Phillips. “To support a change to, but not total removal of the existing zoning overlay such that a restaurant would not need to get a special exception  provided that it met the following conditions: it is less than 2000 square feet and it does not have/is not requesting a Special Assembly Occupancy License.” Passed 13-1-0

NLNA President’s Report – December 7, 2020

1. PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY

• North Delaware Zoning Overlay: Several neighborhood groups have come together to change the North Delaware Zoning Overlay which requires all restaurants to get permission from the zoning board to locate in our neighborhood, Fishtown, and parts of East Kensington and Olde Richmond. Some groups would like to remove it in its entirety. 
  • I would like to discuss and vote on a motion to support a change to, but not total removal of the overlay: A restaurant would not need to get a special exception (i.e. go through the RCO and zoning process) provided that it met the following conditions:
    • It is less than 2000 square feet
    • It does not have/is not requesting a Special Assembly Occupancy License (SAOL)
  • Before supporting this measure, we ask that the following issues are answered (either through legislation or otherwise): How will trash and noise issues be mitigated, prevented, and enforced? The current system is not only too much of a burden on the civics/BIDs, but often they don't get resolved in a timely manner, or at all. What will the City do to encourage this?
• Historic Designation for St. Agnes Church: We received many letters of support. The issue was continued to this Friday. Please send letters of support by COB Thursday and show up to the Friday meeting.
• Bicycle lane bill (SB-565): We voted to support this bill with the removal of the amendment that would require RCO approval. It did not pass before the end of the session and will be reintroduced next year.

2. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

• Annual Appeal: We placed an order from Fireball today and Eblasts will go out now through the end of the week. Please read it and share with neighbors! A huge thank to everyone who has helped out in putting it together, particularly Don Phillips, Caitlin Antram, Steven Richman, Kevin Wilkins, Jacek Ghosh, Matt Ruben.

3. EVENTS AND OUTREACH

• Post Brothers General Meeting: We have discussed having a general meeting to discuss the impact of the many Post projects in the neighborhood altogether. I have proposed Monday, December 17 or 21.
• Operation Santa: Operation Santa is ongoing from now through the 19th. Janet Finegar has gone above and beyond the normal years to figure out how to wrap and deliver during COVID. Big thanks to Don Phillips and everyone else who is helping out.

4. OTHER ITEMS

• Board Polls – Ratification of any online board polls since last month’s board meeting.

Motion: By Matt Ruben, seconded by Matt Ochs. “To ratify any and all Board polls taken in the previous month.”  Passed 14-0-0

Treasurer's Report: Jacek Ghosh. Written report distributed and reviewed.

There was some conversation about applying for a second round of COVID aid from Penn Treaty SSD: it was generally agreed that we should continue our support efforts and that a committee will meet to discuss specifics.

TREASURER’S REPORT

DECEMBER 2019

A. 2020-21 Budget: November Financials - table attached

• For the two months ended on November 30th All Funds Income was $15,819; this was $581 less than projected. All Funds Expenses totaled $21,988 which was $3,181 less than projected ($25,169). Current Year Net Income was -$6,169. This was $2,600 lower than projected (-$8,769).
• Income
  • CC Ops – only apartments + commercial space monthly rental income – no CC rentals because of Covid-19 shut down of NLNA office (assumes CC rentals may begin April – through to September 2021)
  • NLNA Ops – Received PTSSD grant for website redesign ($3500). Annual appeal (28 recurring donors - $385/month) + one-time donations ($365).
  • Q of L Ops – 1 individual donation ($30)
• Expenses
  • Significant variations from budgeted projections through November include:
    • 1. CC Ops - Lower than projected expenses ($893) due to lower Repair & Maintenance Expense ($575 versus $1,300 (projected).
    • 2. NLNA Ops - Lower than projected expenses ($2,853) due mainly to lower Professional Services Expense ($2,330 versus $5,900 (projected).
    • 3. Q of L Ops - Lower than projected expenses ($1,733) due mainly to lower Professional Services Expense ($1,100 versus $263 (projected) and lower Program Services ($1,125 versus $1,900 (projected).
    • 4. Liberty Lands - Lower than projected expenses ($661) due mainly to lower Repair & Maintenance Expense ($1,940 versus $2,500 (projected). 
• PTSSD Covid-19 Grant
  • Included is a synopsis of the PTSSD Covid-19 grant that Steve drafted showing a budgeted balance of $5,953 that could be used for : 1. Covid-19 related purposes or 2. for other purposes or 3. could be held in “reserve” as a hedge against unforeseen shortfalls in the current year.

B. Other Items

• Accountant’s 2019-20 Financial Report and Tax Preparation – Our accountant started work in November on preparation of our annual Compilation Report and Tax Return. A work meeting was held with Joe Brunner, our CPA, on Oct 30 with Steve, Lara and Jacek.

