Planning Board

1 1 CITY OF UNION CITY. HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 2 PLANNING BOARD 3 : REGULAR MEETING : TRANSCRIPT OF 4 : --------------------: PROCEEDINGS 5 6 Union City High School Media Center 7 2500 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, New Jersey 8 9 Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Commencing at 6:00 p.m. 10 11 M E M B E R S P R E S E N T: 12 ALEJANDRO VELAZQUEZ, Chairperson (phone) YDALIA GENAO 13 ALICIA MOREJON CAROLINA FERNANDEZ 14 FRANKLIN MEDINA JOSE GUARENO, Alternate #1 15 HECTOR OSEGUERA, Alternate #2 16 M E M B E R S A B S E N T: 17 BRIAN T. STACK, Mayor CELIN J. VALDIVIA, Commissioner 18 A L S O P R E S E N T: 19 BRIAN CHEWCASKIE, ESQ. 20 Board Counsel 21 CARLOS VALLEJO, Board Secretary 22 DAVID SPATZ, P.P. 23 24 SUSAN BISCHOFF CCR CO. 25 201-390-0583 SBischoffccr@yahoo.com  2 1 A P P E A R A N C E S: 2 ADOLFO LOPEZ, ESQ. Attorney for Applicant, Thereza Georgieva 3 ALVARO ALONSO, ESQ. 4 Attorney for Applicant, Central Hotel, LLP 5 BIANCA PEREIRAS, ESQ. Attorney for Applicant, 135 JPM 6 Properties, LLC 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  3 1 I N D E X 2 PAGE 3 CALL TO ORDER 7 4 SALUTE TO FLAG 7 5 ROLL CALL 8 6 ADOPTION OF MINUTES 9 7 HEARINGS Thereza Georgieva 10 8 Central Hotel, LLP 15 135 JPM Properties, LLC 24 9 10 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS 30/32 11 ADJOURNMENT 34 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  4 1 I N D E X 2 THEREZA GEORGIEVA 2708 New York Avenue 3 4 WITNESS PAGE 5 THEREZA GEORGIEVA 11 6 7 8 E X H I B I T S 9 10 NO. DOCUMENT PAGE 11 NO EXHIBITS MARKED 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  5 1 I N D E X 2 CENTRAL HOTEL, LLP 413-417 38th Street 3 4 WITNESS PAGE 5 ORESTES VALELLA 16 6 7 8 E X H I B I T S 9 10 NO. DOCUMENT PAGE 11 NO EXHIBITS MARKED 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  6 1 I N D E X 2 135 JPM PROPERTIES, LLC 135 44th Street 3 4 WITNESS PAGE 5 MANUEL PEREIRAS 25 6 7 8 E X H I B I T S 9 10 NO. DOCUMENT PAGE 11 NO EXHIBITS MARKED 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  7 1 MR. VALLEJO: May I have your attention, 2 please? 3 Please take notice that on Tuesday, 4 April 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM, a regular meeting is 5 scheduled for the City of Union City Planning 6 Board to be held in the Union City High School 7 located at 2500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Union 8 City, New Jersey. 9 Opening statement: This meeting is 10 called in compliance with Chapter 231 Public Law 11 of 1975, Open Public Meeting Act. Adequate notice 12 of this meeting has been provided as follows: 13 Notice of this meeting setting forth the time, 14 date, location, and the agenda to the extent known 15 was forwarded to The Record and The Star Ledger, 16 has been posted on the bulletin board in City Hall 17 and has been made available to the public in the 18 office of the municipal clerk, and also the 19 website of the City of Union City. 20 Before we call roll for tonight's 21 meeting, can everybody kindly rise to salute the 22 flag? 23 24 (Whereupon, the Pledge of Allegiance is 25 recited.)  8 1 ROLL CALL: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: Roll call for tonight's 4 meeting. Mr. Velazquez. 5 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Here. 6 MR. VALLEJO: Mayor Stack is absent. 7 Commissioner Valdivia is absent. 8 Ms. Genao. 9 MS. GENAO: Yes. 10 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 11 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 12 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez. 13 MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 15 MR. MEDINA: Here. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 17 MR. GUARENO: Here. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 19 MR. OSEGUERA: Here. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Let the record indicate 21 there are seven present. 22 * * * * 23 24 25  9 1 ADOPTION OF MINUTES: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: Adoption of minutes. 4 Regular meeting held on March 25, 2025. Can I 5 have a motion? 6 MS. MOREJON: Motion. 7 MR. MEDINA: Second. 8 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Ms. Morejon, 9 seconded by Mr. Medina. Roll call on the motion. 10 Mr. Velazquez. 11 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 12 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 13 MS. GENAO: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 15 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 17 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 19 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 21 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 22 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez. 23 MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. 24 MR. VALLEJO: Seven in favor, motion 25 carries.  10 1 HEARINGS/APPLICATIONS/EXTENSION: 2 THEREZA GEORGIEVA - 3 2708 New York Avenue: 4 5 MR. VALLEJO: We are going to change 6 little bit the order of tonight's agenda. We're 7 going to call number two, Thereza Georgieva, 2708 8 New York Avenue. Mr. Lopez, please. 