NLNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINUTES - Meeting of December 2, 2013

 PRESENT:  Matt Ruben, President; Don Phillips, Vice-President; Steve Richman, Treasurer; Janet Finegar, Secretary; Rick Angeli; Larry Freedman; Monika Kreidie; Sharon Richman;  Anne Waginger; Logan Welde.ABSENT:   Michael Coyne; Lystra Harris; Katrina Mansfield; Chris Somers. The meeting was called to order by the President at 7:04 p.m.Motion: By Steve Richman, seconded by Anne Waginger:“To approve the minutes of the November Board meeting as presented.”  Passed 8-0-0New BusinessMatt reported that Logan has suggested that the Board review some of the general principles for zoning and development used by the committee and Board at the next meeting. Matt suggested that, in preparation for that discussion, Board members look over the Neighborhood Master Plan and other planning documents developed over the past decade and currently available on the NLNA website.Steve reviewed the Escrip fundraising program through SuperFresh which will allow people to designate NLNA as a recipient of a donation of 1% of their purchases. Designation can be done through paper logs at neighborhood meetings and the NLNA office, through online registration, and by calling an 800 number. There was some discussion of how to advertise the program and encourage participation.Monika reported that two windows in the Community Center need repair or replacement. Matt requested that she solicit bids to have them repaired. She further suggested that the NLArts Day of Service for MLK Day focus on the Community Center: they will paint walls and clean the basement. In response to these comments, Steve suggested that there should be a single point person for Community Center building issues. It was generally agreed that Larry and Ira are currently point people for the building and that the system is acceptable as it is. Treasurer's Report: Steve Richman: written report distributed and reviewed.Motion: By Rick Angeli, seconded by Janet Finegar. “To accept the Treasurer's report as presented and ratify the structural change in the budget reflected in that report and tables.”  Passed 9-0-0President’s Report: Matt Ruben: written report attached and reviewed.Liberty Lands Committee Report: Janet Finegar: written report attached and reviewed.Zoning Committee Report: Larry Freedman; written report attached and reviewed.Motion: By Rick Angeli, seconded by Monika Kreidie.“To support the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 1007 and 1009-17 Germantown Avenue, i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. We offer conditional support with the provision that Lots F and G have 9’ rear yard setbacks. Please meet with the UDC to review materials and design. Send update plans to the ZC chair.'”  Passed 9-0-0Motion: By Monika Kreidie, seconded by Anne Waginger. “To support the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 950-54 N. 2nd St., i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. Please return with a design that: includes only 8 units (larger than the 10 initially presented); eliminates the curb cut and the tunnel to the rear parking spaces, thereby increasing the size of the commercial space; brings more light into the interior of the building; sets the roof deck 5’ from the back of the building as well as from the front (2^nd Street) of the building; and maintains the 41’ height.'”   Passed 9-0-0Motion: By Janet Finegar, seconded by Anne Waginger. “To support the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 457 Fairmount Avenue, i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. We support your project with the following provisos: no materials will be used that will require ventilation; hours of operation will be limited to those presented (Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m – 6:30 p.m.); and there will be a maximum of 2 employees.'”  Passed 9-0-0Motion: By Monika Kreidie, seconded by Steve Richman. “To support the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 405-45 St. John Neumann (NE corner of STJ & Leithgow), i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation. We offer conditional support with the following provisos: the walkout balconies on the Leithgow sides of all houses will have a 2’ set back; you return to the UDC, for further discussion including easing the sharp corner of house #6 (i.e., cutting off the corner) for vehicle safety reasons; and the rear yard depth of houses #1 and #2 should be a minimum of 9’.'”  Passed 9-0-0Motion: By Rick Angeli, seconded by Janet Finegar. “To support the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 414-18 Fairmount Avenue, i.e.: 'Thank you for your presentation.  We feel that 32 bedrooms for this site is too dense. Given the proposed RSA5 zoning for this site with the possibility of 8 houses (24 bedrooms), in order for our support for a residential use, we ask that you: build to a maximum height of 38’; reduce the number of units from 12 to 8, thereby reducing the total number of bedrooms from 32 to 24; and maintain the 12 parking spots.'”  Passed 9-0-0The meeting was adjourned by acclaim at 8:05 p.m.Addenda: 

