the country business owner and the country club. immediately after our last meeting i scheduled a meeting with the neighbors at the country club. i want to note within the ncd, the castro street ncd we are allowed to excavate to the property line for commercial use on the ground floor. so alternates a and b are largely similar. i could put them on the screen, if that helps to have them in front of you. both alternates -- the mechanical equipment is located after the trees. 6' back from the property line. and i think you will see the intent of that. the kitchen exhaust is not locate there had. the kitchen exhaust is collected at the 4th floor towards the middle of our building, which keeps it as remote from neighboring properties as feasibility. so the combination of the landscape and mechanical area located at the rear yard create a total of 11' separating the castro country club's outdoor use from the rear neighbor. we have showdown shown in the drawings with discussion with the neighbors that we would specify quiet-rated or water-cooled compressors for the hvac unit. this would be to supply cooling for the restaurant, now that we have gotten rid of the light r well,

i won't give you the history of the castro country club and i think we heard unanimous support from the commission and the witnesses. i live upstairs from the castro country club for five and a half years and my bedroom is actually bordering the back patio that has been talked about a little bit. i think there was a lot of confusion at the last meeting regarding the back patio. we discussed no ambientneys, noise from the activity itself and no smell from the restaurant as well. we support our landlord. our landlord is giving us a 10-year lease and we're a non-profit organization that has been there for 30 years. and we're getting a reasonable rent. i think it's important that the landlord after investmenting into the building and putting a lot of money into the building to retrofit it making it safer and putting in sprinklers and so on, he should be able to make back many return on investment. this proposed storefront is virtually the only ground floor space on that block that does not have a commercial use. so i think it's perfectly reasonable for that use to be incorporated into the b

is the legalization of a change of occupancy of a residential use to a non-residential use the castro country club on the second floor pursuant it planning code

we had the castro country club. it had been turned into another use a long time ago. we all supported that use continuing because it made sense. i think there are instances in which we want to support our small businesses and local businesses in the community and needing to do those things. it is true that in that nayerction, i was shocked when that cafe went out of business. it always seemed like a thriving restaurant and it didn't continue. the new place is going in there concept is going to work out. there seemed to be a turn over in the neighborhood, we can support that, the owner having a track record the last 32 years. it says a lot about this business. i agree when i think of cafe floor. it is a gateway when you're coming up market street. i think it makes a lot of sense. again, i would support looking at a legalization process for an existing off-site kitchen. maybe that is something staff can talk about whether you considered this versus the blanket allowance. >> i think as staff, we considered the ordinance thats was before us, which very specific in a geogr

the best option." castro calls the country's immigration system "broken," but adds that congress is on the cusp of making progress. president obama is seeking short-term solutions to fix the country's debt problems. the president has asked congress to decide on short-term spending cuts in lieu of a bigger package of cuts and reforms. lawmakers face a march 1st deadline to avoid across-the- board spending cuts known as sequestration. president obama remarked yesterday that the cuts would threaten economic recovery, and noted he is "looking for a small package of spending cuts and tax revenue increases as a short-term stop- gap." senate minority leader mitch mcconnell responded, saying the president needs to lay out significant spending reforms. the high-tech town of silicon valley is making a strong rebound from the recession. a new report shows jobs, incomes and ipos all increased last year. 92,000 jobs were created. that's about what was happening during the dot.com frenzy. 46,000 new businesses opened. 12,000 went bust. however, while the middle class grew stronger, other areas did not. the study point

he'll be to start transferring power to the younger generation in two thousand and six castro took over the presidency from his elder brother fidel the country's leader more than thirty years. knobs and even firearms tools of the trade for many an average criminal but these items also increasingly found in the backpacks of more and more pupils across britain with violence at schools seeing a sharp rise or he says our furthur reports on how the problem is being handled. settlings you probably end up in a dead end job or in prison you'll be lucky to be alive when you're sixteen. you know our parent is gone our carrot is now for no for teaching them to say anything about a stark insight into the reality facing some of pushed and school children despite having one of the best education systems in the world the latest research estimates that up to four peoples a day a court with weapons in british schools guns knives and knuckle dusters just some of the items confiscated by police are men who are always searching the school and . gun to the. gun. and i see this first shot gun about to fire or schools are supposed to be a safe secure environment whe

