[Chat] Zoning Issue 2741 St. Paul Street

[slg2700 at cs.com]

Judy:

The problem, as some residents see it, is that basement apartments can be 
very dangerous for the residents because of the availability of proper fire 
exits with the smaller windows in the basement and limited access etc., and 
that overcrowding of the land creates an increase in safety and sanitation 
issues, especially the availability of onstreet parking for residents.  This 
property has one offstreet parking space for 3 dwelling units.  It also does 
not have enough square footage to support 4 dwelling units under the Zoning 
Code, which requires 750 square feet per unit.  Also, some residents want to 
preserve the historic architecture and save it from being defaced by 
multi-family conversions.

The majority of residents who have responded want the CVCA to stop any 
further conversions and to protect Charles Village from the further 
overcrowding.

If you have any additional questions, please contact me.

Sharon Guida, Chair, CVCA Land Use Committee

 In a message dated 12/7/2009 11:57:31 Eastern Standard Time, 
jdydee at verizon.net writes: 
> 
> Why is this a problem?
> Judy
> 
> 
> On Dec 6, 2009, at 0:52, SLG2700 at cs.com wrote:
> 
> >Dear Neighbors:
> >
> >  This email is intended to reach interested residents and property 
> >owners who are interested in the planned conversion of 2741 St. Paul 
> >Street from 3 to 4 units with the 4th unit being in the basement.  
> >There is a zoning hearing set for Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 3 p.m., 
> >at the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals for Baltimore City, City 
> >Hall.  Any interested persons can attend the hearing and/or send 
> >letters in support or opposition to the appeal.  You should address 
> >your letters to:
> >
> >  David Tanner, Executive Director
> >  Board of Municipal Zoning Appeals
> >  417 East Fayette Street, Room 4132
> >  Baltimore, MD 21202
> >
> >  and be sure to include the Appeal No., property address, and hearing 
> >date in your subject line.
> >
> >  Residents should send the original by mail, a copy by email to 
> >david.tanner at baltimorecity.gov with a copy to me so that we can have 
> >them in our file when we appear before the Board. The BMZA's phone 
> >number is 410-396-4301. All of this info can also be found at 
> >http://baltimorecity.gov/government/zoning/ along with the hearing 
> >dockets.
> >
> >  It is also important for the residents opposing the appeal to show up 
> >at the hearing itself. The presence of the opposition carries much 
> >weight with the BMZA. If no residents appear or send letters in 
> >opposition the CVCA will be unable to appeal an unfavorable ruling 
> >because only an adjacent resident has standing to appeal.
> >
> >  The CVCA Land Use Committee has recommended to that the CVCA Board 
> >send a letter to the BMZA opposing the appeal, and the Board vote is 
> >pending.  If you are interested in the reasons for the Committee's 
> >recommendation, contact me and I will share them with you.  For the 
> >sake of brevity, I have not included them here.
> >
> >  So far, 7 residents from 4 separate nearby addresses have opposed the 
> >conversion and sent letters to the BMZA. 
> >
> >  This case is basically identical to Zoning Appeal 246-09: 2927 St. 
> >Paul Street from April 2009 where we strongly opposed the applicant's 
> >planned conversion of a 3 dwelling unit into a 4 dwelling unit and the 
> >BMZA denied the applicant's appeal.
> >
> >  Please contact me if you have any questions.
> >
> >  Sharon L. Guida, Chair, CVCA Land Use Committee
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