Motion: By Barbara Saverino, seconded by Kevin Wilkins. “To accept the Treasurer's report as presented.”  Passed 14-0-0

Communications & Marketing Committee: Caitlin Antrim. Written report attached and reviewed.

Caitlin reminded the Board that she can help with any materials committees might need for outreach efforts. 

NLNA Communications and Marketing Committee Report

Meeting Date: 11/16/20 – Chair: Caitlin Antram

Board Members Present: Joe Mikuliak, Shakirra Clark    Community Members Present: Stephen Shiffer

Points of Discussion:

• Zoning Committee flyer review
  • We brainstormed about how to improve the Zoning Committee flyer to make it more clear and compelling and landed on these two opening sentences:
    • A proposal for a project in your neighborhood is being considered by the NLNA Zoning Committee and your input is requested.
    • You are invited to attend a zoom meeting to learn more about the proposal and provide feedback.
• We talked through points of the Annual Appeal language - as a non-board member, Stephen was especially helpful in offering his perspective.
• Our next meeting is: Monday, Dec. 14 at 6:30pm
  • Planned agenda items:
    • Revisiting brand identity
    • Reviewing social media KPIs and identifying goals

Liberty Lands Committee Report: Janet Finegar. Written report attached and reviewed.

Liberty Lands Report 

December 2020

• Len and Laura, who have been the community garden coordinators for several years, are preparing to turn the job over to the next set of volunteers (Jeanne and Katherine have stepped up to the task!). Many thanks to them for all their work over the years.
• Monthly steering committee meetings return! Tuesday, December 8 at 7 p.m. we will have a ZOOM meeting (email janetfinegar@gmail.com for the link). Agenda items right now are: 
  • Compost Pile From Hell - come up w/a plan
  • Garden Sinkhole- discuss options, develop plan
  • Stage project update 
  • Non-rental Covid policy update
  • Garden rules/policies discussion
• In early November a new break in the stage surface appeared from the rotted underpinnings. The stage is fully caution taped off now. Thanks to the Penn Treaty SSD funds secured in October, we can re-build as planned with steel supports. Ken Grono's company will be doing the work: he plans to demolish the existing stage as soon as possible to remove the hazard and probably install the new one in the spring. The stage will LOOK much the same as it did but be better able to resist the water underneath it, 
• Minor paperwork hassles: the Water Revenue department has not yet managed to clear all the backlog of stormwater charges that accumulated a few years ago (prior to the legislation that exempts community gardens from stormwater charges). This is a snarl we've been working on for more than a year, but they are sending lien notices now, so we're re-engaging in the fight. Also, what appears to be a typo in address led to “953 N. 3rd” getting a violation notice for a fence and construction equipment (it's pretty clearly supposed to be for 952 N. 3rd), but we're dealing with disputing/correcting that ticket. 
• There was a pretty elaborate blanket fort set up behind the swings in late November. We never actually saw anyone sleeping there. We called Project Home, left a note giving the person 3 days to take away the materials, and then bagged them up for disposal (it appears the person never came back to see the note).
• A very small Parade of Spirits – no bonfire, no performances, no decorations – will gather at the park on Saturday the 12th.
• The November report never went out to park volunteers (apologies!), so here are some things from that:
• The park continued to see pretty constant use through October – I was there on a pleasant Saturday afternoon and saw more than 100 people at the park, although maintaining relatively good distancing and mostly masked. There were two approved events at the park in October: the NLArts Gala picnic, which had a tight distancing and masks structure, and the “Little Halloween Parade” (likewise). Both were very well attended. There have been quite a few parties just happening, as well, and those seem to be a good bit more loose about masks, but part of the reason for not taking official reservations was so we wouldn't feel a responsibility to try to police people's behavior at private events.
• The birch tree at the southern end of the park lost one of its two trunks in early October: the tree is old, but also took a lot of damage from lanternflies, so either could be responsible. Dennis Dougherty, newly here from Oakland, helped deal with the damage.
• The community garden had a good year but is mostly closing down for the winter. City Harvest donated many pounds of vegetables to Sunday Love over the summer, and has a large crop of garlic in for the winter. The Garden Coordinators are dealing with how to remove/reduce the Compost Pile from Hell and other cleanup issues.
• Christmas treecycling will happen as usual, and we'll hope to get professional tree pruning done as usual, too.
• Over the winter we need to look for lanternfly sacs, do basic park cleanup, and – at some point – start thinking about the future. At the moment I, Janet, have no energy for that, but assume it will come.

Membership Committee Report: Shakirra Clark.