9 MR. LOPEZ: Good evening, Counsel, 10 Members of the Board, good evening. Adolfo Lopez 11 on behalf of Thereza Georgieva. This is Thereza, 12 my client. It is an application for a one-year 13 extension. This was issued -- the original 14 resolution was issued a long time ago, it was in 15 2019, but several things happened. She started 16 the project, Covid came about, everything got 17 paralyzed. She had a death, her father passed 18 away after that, who was handling the whole 19 project. She had a baby and life happens. 20 The project was started, everything has 21 been gutted, framing has been done, sprinkler 22 system is in. But the building department said 23 she had to get an extension because of the time. 24 So we're asking you -- she's a over-20-year 25 resident of Union City, she lives on the property,  11 1 it's her home. So we're asking you to please be a 2 little considerate so she can please finish this 3 project. Anything you want to add? 4 MR. CHEWCASKIE: If we're going to hear 5 her, we need her sworn. 6 7 T H E R E Z A G E O R G I E V A, after having 8 been duly sworn or affirmed, did testify as 9 follows: 10 11 MS. GEORGIEVA: It's exactly as Mr. 12 Lopez said. Covid really did not help the 13 situation. My father passed away subsequently 14 from complications of Covid. It was just really 15 difficult to move the project forward during the 16 pandemic. And without him, it -- I work full 17 time, I have a -- I'm a single mother of a child. 18 And it's just really difficult to keep it going. 19 MR. CHEWCASKIE: So if I may, just a few 20 questions. Mr. Lopez indicated the project 21 started, you obtained building permits for the 22 project? 23 MR. LOPEZ: Demolition and part framing. 24 MR. CHEWCASKIE: So since 2019 till 25 today, there has not been a three-family use?  12 1 It's only been a two-family? 2 MS. GEORGIEVA: Correct. 3 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And do you recall when 4 that permit was issued? 5 MS. GEORGIEVA: 2019 is when -- it was 6 shortly after we got the variance approved. 7 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Okay. 8 MR. LOPEZ: The variance was in January 9 of 2019. 10 MR. CHEWCASKIE: I see the resolution. 11 Then just one other question. Did you go back to 12 the building department recently and they 13 indicated -- 14 MS. GEORGIEVA: I did. 15 MR. CHEWCASKIE: -- you need an 16 extension? 17 MS. GEORGIEVA: Yes, I did. I went a 18 few months ago and I said, hey, how can I get the 19 rest of the project going, how can I get the rest 20 of the permits. And they said it expired, I had 21 to come and get it renewed. 22 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Okay. Does any Board 23 Member have any questions? Chairman, do you have 24 any questions? 25 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I would like to  13 1 see this get finished, it's been a couple years 2 and I understand what life throws at everybody. I 3 just want to see this project completed. That's 4 just the main thing. 5 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Just so that you're 6 aware, Mr. Chairman, it's discretionary with the 7 Board to grant the extension. We know that the 8 zoning has changed, I would suggest if you're 9 going to do the extension for one year, that that 10 be the final or the first and final extension. 11 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes, I agree. 12 This is the final extension. 13 MR. CHEWCASKIE: So it would be 14 appropriate at this time, unless there's any other 15 questions, to have a motion? 16 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 17 MR. OSEGUERA: Second. 18 MS. MOREJON: Second. 19 MR. VALLEJO: Motion to grant the 20 extension by Mr. Velazquez, seconded by Ms. 21 Morejon. Roll call on the motion. 22 Mr. Velazquez. 23 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 24 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 25 MS. GENAO: Yes.  14 1 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 2 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 3 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez. 4 MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. 5 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 6 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 7 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 8 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 10 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 11 MR. VALLEJO: Seven in favor, motion 12 carries. 13 MR. LOPEZ: Thank you, all. Mr. 14 Chairman, thank you. 15 MS. GEORGIEVA: Thank you very much. 16 * * * * 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  15 1 HEARINGS/APPLICATIONS: 2 CENTRAL HOTEL LLP - 3 413-417 38th Street: 4 5 MR. VALLEJO: All right. Now, we're 6 going back to Central Hotel, LLC, 413-417 38th 7 Street. Mr. Alonso, please. 8 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Just so the record is 9 clear, your architect was here at the last 10 meeting. 