President’s Report, December 2013

1. PLANNING AND POLICY-RELATED ISSUES

• Mission – I’ve reviewed the SurveyMonkey survey Don put together. Because of holiday schedules, I think it will be best if we publicly advertise the survey starting in the New Year.
• Casinos – Wynn has withdrawn its casino application, leaving five applicants. The closest remaining applicants to our neighborhood are 8th & Market, and Broad & Callowhill.
• Central Delaware Master Plan – Councilman Squilla has been working on amending his bill that would repeal part the North Delaware Overlay. Details at our meeting.
• AVI/Real Estate Taxes – Gentrification Protection applications are slated to open December 2. The City reportedly has determined who is eligible based on a review of property ownership records, and is going to send them pre-printed applications. They recommend people wait to receive them and fill them out, but an online application form also is supposed to be available. The PA legislature did finally move on enabling legislation allowing the City to means-test Gentrification Protection. Details on this at our meeting.
• The NLNA has not yet heard from the BRT with a hearing date for the appeal we filed on the assessment of 700-702 N. 2nd St.

2. FUNDRAISING/FINANCES/ADMINISTRATION

• Administration, Budget, and Finances – See the Treasurer’s report. The Annual Appeal is ongoing; update at the meeting.
• Street/Sidewalk Cleaning – Any updates in the Clean & Green report.
• Events – Operation Santa is coming up, with the wrapping party right before Christmas and the delivery day soon after. Updates from Don and/or Janet at our meeting.
• The board Meet-n-Greet on November 15 went quite well, thanks to Paula Gansky, Sharon Richman, and Anne Waginger, who planned it and provided refreshments – and thanks to the board members who attended.
• Spring Garden Greenway – No updates from last month.

3. DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND DEVELOPER RELATIONS

• Piazza etc. – The ice skating rink opened November 30, with the official grand opening slated for December 2.
•  Finnegan’s Wake – No update.
• Sound Garden Hall – The 6th police district’s weekly incident reports have for some time included several reports of citations for underage drinking, public urination, public intoxication, and similar issues. Not all these incidents are related to Sound Garden; but Capt. Korn informs me that many of them are.
• Parking – No update.

4. OUTREACH/EVENTS/GENERAL MEETINGS

• General Meetings – The December GM will be Thursday December 12, 7PM at the Community Center. The main agenda item will be Liberty Lands. We’ll also provide an AVI Gentrification Protection briefing. As always, please feel free to suggest agenda items.

5. COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY

• Internet – No notable updates.
• Web site – No update.

6. OTHER ITEMS

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

TREASURER’S REPORT   DEC 2013

A. 2013-14 Budget: November  Financials - tables attached

1. For the two months ended on November 30th income was $22,054; this was $1,335 more than projected. Expenses totaled $16,278, which was $3,383 less than anticipated.  Net income was $5,776 -- $4,718 more than projected.
2. Significant variations from budgeted projections through November were:

• Higher than anticipated income of about $1,900 from the Fall Fest and $400 from fundraising for Project Clean Streets.
• Rental income was also ahead of projections by nearly $500 for the community center and $200 for Liberty Lands.
• On the other hand income from the Annual Appeal is running nearly $1,200 below expectations.
• Lower than expected spending of $1,300 for administrative support, $1,200 for Liberty Lands maintenance, $350 for the Fall fest and $200 for Madison Park also contributed to the positive balance.

B. Other Items

1. A new fundraiser for the NLNA was initiated in November. We are now participating in the Super Fresh Community Rewards Program. Under this program Super Fresh customers using its rewards program to earn discounts on purchases may designate the NLNA to receive a 1% cash rebate on the total amount they spend. It is important that we develop a strategy to sign up as many NL residents as possible for this program.
2. At the last Board meeting it was decided to move the income and expenses from the Fall Fest from the Liberty Lands budget to the General Fund budget. The financials for November reflect this change. While this will not change all funds income or spending it will require a larger General Fund transfer to Liberty Lands than initially envisioned in the approved budget. Accordingly, this budget change should be voted on by the Board.
3. The accountant hired by NLNA last year to prepare the 2011-12 annual statement and federal tax return has been retained again. During November he came into the office to work on the 2012-13 financial report and tax return. We should be receiving the tax return for review in December or January. It is due to be filed by the end of February.

Liberty Lands Board Report

• At the final workday of 2013, the hardcore crew pruned rosebushes, planted daffodil bulbs, and did some cleanup around the park. The large green trash containers from Waste Management are stored in the Laurel Street gardens until spring, when bi-weekly collection will start again.
• Weeder's Club has finished for the season.
• The November Liberty Lands meeting made some plans for things to discuss at the General meeting on December 12th. The annual meeting of the Northern Liberties Action Committee was also held in November: that Board elected its officials and agreed to continue to own the park and community center.
• The park's water supply will be shut off after the Krampus celebration on December 14 (since it will be used at that event to put out the fire pit).
• Several tours from the Philadelphia Water Department and Pennsylvania Horticultural Society visited the park during November; all were impressed, as always.
• Janet will meet with Hal Rosner from Schekman Tree Services some time in the coming weeks to plan for the winter tree pruning in January or February.

