By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer
The Greater Bustleton Civic League conditionally approved the addition of a used-car lot to an auto body shop at its April 25 meeting.
Gregory Gitlevich, part owner of Absolut Inc., wants to start selling used cars on his property at 103 Geiger Road. The area is zoned G-2 industrial, and the business requires a use variance to conduct this particular business on the premises.
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) pointed out that the auto repair shop itself exists with a variance, which was granted in 2001. Since then, homes have been built in the neighborhood, situated across Red Lion Road from the Island Green Country Club.
Gitlevich maintained that he would keep the used cars on his 19,368-square-foot lot, not on the grass or on the street. He claims that customers interested in purchasing cars will contact him through the Internet.
When one resident asked about the condition of the used cars to be sold, Gitlevich replied, "They are not wrecked cars."
Another resident wanted assurance that no additional lighting would come onto the site.
O’Neill, in attendance for only part of Gitlevich’s presentation, urged the civic group to consider requesting a deed restriction limiting the number of cars sold on the lot to five.
Darlene Threatt, Gitlevich’s lawyer, said that while she had no problem crafting a deed restriction for the number of cars, she could not include a limitation on lighting.
The group motioned to approve the proposal only if the applicant forwards a copy of the deed restriction to the executive board and to O’Neill’s office. Gitlevich’s next zoning hearing is on May 23, the day of the civic group’s meeting, but Threatt agreed to postpone it should a problem arise with the deed restriction.
In other news from the April 25 meeting:
• The civic group approved a second-floor addition to a home on the 9700 block of Glenhope St. The homeowner said he now needs a variance for the lack of a side yard because his neighborhood was rezoned from R-4 residential to a more restrictive R-2 designation.
• The group heard from several candidates for mayor, City Council, city commissioner and Common Pleas and Municipal court judge.
• The civic group also heard from City Controller Alan Butkovitz, who spoke about the proposed move to full property tax valuation by the Board of Revision of Taxes. The proposal, now postponed until next year, would apparently assess homes at their full value, not the fractional value at which they’ve been reviewed.
Butkovitz claimed that a study done by his office revealed that the new system would raise taxes in many neighborhoods throughout the city. He urged residents to vote "yes" to a non-binding question on the May 15 primary election ballot asking whether residents want to keep the tax board’s current fractional valuation system.
• All civic board members were nominated for re-election to their current positions. An official election will take place next month.
The Greater Bustleton Civic League next meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. ••
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com