11 MR. VALELLA: Yes. 12 MR. CHEWCASKIE: You can hand those to 13 Carlos. Just for the record, I was provided 14 copies of the affidavit of service and publication 15 prior to tonight's meeting by Mr. Alonso. I've 16 had the opportunity to review the affidavits, the 17 notice is in appropriate form, so the Board does 18 have jurisdiction to proceed with the application. 19 MR. ALONSO: Thank you. Good evening, 20 Mr. Chairman, Members of the Board, for the 21 record, Alvaro Alonso on behalf of the applicant. 22 This is an application to legalize a 23 55th hotel room in an existing hotel business, 24 which currently has 54 units. There's a building 25 in the back of the property, which is currently  16 1 vacant and we're looking to legalize it. I have 2 reviewed Mr. Spatz's memorandum and two of the 3 variances that are required are preexisting 4 conditions for the rear yard and the lot coverage. 5 The only variance we're really creating is the 6 parking. There are three parking spaces, we don't 7 have sufficient parking for the building, so 8 obviously we're going to increase the demand by 9 the additional unit. 10 With that said, I'm going to turn it 11 over to Mr. Valella who's going to introduce the 12 proposal. 13 MR. VALELLA: Good evening. 14 15 O R E S T E S V A L E L L A, after having been 16 duly sworn or affirmed, did testify as follows: 17 18 MR. VALELLA: Orestes Valella, 19 V-A-L-E-L-L-A. I'm a licensed architect in the 20 State of New York and New Jersey. And my 21 professional office is at 507 43rd Street in Union 22 City. 23 Well, Al mentioned it pretty succinctly. 24 This is an existing hotel and the item in question 25 before you is also existing. It's been existing,  17 1 I understand from the 1950s. It has gone through 2 various iterations from a diner to a photography 3 studio and now presently it is vacant. It is 4 located on 38th between Bergenline and New York. 5 And it's an existing 54-unit hotel room. 6 There is really no viable -- you don't 7 want to put a commercial -- there's really no 8 other use that is appropriate here. The space in 9 question is in the rear of the property, so it's 10 not like you're going to have walk by traffic for 11 a retail shop or anything of the sort. Also, 12 you're not going to want to have a residential 13 dwelling unit mixed with the hotel use. 14 Now, Al mentioned there is no official 15 parking, but there is a driveway and there is an 16 existing curb cut that can be used or is used for 17 deliveries and repairs and maintenance, et cetera, 18 on the property. 19 The space in question, we're filling in 20 as a three-bedroom hotel suite, you can see that 21 on our existing proposed floor plan. But again 22 we're staying within the confines of the existing 23 structure. Since the 1950s, this has been the 24 physical structure of this building. We are not 25 going make it any bigger, we're not increasing the  18 1 height, we're not doing anything of the sort. 2 We're hoping to add one more hotel suite to the 3 hotel and that's about it. 4 Now, the hotel does serve a civic 5 function in Union City. I understand the City 6 will send people in need very consistently, and 7 for many years to, you know, stay at the hotel. 8 So it does serve a purpose here in town, not just 9 a commercial establishment. But it serves a need 10 when there is -- when there are people in a 11 difficult situation, they're given rooms at this 12 hotel. 13 MR. ALONSO: Just by a little way of 14 background, I remember this property -- my office 15 used to be directly across the street at 410 38th 16 Street, back in the 1990s, when I was a young 17 attorney. And there was a lot of problems with 18 this building. As part of the settlement between 19 the City and the prior owners, they were required 20 to sell the property. My client purchased the 21 property, invested a lot of money into it, brought 22 it up to current codes. And since my client has 23 purchased the property, there have been no 24 problems anymore with the City, so they're doing 25 everything the right way. And as Orestes  19 1 indicated, they do have an agreement with the City 2 that when people get displaced because of fire, 3 flood, or other situations like that, they're 4 housed here until they can find more permanent 5 housing. 6 With that said, I have no further 7 witnesses. I have one of the owners who's present 8 if the Board has any questions, but it's not my 9 intention to call him. 10 MR. CHEWCASKIE: So, Orestes, just a few 11 questions. I think you indicated that this is 12 within the existing footprint of the building? 13 MR. VALELLA: Yes. 14 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And that prior uses 15 were some of what of a commercial nature? 16 MR. VALELLA: Absolutely. 17 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And the current 18 iteration that we're seeing of this three-bedroom 19 hotel suite exists today? 20 MR. VALELLA: It was under construction 21 and then they were -- we were called in at that 22 point to finish and legalize. 