despite ongoing clashes france claims the operations entered its final stage with paris announcing its readiness to withdraw military presence from the country. will castro reelected by cuba's national assembly for another five year term castro announces libya's final term due to his age and said he's ready to start transferring power to a younger generation in two thousand and six raul castro took over a presidency from his elder brother fidel the country's leader for more than thirty years. the biggest event of the year for the cinema the graphic world kicked off in los angeles the eighty fifth annual academy awards expected to be less predictable than the galleries usually but critics believe the best picture could go to spy story argo steven spielberg and daniel day lewis could both join the exclusive list of three time oscar winners this year and the actress nomination could be the youngest only this winner with an eighty six year old actress up against a nine year old. after the break technology update looks at some of the gadgets used behind the scenes in preparations for the big twenty fourteen winter olympic games in russia as a resort city of s

despite ongoing clashes france claims the operation has entered its final stage with paris announcing its readiness to withdraw military presence from the country . will castro reelected as president by cuba's national assembly for another five year term castro announced this term will be his final one due to his age and said he's ready to start transferring power to a younger generation in two thousand and six for all castro took over the presidency from his elder brother fidel who'd been the country's leader for more than thirty years. south korea's first female president has been sworn in part going high is the daughter of the country's former dictator after being inaugurated as the new leader she demanded north korea dropped its nuclear ambitions recently tension between the neighboring cities of neighboring countries rather has been stoked as pyongyang's atomic test once again but any possibility of reconciliation into question. the biggest today because the event of the year for the movie world has kicked off in los angeles the eighty fifth annual academy awards expected to be less predictable than the gala is usually but predicts think the best pictur

leaders in japan and the middle east. >>> elections in cuba brought out one voter who has not been seen at least publicly for months and months. here he is, fidel castro. the country'slace in havana. his last public outing was all the way back in october. it was brief. but yesterday he spent more than an hour speaking to the press and to voters. castro says he gets daily reports perfect the health of hugo chavez. >>> and the story of ma kwllala yousufzai, the teen activist from pakistan, here she is, walking. this is her in the orange shoes going through the door there. last october, you know the story, taliban gunman shot her in her head, point blank range, because she publicly advocated young girls getting an education. listen to her, her own words as far as how she's doing. >> today you can see that i am alive. i can speak. i can see you. i can see everyone. and today i can speak and i'm getting better day by day. it is just because of the prayers of people, because all the people, men, women, children, all of them, all of them have prayed for me. >> incredible. her british doctors say malala will not need any more surgeries. >>> and harvard forced dozens of stud

the country's national assembly. but he said he won't stand again. his brother fidel castroade a rare public appearance for just the second time in almost seven years. we're following those from venezuela. >> out with the old and in with the new. that was the clear message from cuba's nearly 82-year-old president raul castro as he was sworn in for his second and five-year term. the most significant announcement at all, out is machado ventura an 82-year-old veteran of the cuban revolution and in is miguel diaz canel. he's only 22 years old, very young. and the first vice president is key. this is theperson would take over if raul castro would not be able to complete his feet year term. so interestingly raul castro is saying that it is time not to cling to power. in fact, there should be age limits placed on people who are in key public positions, even though he his main brother castro control the positions here in this country. one thing that raul country is not saying is that there will not be any political change in his country. >> i feel the honor over pro siding over the

castro is expressing confidence over the future of the regime in cuba. the 86-year-old says he is revolutionary people saying the five decade long blockade has not and will not defeat his countryot been seen since october and he seated the presidency to his younger brother, raul for health reason autos the pakistani girl shot bit taliban made her first statement. >> today, you can see that i'm alive. and i can see. i can see you. i can see everyone. and... today, i can see and i'm getting better day by bayday. >> the 15-year-old credited her recovery to prayer frdz$ñ people around the world. the video statement came after doctors operated to reconstruct her skull and restore her hearing. the teak drew the world's attention after she was targ bited bit taliban. the military group claimed she promoted girls education and d thinking. she vowed to keep up the campaign that led to the attack saying every girl and child should be educated. and just ahead on world news, abc news reporter brings you an interview with her father to discuss the story. you can watch it on world news with diane sawyer right after abc 7 news at 5:00. >> families hoping to end a boy scout ban of gay scouts

castro says he plans on stepping down in 2018, which is the end of his second term. fidel castro's 81-year-old brother made the announcement sunday, shortly after the country's national assembly elected him to a second five-year term. as for a possible successor? raul castro says cuba's first vice president, miguel diaz, is part of a new generation that will provide the future leadership of that country. >>> high school administrators in grant forks, north dakota, are investigating a shocking incident. three students showed up for a state hockey tournament on friday, wearing ku klux klan-style hoods. a photo of the three was posted to twitter. generated a lot of outrage. school officials have contacted the parents. they say they're disappointed in the students' behavior. and that appropriate action will be taken. >> simply crazy. >> stupid. >>> one of the country's biggest fans of "argo," secretary of state, john kerry, makes his first trip overseas as america's top diplomat. we will go live from london. >>> and danica patrick at daytona. she didn't win the race. but still made history. we have the highlights for you. . ♪ my friends are all around me ♪ my friends, th