Shakirra reported that the membership committee is going to work on some sort of form/document that can be handed out to new neighbors when they move to the neighborhood. The committee talked about past attempts to do this, and will meet in January to perfect ideas.

Operations Committee Report: Barbara Saverino.

Next meeting will be December 16^thand will include reviewing NLArts use of the Community Center.

Public Safety Committee Report: Matt Ochs. Written report attached and reviewed.

Safety Committee Report 12/7/20

• Joe attended the PDAC meeting for the 6th District:
  • Crime in our neighborhood is (appears to be?) very low, at historically low levels right now. This is not true in every neighborhood. 
  • Police feel reporting of crimes here may have dropped off substantially. This affects their ability to focus officers to areas where they might be needed.
  • There has been no resignations or transfers of police officers from the 6th district. It has a full complement of officers. This is different than what is happening in other cities. 
  • The same person was breaking into cars multiple times a night, every night. He was caught in the act and found with property from many cars. The DA charged him with 114 (118?) reported car break-ins. At this time, he cannot meet his bail. 
• Brett attended the PDAC meeting for the 26th District
  • Captain James is aware of the attempted break-in at Penn Herb and the successful break-in at the locksmith, Wednesday 12/2. They are actively investigating it and have increased presence in the area from uniformed and plain-clothed officers.
• Otherwise not much on the Safety front.

Zoning Committee Report: Joe Mikuliak. Written report attached and reviewed.

Motion: By Don Philips, seconded by Matt Ruben. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 844 N. 4th St., i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. We cannot support the project as presented. Near neighbors unanimously preferred single family homes. We would like to see single family homes on this site.'”  Passed 14-0-0

Motion: By Jacek Ghosh, seconded by Matt Ruben. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 104-08 Pollard St.,i.e.: 'Thank you for the presentation. We support the project as presented as long as documentation is presented showing support in RSA 5 districts for 38’+1’6”+3’6” parapet. Otherwise please comply with 38’+3’6” parapet.'”  Passed 14-0-0

Motion: By Matt Ruben, seconded by Kevin Wilkins. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 400 N. 5th St., i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. The project as proposed at this location does not fit the current direction in which this part of the neighborhood is headed. Please return with plans that incorporate more CMX3 uses (residential and 1st floor commercial) alongside the self-storage use. Please return with a design that incorporates more windows and landscaping.'”  Passed 14-0-0

Motion: By Matt Ruben, seconded by Kevin Wilkins. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 342 W. Girard Ave. , i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. We support the project as presented with 50 units (including 2 moderate income), a 9’ setback from the Cigar Factory Building, and 9 parking spots.'”  Passed 14-0-0

Motion: By Matt Ruben, seconded by Jacek Ghosh. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 1104 N. Hancock St./145 W. Wildey St. , i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. While the neighborhood understands that this is an addition to an already approved project, the drawings and information given at the presentation were limited, and in some cases inaccurate. We do feel the added density will have an effect on the surrounding area and have the following comments: Neighbors have concerns about traffic on Wildey (currently two-way with parking and shown incorrectly on the renderings). This street will need to be changed to accommodate the added density and traffic. We would like to see a commitment to working with the neighborhood and Streets on this point. Neighbors appreciate the residential scale at the sidewalk with setbacks to higher levels on Hancock as well as the fact that the lighting is of a residential type. The shadow cast by the new building will impact the properties to the Northwest of Front and Girard and is not insignificant. We appreciate that the amenity space is for residents and not a commercial public space serving food and drink and would like it to remain as proposed. We are disappointed to see no affordable housing component to this project given that we are talking about adding more units to an already large project. Smaller projects that have come before us have included affordable housing. We appreciate the ambition to reach LEED Gold and would like to see the project achieve this. Given the large amount of retail space in the project as a whole, we encourage the developer to meet with the NLNA and the Northern Liberties BID to develop a strategy for encouraging a variety of uses in addition to restaurants that benefit quality of life.'”  Passed 14-0-0

Old Business

Claire updated the Board on the significant efforts Joe has been putting in to try to compel PENNDOT to clean up beneath the underpasses. The short form answer is that, although it is PENNDOT's responsibility, they will probably not better care for it. We should – while continuing to pressure them to meet their obligations – seek other means to keep that area cleaner. 

New Business

Claire has reached out to Council President Clarke's office and Streets Department about the removed speed bumps on 5^thStreet and gotten no reply; she reports that she was not aware of the missing ones on 2^ndStreet and would add them to her (so far fruitless) efforts. Joe added that the 5^thand Grene intersection is very dangerous and inadequately signed. Shakirra also mentioned American and Brown as an unsafe intersection. Claire suggested that we should create an NLNA module for residents to report street issues in the neighborhood so that we can possibly create more impact with the City.