23 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Okay. And in that 24 regard, are there any issues with respect to the 25 construction code with respect to location of this  20 1 proposed unit? Is there sufficient 2 ingress/egress, et cetera? 3 MR. VALELLA: The fundamental issues are 4 addressed. The building is fully sprinklered and 5 has an existing sprinkler system, so does this 6 space have a sprinkler system. There are some 7 technical issues that I can address, where there's 8 a window on the property line that I will seal and 9 then create a light well. But there are no 10 technical building department issues that cannot 11 be easily solved. I haven't solved them because I 12 didn't want to assume that we would obtain 13 approval. But there's nothing here that would 14 send us back. 15 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Because my concern was 16 the prior resolution, I believe, no units in the 17 basement, I'm not sure what that meant. But as 18 long as there's appropriate ingress and egress and 19 it meets the code requirements, I don't think 20 there's an issue. 21 MR. VALELLA: Oh, no, there's no 22 basement. This is not basement situation, this is 23 at grade. 24 MR. CHEWCASKIE: You know, I can't speak 25 to the resolution that -- or what the building  21 1 department said. I don't think I even saw a 2 resolution, I think it was something from the 3 building department that said no basement use or 4 something like that. 5 MR. VALELLA: No, no. This is not a 6 basement situation. 7 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Okay. That's all I 8 have. Mr. Chairman, do you have anything? 9 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. Just so if 10 this is approved, going forward, sometimes, I 11 notice when I'm passing by there early in the 12 mornings and sometimes in the afternoon, it 13 becomes something of a hangout, especially toward 14 the summertime. You got to be on top of that, 15 let's not let that happen. 16 MR. ALONSO: Okay. My client is present 17 and he's listening to you and we'll make sure we 18 address that. 19 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Thank you. 20 MR. CHEWCASKIE: If there's any Members 21 of the Board that have any questions? 22 MR. OSEGUERA: I have a question about 23 the civic use of property that you mentioned. 24 What is there a some sort of cost sharing with the 25 City or how does that get paid for? Let's say  22 1 somebody were to be displaced and is sent to the 2 hotel, who exactly ends up -- 3 MR. ALONSO: Well, it depends. For 4 example if there's an illegal occupancy, the City 5 will come in and they remove the tenants from the 6 illegal occupancy and then they will house them 7 somewhere. I think there's an ordinance in Union 8 City that requires the owner of the property with 9 the illegal tenant to reimburse the City for those 10 costs. 11 Obviously, if there's a fire, the 12 insurance from wherever they were residing will 13 pick up the cost. 14 MR. OSEGUERA: Thank you. 15 MR. VALELLA: But it does serve the need 16 where there are people, you know, that need 17 shelter and this building provides it. 18 MR. OSEGUERA: Okay. 19 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Any other questions? 20 Any member of the public wish to be heard on this 21 application? Seeing none, it would be appropriate 22 for a motion at this time, Mr. Chairman. 23 MS. MOREJON: Motion. 24 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 25 MR. VALLEJO: Motion to grant?  23 1 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 2 MR. VALLEJO: Motion to grant the 3 application by Ms. Morejon. 4 MR. OSEGUERA: Second. 5 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Mr. Oseguera. 6 Roll call on the motion. 7 Mr. Velazquez. 8 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 10 MS. GENAO: I abstain. 11 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 12 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 13 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez. 14 MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. 15 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 16 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 17 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 18 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 19 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 20 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 21 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, one 22 abstained, motion carries. 23 MR. ALONSO: Thank you very much. Have 24 a good evening. 25 * * * *  24 1 PUBLIC HEARING/AMENDMENT: 2 135 JPM PROPERTIES, LLC - 3 135 44th Street: 4 5 MR. VALLEJO: All right. We're moving 6 to number three, 135 JPM Properties, LLC, 135 44th 7 Street. Ms. Pereiras, please. 8 MS. PEREIRAS: Thank you, Mr. Vallejo. 9 Good evening, Members of the Board, may 10 it please the Board, Bianca Pereiras on behalf of 11 the applicant. The Board may recall you approved 12 an application for a three-family home back in 13 2021. This building has been fully constructed; 14 however, in order to meet code requirements 15 instead of siding the -- we had originally had on 16 our drawings 4 feet on to the west elevation 17 brick. In order to meet code, we have to remove 18 the brick on that side and we are proposing 19 siding. We are requesting, respectfully, that 20 this Board grant an amendment to the resolution 21 allowing siding on the west elevation. 