castro? well, republican leaders don't have to do that. that is what rush limbaugh is for. >> throughout history, dictators, for example, have never really been blamed for the bad things that happen in their countries. hitler, stalin, mao, castro, none of them blamed by the rank and file citizenry. they were, instead, the leaders of the revolution. they were the great figures trying to change all the evil that was happening to everybody. here is obama. this is what agitators do, rile people up, and then come in and try to calm everybody down and fix it. >> krystal, the president gives an hour-long speech, and what we realized is, it could have been shorter. taken out the rhetoric and just have all the programs mentioned. but really, not a single republican response that actually takes on what he said. not even marco rubio's. >> that is exactly right, and of course, marco rubio's response was written long before the speech was ever given. it was not really a response. but they're still married to attacking a straw man. they're not actually wanting to engage on the policy substance, because the substance on it, the policies, everything he advocated for which has been called liberal and aggressive, al

the castro era be over in cuba fimly? 81-year-old president raul castro, fidel's younger brother, says he plans on stepping down in 2018. he made the announcement shortly after the country'sct him to a second five-year term. as for his successor, yesterday raul castro praised the first vice president, 52-year-old miguel diaz canal, calling him a new generation that will provide the future leadership of the country. >>> afghanistan's president ordering special forces out of a province west of kabul. hamid karzai says they might have harassed, tortured, even murdered innocent people in the wardak province. he says it's stirring up hatred and resentment and he wants the forces gone in two weeks. the u.s. military says it is investigating. >>> and south korea making history today. south korea has its first ever female president, park won hye pledged to guard her country. she has apologized for human rights abuses during her father's time in power. let's go back to soledad. >> there is no category for best party after hollywood's biggest night. maybe there should be. the oscar ceremony is over, but fun is just beginning for many. here's how some of the celebrated after parties

the president. raul castro has been the president since 2008. most of the candidates are between 40 and 50 years old in a country where the top leadership is between 70 and 80. >> the oldest football club in greece has become the latest victim of the economic crisis there. reeling of a loss of gains and top players, they're trying to raise money from fans. but the response has so far been lukewarm. >> the team is everything to these die-hard fans. they call it an addiction, a fitness. but lately, it's the team itself that is sick. some of the best players have signed up with rival teams. the rest are unhappy and losing matches in the closing minutes through what seems like carelessness. >> they continue to have stars and strong players with expensive contracts. we are going to try to reduce their contracts to make the team title. we're talking about 50% were seven great players, otherwise it will go bankrupt. >> like the rest of greece, they are cutting down on expenses wherever they can. >> the team spent one-and-a-half million dollars a month renting the olympic stadium, money and can ill afford. the 3000 fans at managed to rustle up for most ga

the public if you'd hike to attend. >>> this morning, several u.s. lawmakers are visiting a maryland man jailed in cuba. six congressman met with president raul castro and were promised they could -- -- the communist countryexchange gross for the five spies held in the u.s. a swap the delegation says will not happen. >>> prosecutors will call more witnesses today in the murder of jason scott. the murder trial of yea son scott. the prince george's county man is charged with killing delores did he wet and her 20-year-old daughter. their bodies were found in a burning car. jurors saw this video yesterday. it's from a police cruiser on the night that burning car was found. scott is already serving a 100-year prison sentence for a series of unrelated crimes. he's also a person of interest in three other murders. >>> we're just learning that as many as 30 people may have witnessed the deadly stabbing of a university of maryland eastern shore student. 21 ye-year-old sinclair was kil. the baltimore sun reports that campus police have spoken to a person of interest but haven't arrested anyone. the chief made the announcement during a town hall meeting with about 3,000 community members. there is a $2,000 reward fo

the behavior of both countries. >> suarez: given those words that you just said, that we... the two countries aren't going to change each other. is it your impression that president castro wants a better relationship with the united states at this moment? >> i think he does. and i want to have our country reciprocate and try to have a better relationship with him. >> suarez: senator patrick leahy of vermont, thanks for joining us. >> thank you. >> suarez: next, to one of the largest registration drives of all time. it's taking place in india, where authorities are mounting an effort to give every citizen an official biometric identification card and number. special correspondent fred de sam lazaro filed this story as part of our "agents for change" series. >> reporter: across india, in community centers and schools like this one in new delhi, people line up for hours. patience, like application forms they seek, is often in short supply. it seems like a big deal over a rather mundane prize: a new government-issued i.d. but the man behind it all calls this the largest social inclusion project in history. >> we still have a large number of residents of india who don't have