The meeting was adjourned by acclaim at 8:14 p.m.

ADDENDA:

Zoning Committee Minutes

Monday 11/30/20

Members present: Larry Freedman, chair, Joe Mikuliak, Kenny Grono, Philip Hensley, Scott Sperry, Christine Furman, Matthew Ochs, Sharon Richman, Charlie Abdo, Jonathan Sher  Members absent:, Melissa Magness, Abbey Spector, Ira Upin,

844 N. 4th St. - RSA5 - Rustin Ohler - A proposal for a 4 story building with 20 residential units and 9 parking spaces. (not allowed in RSA5)

Informal community meeting. Neighbor concerns about more cars and private trash truck on Leithgow. It was suggested that parking remain along Leithgow, but access be through the existing curb cut on 4th St. Concerns about upkeep of existing property – who is responsible for property maintenance (Howe or Angel and Lydia?). Comment that parapet is used as an excuse to add height. Either ask them to build single family homes by right or hold building to 38’, reduce # of bedrooms/units, use existing curb cut, have parking under the building. Straw poll: Near neighbors want single family houses.

Motion: Jonathan, 2nd Matthew 9-0-0

Thank you for your presentation. We cannot support the project as presented. Near neighbors unanimously preferred single family homes. We would like to see single family homes on this site.

104-08 Pollard St. - ICMX - Leo Mulvihill - A proposal for the erection of a single family dwelling with parking (not allowed in ICMX). ZBA hearing date: 12/8 2 pm.

Motion: Christine, 2nd Jonathan 9-0-0

Thank you for the presentation. We support the project as presented as long as documentation is presented showing support in RSA 5 districts for 38’+1’6”+3’6” parapet. Otherwise please comply with 38’+3’6” parapet.

400 N. 5th St. - CMX3 - Katherine Missimer - A proposal to add 99K square feet to the existing Cube Smart location.

Motion: Joe, 2nd Kenny 9-0-0

Thank you for your presentation. The project as proposed at this location does not fit the current direction in which this part of the neighborhood is headed. Please return with plans that incorporate more CMX3 uses (residential and 1st floor commercial) alongside the self- storage use. Please return with a design that incorporates more windows and landscaping.

342 W. Girard Ave. - CMX2 - Michael Phillips - A return visit with a proposal for a six story building with 50 residential units (2 are moderate income) and 9 parking spaces. (including the results of discussions with the Cigar Factory folks) An agreement was reached with Cigar Factory owners to add parking spots for a total of 19 and a new 9’ setback. They may need to return to show this plan and deed restriction related to this agreement as they are not presenting the project in this form at their hearing. The project will be as agreed except for the parking, which incorporates Cigar Factory property.

Motion: Philip, Joe, 2nd 6-3-0

Thank you for your presentation. We support the project as presented with 50 units (including 2 moderate income), a 9’ setback from the Cigar Factory Building, and 9 parking spots

Zoning Committee Minutes

Monday 12/1/20

Members present: Larry Freedman, chair, Joe Mikuliak, Kenny Grono, Philip Hensley, Christine Furman, Matthew Ochs, Sharon Richman, Jonathan Sher Members absent:, Melissa Magness, Abbey Spector, Ira Upin, Scott Sperry, Charlie Abdo

1104 N. Hancock St./145 W. Wildey St. – Post Brothers 

1. A proposal to add 272 residential units to the previously approved 861 units to the Terminal

Project.

2. To add resident amenities atop the garage. 425 additional parking spots, code requires 340.

Motion: Group 7-0-0

Thank you for your presentation. While the neighborhood understands that this is an addition to an already approved project, the drawings and information given at the presentation were limited, and in some cases inaccurate. We do feel the added density will have an effect on the surrounding area and have the following comments: Neighbors have concerns about traffic on Wildey (currently two-way with parking and shown incorrectly on the renderings). This street will need to be changed to accommodate the added density and traffic. We would like to see a commitment to working with the neighborhood and Streets on this point. Neighbors appreciate the residential scale at the sidewalk with setbacks to higher levels on Hancock as well as the fact that the lighting is of a residential type. The shadow cast by the new building will impact the properties to the Northwest of Front and Girard and is not insignificant. We appreciate that the amenity space is for residents and not a commercial public space serving food and drink and would like it to remain as proposed. We are disappointed to see no affordable housing component to this project given that we are talking about adding more units to an already large project. Smaller projects that have come before us have included affordable housing. We appreciate the ambition to reach LEED Gold and would like to see the project achieve this. Given the large amount of retail space in the project as a whole, we encourage the developer to meet with the NLNA and the Northern Liberties BID to develop a strategy for encouraging a variety of uses in addition to restaurants that benefit quality of life.

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