22 We have our architect here just to 23 really pinpoint with the drawing exactly what the 24 change is that we're requesting. Mr. Pereiras. 25  25 1 M A N U E L P E R E I R A S, after having been 2 duly sworn or affirmed, did testify as follows: 3 4 MR. PEREIRAS: Manny Pereiras, 5 P-E-R-E-I-R-A-S with Pereiras Architects 6 Ubiquitous, located at 1116 Summit Avenue in Union 7 City. 8 MS. PEREIRAS: Mr. Pereiras, are you 9 familiar with the property at 135 44th Street? 10 MR. PEREIRAS: I am. 11 MS. PEREIRAS: And were you the original 12 architect of record for this project? 13 MR. PEREIRAS: I am. 14 MS. PEREIRAS: Would you kindly describe 15 the amendment request that we're seeking? 16 MR. PEREIRAS: I'd be very happy to. 17 We're dealing with a built structure. Normally, 18 we're talking about what could be, now we know 19 exactly what it is, so we understand very clearly 20 what took place. 21 This is the building that was 22 constructed. The front facade is all brick. The 23 facade that is visible off of New York Avenue is 24 wrapped around with brick 4 feet. The facade that 25 is up against this adjacent building and only a  26 1 two foot sliver, we're not able to wrap it with 2 brick because we need to have the electric meters 3 there and brick takes up another 4 inches, it 4 would have been too small. So, in that case, we 5 did a siding that matches the same color of the 6 brick, so it looks fine. And it's on the side of 7 the building. 8 For comparative purposes, I have here 9 what was approved and what we are proposing. The 10 front is brick, it continues to be brick. The one 11 side is 4 feet of brick along the front and the 12 rest is siding. And the other side is 4 feet of 13 brick on the front and the rest is siding, that is 14 what was approved. 15 What we built, the front is still brick. 16 We have four feet on the side that's visible. And 17 on the side that's not visible, it's just all 18 siding and not that sliver. So the only reason 19 we're here is that 4-foot sliver of brick that 20 wraps and that's right up against the other 21 building. That's the only change we have. 22 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Just one question. It 23 looks as though the windows have changed also, 24 right, on that elevation? The left side 25 elevation? It looks as those there were more  27 1 windows? 2 MR. PEREIRAS: There's less windows. 3 Instead of having them separated, they're put 4 together, but that has not been cited as a 5 planning or zoning issue with the building 6 department. The only thing that's been addressed 7 by the building department right now is that 4 8 feet of brick. 9 MR. CHEWCASKIE: I just want to make 10 sure that this drawing is the correct drawing. 11 MR. PEREIRAS: That is correct. 12 MR. CHEWCASKIE: We'll talk about the 13 other one in a moment. Mr. Chairman, any 14 questions? 15 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I just really 16 want to see that property done already. It feels 17 like it's been going on forever. So to clear this 18 whole thing up, let's get this done and wrapped 19 up. 20 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Any other Board Members 21 have questions? I would suggest that a motion 22 would be in order and that the motion is to 23 approve the building as depicted on the revised 24 drawings that were just testified to. 25 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion.  28 1 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 2 MS. GENAO: I'll second. 3 MR. VALLEJO: Seconded by Ms. Genao. 4 Roll call on the motion. 5 Mr. Velazquez. 6 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 7 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 8 MS. GENAO: Yes. 9 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 10 MR. GUARENO: Yes. 11 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez. 12 MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. 13 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 14 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 15 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 16 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 17 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 18 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 19 MR. VALLEJO: Seven in favor, motion 20 carries. 21 MS. PEREIRAS: Thank you all very much. 22 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Mr. Chairman, Ms. 23 Pereiras had a request. We had the opportunity to 24 speak about it today on 2113 Palisade Avenue. 25 This was the settlement of litigation and it  29 1 appears that the building department may have 2 conflicting records as to the existing portion of 3 the building, whether it was an existing one, an 4 existing two. But now based upon the settlement, 5 it is a three-unit building. 