faith oriented as immigrants of generations before that helped build up the great country that we live in today. >> mayor castro lawmakers america is watching, let's get this done. shep? >> shepard: mike, the president is also calling on congress to prevent another fiscal cliff hanger. remember that whole saga? wasn't it fun? the deal that pulled us back from the brink only delayed automatic spending cuts until the first of march, which is right around the corner. the president is calling for a combination of smaller cuts and what he is calling tax reform like closing loopholes. house speaker john boehner says americans will not support what he calls more tax hikes. they have about three weeks to cut a deal. we will breathlessly keep you posted. we now have the chilling 911 audio from the moments after a former marine admitted to his sister that he had just murdered a heroic navy seal sniper. in that call the sister said she, too, was terrified for her own life. police say the suspect on saturday killed the former navy seal chris kyle and a friend on a texas shooting range. kyle was a highly decorated sniper wh

country in recent memory. they are trying to convince the castro regime to release alan grossman who was jailed in 2009 for bringing banned satellite equipment into cuba as part of the state department program. >>> the tampa bay buccaneers player is free on bond after being arrested for illegal gun possession at laguardia airport. the 22-year-old bowers tried to bring a handgun onboard a flight to raleigh, north carolina. the weapon was found inside his suitca suitcase. >>> the u.s. coast guard says the engine fire that crippled triumph was caused by a leak in a fuel oil return line. the leaking oil hit a hot surface and ignited that fire in one of the ship's two engine rooms. >> call it the bump watch. kate middleton makes her first appearance since announcing her pregnancy in december. she pays a visit to an addiction treatment center. brace yourself, ladies and gentlemen. this will be the first time, the very first time, the public gets to see her baby bump. and we will bring it to you the very instant we see it. >> i guess she's used to being scrutinized, right? >> this is a big deal. >>> a houston couple is go

i believe those are the elements in the room for our country and we need leadership on those topics. >> woodruff: congressman castro bother you that the president was not more specific about what cuts he's prepared to make? >> no, i think he's been talking about a balanced approach for a long time and we know that he's committed to doing both, to raising revenue and making cuts but he's said before he's not going to negotiate with himself. the republican party has been pushing these cuts for a long time. congressman collins, let me come back to you. you said you liked what the president had to say about the focus on the middle-class. it does look at though the two parties have having a hard time working together. do you think you can make a difference in that? >> i believe we can. the interesting thing, judy, is this. i'm glad he spoke about the economy. i'm also disappointed like congressman messer that there was not a lot of specifics and republicans have presented plans. in fact, they've sent plans over from the last congress. none of them have been acted on. i think if you want to be specific about the state of

the training economy, -- academy, major joseph smith on his priorities. >>> a delegation of lawmakers in cuba today. five senators are asking raul castro to release the maryland businessman to improve relations between the two countries. gross is serving a 15-year sentence for bringing communications equipment to the communist country. cuba said it is willing to release the 63-year-old. but in return, it wants washington to return five cube arn intelligence agents imprisoned in the u.s. >>> heated words today over the proposed gas tax. maryland house republicans say the state needs better management of transportation revenues, not more taxes. senate president mike hiller responded by calling them neanderthals in terms of their thinking. the bill would put a 3% tax on a gallon of gas. miller's proposal would make it harder to use in other budget holes. >>> well, it sounds like a hollywood action film. but for police in belgium, the robbery of millions of dollars in diamonds from a plane is very real. venita neyer -- vinita nair reports for wjz. >> workerless placing concrete barriers at brussels international airport, after a massive diamond heist. investigators say eight masked gunmen, dressed like police officers, b

it's the largest american delegation to that country in recent memory. they're trying to convince the castroto release allen gross, a contractor jailed in 2009 for bringing banned satellite equipment into cuba as part of a state department program to spread democracy. >>> police in new york city arrested a suspect in connection with a brutal laundromat attack in the bronx. investigators say the attacker assaulted the victim and his 6-year-old daughter last saturday then sprayed both of them with mace because he thought they took his wife's laundry cart. 27-year-old fernando gonzalez is facing assault charges. >>> and now the president hugo chavez announced return to venezuela. the question is will he be sworn in today? the venezuelan government releasing these photos of chavez while in cuba flanked by his two daughters. in a tweet announcing a return, he said he'll be continuing his treatments. >>> they survived survivor but marriage was a far greater challenge. after ten years together, ethan zahn and jenna morasca decided to call it quits. the two former survivor winners competed together