Upcoming Events:

• December 12, 7 p.m.  – Park Annual Meeting (at the NLNA General Meeting)
• December 14, 4 p.m. – Krampuslauf

ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING     Monday 11/25/13

 Members present: Larry Freedman (chair), Ken Grono, Jonathan Sher, Sharon Richman, Ira UpinMembers absent: Charlie Abdo, Chris Issacson, Tim McDonald, Joe Mikuliak, Michael Simons1007, 1009-17 Germantown Avenue – I2 – Paul Stokely: A proposal for 3 single family dwellings and 2 duplexes.This project has 7 new units with 6 outdoor parking spaces.  Three curb cuts are on Pollard Street.  We were told that there are no “No Parking” signs on Pollard. The one-side of the street parking would have to move to the other side of the street.   All units will be 4-stories at a height of 42’.  Finishes will include zinc metal on the bays, stone at street level and brick up the entire wall along Germantown Avenue.  The Pollard Street side will be stucco. The 3 single-family dwellings are intended for the developer and his two daughters.  The duplexes are rentals.Motion (Group): Vote 5-0  Thank you for your presentation.  We offer conditional support with the provision that Lots F and G have 9’ rear yard setbacks.  Please meet with the UDC to review materials and design.  Send update plans to the ZC chair.950-54 N. 2nd St. – CMX2 – Herc Grigos:  A proposal for 10 residential units with 1st floor commercial and 3 parking spots. This location is currently a garage with a curb out.  The proposed building will be 4-stories at a height of 41’ to the bottom of the parapet. The top of the pilot house is at 49’.  The frontage on 2nd Street is 48’ with one 18’ wide curb cut and “tunnel” back to 3 parking spaces (pervious pavers) behind the building.  There will be a communal roof deck that would be set back 5’ from the street.  They might consider a “green” roof. Building materials for the front would include brick and metal panels with stucco along the back of the building. They speculated that the commercial part of the property would be a restaurant, fully realizing the need to get additional zoning approvals for this type of use.Motion (Ira) - 2nd (Jon): Vote 5-0 Thank you for your presentation.  Please return with a design that: includes only 8 units (larger than the 10 initially presented); eliminates the curb cut and the tunnel to the rear parking spaces thereby increasing the size of the commercial space; brings more light into the interior of the building; sets the roof deck 5’ from the back of the building as well as from the front (2nd Street) of the building; and maintains the 41’ height.   457 Fairmount Avenue – RSA5 – Joe Beller:  A proposal for a nail salon on the first floor. The nail salon would provide pedicures and manicures, but no artificial nail services.  There would only be one nail technician at first with the potential to add one additional technician at some point as needed.  A copy of the refusal for change of use on the 1st floor was provided.  This location has been used for commercial purposes in the past.Motion (Jon) - 2nd (Ira): Vote 5-0 Thank you for your presentation.  We support your project with the following provisos: no materials will be used that will require ventilation; hours of operation will be limited to those presented (Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m – 6:30 p.m.); and there will be a maximum of 2 employees. 

ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING – Tuesday 11/26/13

Members present: Larry Freedman (chair), Charlie Abdo, Jonathan Sher, Michael Simons, Sharon Richman, Ira Upin,Members absent: Ken Grono, Chris Issacson, Tim McDonald, Joe Mikuliak,405-45 St. John Neumann (NE corner of STJ & Leithgow) – CMX2 – Nino Cutrufello – Return visit with a proposal for 7 single family dwellings with off-street parking.  [September Motion (Joe) - 2nd (Ira): Vote 7-0  Thank you for your presentation.  The neighbors had specific problems with the design for 8 homes at St. John Neumann and N. Leithgow Streets.  These problems include: the monolithic garages on the front façade without any “eyes” on the street; building houses on lots that re ½ the “legal” size with undersized rear yards; height, especially of the corner house with the pilot house; and the institutional façade. Please return with plans for a new design that has: a façade that is not so institutional looking; fewer homes with rear yards that are legally compliant; eliminated the pilot house on corner home; reduction of height to 38’ for all houses; get approval of parking plan from Streets Department; presents a site plan in context with surrounding homes; presents a site plan that reflects the slope of the street; information prepared regarding the staging of construction; and façade design elements showing how the utility meters will be hidden.]   [October Motion (Joe) - 2nd (Chris): Vote 4-2  Thank you for your presentation.  We continue to have problems with this project for Saint John Neumann and Leithgow Streets.  The monolithic façade design and its scale are too massive for this small street.  The Zoning committee and neighbors want to see new plans that: have the 2 buildings with entrances on Saint John Neumann only 3 stories high; have no homes that exceed 38’ high; have compliant rear yards; maintain the set-backs on the 4th floor; and, show more variation of color/materials/design. Please go to the UDC and return to the Zoning committee with adjusted plans that also include elevations, dimension and the buildings in context with nearby homes]November: The builder/developer met with the UDC and with neighbors and returned with a revised design.  There are still 7 homes – 6 front on Leithgow and 1 fronts on St. John Neumann.  The height was reduced to 38’ as requested.  The homes are now grouped in two’s which gives the appearance of being only 3 structures, instead of 6 fronting on Leithgow.  The front façade now incorporates more brick, IPE wood at street level around the recessed garage doors (where it can be easily accessed and maintained), black window frames around large windows, grey metal panels, stucco along exterior of parapet, and a way to camouflage meters if they are not permitted in the recessed well of the garages.  The walkout balconies off the 4th floor of the southern-most units (#6 and #7) have a 5’ set back from the street.  They were willing to discuss the possibility of putting some glass on the garage doors.  It was anticipated that this project would likely begin in the spring . . .  earliest time would be March.  The bank would probably fund a few houses at a time, thereby making it easier to stage construction and the delivery of building materials, etc.  DISCUSSION: Two of the houses (#1 and #2) have only 18% open space (less than the required 25%).  The UDC still has one more meeting planned with the builders.  Some neighbors were very vocal about aesthetics and proximity of people to the edge of the balconies.  A vote was taken of the neighbors nearby this project and the majority (13) thought that the current design was fine.  Those that did not agree were advised to go to the ZBA when this hearing is held and express their concern about aspects they opposed.Motion (Group): Vote 5-0  Thank you for your presentation.  We offer conditional support with the following provisos:  the walkout balconies on the Leithgow sides of all houses will have a 2’ set back; return to the UDC, for further discussion including easing the sharp corner of house #6 (i.e., cutting off the corner) for vehicle safety reasons; and the rear yard depth of houses #1 and #2 should be a minimum of 9’. 838 N. American Street – I2 - Tower: A proposal for 30 single family dwellings. CANCELLED 414-18 Fairmount Avenue – RSA5 & I2 – Shimi Zakin: A proposal for 4 structures with 3 residents each (12 units) and 12 parking spots. Currently there are 5 lots (1 is RSA5 and 4 are ICMX) that would be consolidated into 4 reconfigured lots.  The overall size of the project is 50’x145’.  This project is proposed as a condominium with each of the four buildings housing 3 units (total of 12 units with a total of 32 bedrooms) that would share an inner courtyard where 12 parking spots are proposed (1:1 parking).  Parts of this project would be 50’ high. This will be a gated community with the entrance on Wallace Street (6’3” wide curb-to-curb).  The driveway is 14’ wide (two-way), which is actually permitted in a private gated community.  Every apartment has 1 or 2 balconies.  Proposed materials include corrugated metal, architectural paneling, exposed beams, brick on the ground floor, limestone steps, split face blocks (polished), stucco, wood paneling, black window frames, steel balconies, granite planters.  No storm water management is required.   Every building has its own trash room.  They were not sure that there would be city pick-up of trash. They are looking into “green roofs”.  The Fairmount Street side would likely be constructed first, but they would prefer to build everything at once if they can stage it properly. DISCUSSION: There was considerable concern regarding the density of this project.  This land parcel will be rezoned RSA5 which would mean that they could build 6 single family houses. A major issue was that the developer was using the industrial height allowance of the ICMX with the RSA5 allowance for residential construction without providing necessary open space.Motion (Jon) - 2nd (Ira): Vote 5-0  Thank you for your presentation.  We feel that 32 bedrooms for this site is too dense. Given the proposed RSA5 zoning for this site with the possibility of 8 houses (24 bedrooms), in order for our support a residential use, we ask that you: build to a maximum height of 38’; reduce the number of units from 12 to 8, thereby reducing the total number of bedrooms from 32 to 24; and maintain the 12 parking spots.