6 That being the case, so that we can 7 satisfy the building department, I would like your 8 permission to prepare a resolution for adoption at 9 the next meeting that would indicate that to the 10 extent units are required to be legalized, they 11 are. Do I have that permission, Mr. Chairman? 12 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes, please. 13 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Thank you. 14 MS. PEREIRAS: Thank you. 15 MR. CHEWCASKIE: So we will have a 16 resolution next meeting, we will vote on that 17 separately. 18 * * * * 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  30 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS: 2 208 18th Street, LLC 206-208 18th Street. 3 Applicant proposes (2) new three family houses. On 4 September 28, 2021, the Board voted to deny the 5 application; and on October 26, 2021, the Board 6 adopted a resolution denying the application. 7 SETTLEMENT AND TOLLING AGREEMENT: 8 On December 16 2021, Applicant filed a 9 complaint in lieu of prerogative writs. Docket 10 number HUD-L-004839-21, challenging the denial of 11 its application: 12 Amended application to build one (1) 13 three-story, two-family dwelling. Approved the 14 approval resolution was memorialized on March 28, 15 2023. The applicant has requested a one-year 16 extension. 17 18 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And also we do have two 19 resolutions for adoption this evening. We have 20 the request for extension, which was 208 18th 21 Street. This extension was approved at the March 22 meeting. The people eligible to vote are, let's 23 see, everyone here but for Mr. Oseguera was here. 24 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. 25 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Mr. Guareno was not  31 1 here. So the six other members are eligible to 2 vote on that resolution for 208 18th Street, if we 3 could have a motion? 4 MS. MOREJON: Motion. 5 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Motion. 6 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 7 Any second on the motion? 8 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Is there a second? 9 MR. OSEGUERA: Second. 10 MR. VALLEJO: Second by Mr. Oseguera. 11 Roll call on the motion. 12 Mr. Velazquez. 13 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 14 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 15 MS. GENAO: Yes. 16 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Fernandez. 17 MS. FERNANDEZ: Yes. 18 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Medina. 19 MR. MEDINA: Yes. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 21 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 22 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 23 MR. VALLEJO: Six in favor, motion 24 carries. 25 * * * *  32 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION: 2 2. Shaista, LLC 522-524 31st Street. Block: 170 3 Lots: 41 & 42. The applicant proposes to demolish 4 two structures, re-subdivide the property and then 5 construct a new four-story mixed-use structure on 6 each lot, commercial space on the ground floor and 7 three-bedroom units on each of the second, third 8 and fourth floors. Approved 9 10 MR. CHEWCASKIE: And the second 11 resolution was the matter that was carried from 12 January, it was approved in March, Shaista, LLC, 13 522-524 31st Street. There are only four people 14 eligible to vote on that resolution. Mr. 15 Velazquez, Ms. Genao, Ms. Morejon and Mr. 16 Oseguera. 17 So it would be appropriate to have a 18 motion on that resolution. 19 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: I make a motion. 20 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Mr. Velazquez. 21 MR. CHEWCASKIE: Is there a second? 22 MS. MOREJON: Second. 23 MR. VALLEJO: Second by Ms. Morejon. 24 Roll call on the motion. 25 Mr. Velazquez.  33 1 CHAIRPERSON VELAZQUEZ: Yes. 2 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Genao. 3 MS. GENAO: Yes. 4 MR. VALLEJO: Ms. Morejon. 5 MS. MOREJON: Yes. 6 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Oseguera. 7 MR. OSEGUERA: Yes. 8 MR. VALLEJO: Four in favor, motion 9 passes. 10 * * * * 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  34 1 ADJOURNMENT: 2 3 MR. VALLEJO: There being no other 4 applications on tonight's agenda, can I have a 5 motion to close tonight's meeting? 6 MS. MOREJON: Motion. 7 MR. VALLEJO: Motion by Ms. Morejon. 8 Seconded by? 9 MR. GUARENO: Second. 10 MR. VALLEJO: Mr. Guareno. All in 11 favor? 12 13 (All Board Members indicate in the 14 affirmative.) 15 16 MR. VALLEJO: The ayes have it. Let the 17 record show that the meeting has ended. Thank you 18 and good night, everyone. 19 20 (Whereupon the meeting was adjourned at 21 6:26 p.m.) 22 23 24 25  35 1 C E R T I F I C A T E 2 3 4 5 6 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a 7 true and accurate transcript of the testimony and 8 proceedings as taken stenographically by me at the 9 time, place, and on the date hereinbefore set 10 forth. 11 12 13 14 SUSAN BISCHOFF, CCR, RPR LICENSE NO. 30XI00233700 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25