By Kathianne Boniello
Plans for a three-story commercial building on a now-vacant lot in Little Neck drew criticism from Community Board 11 members Monday as too big for an already congested neighborhood even though the group approved a similar proposal in 1999.
The property at 45-17 Marathon Parkway has been vacant for several years, but representatives of Fresh Meadows architect Philip Augusta presented a rendition and small-scale model of a three-story office building to CB 11 at its monthly meeting this week. Plans also include a ground-floor parking garage.
Community Board 11 is based in Little Neck and meets in Bayside. The group also covers the communities of Douglaston, Oakland Gardens, Auburndale and Hollis Hills.
While most of the debate about the proposal focused on opposition to the plan, CB 11 could not decide on the application, splitting 17-17 on a motion on whether to approve the plan. CB 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece said because of the tie vote, the motion did not carry and no community board recommendation would be made.
The subject of the lot came before CB 11 this week because some details of the planned building have changed, said Nelly Bravo, a representative for Augusta. The irregularly shaped lot, split between commercial and residential zones, is across the street from the Stop & Shop parking lot and close to the intersection of Marathon Parkway and Northern Boulevard.
In 1999 CB 11 approved an application to construct a commercial building on the site that would include a 12-space parking lot with a gate that would be locked at 10 p.m., and lighting directed away from residences. In 2001, Augusta told the TimesLedger rumors of a three-story parking garage being built on the site were false.
Bravo said the building’s size had increased from 8,942 square feet to 10,576 square feet, but would accommodate fewer people and offer more parking spots than the original plan. Proposed retail space for the property was eliminated, Bravo said, making the building’s sole use for professional offices.
When board members protested the plans as inappropriate for the site, which they said is too heavily traveled by cars and pedestrians to handle a professional office building, Bravo shrugged.
“The building is approved — this is an amendment,” she said of the changes discussed Monday night. “It’s going to be built.”
Board member Joan Garippa of Little Neck said residential homes near the proposed building would make it seem out of place.
“We would have a 48-foot building towering over everything around it,” she said, noting the topography of the site makes the plot higher than ones adjacent to it on Northern Boulevard.
Baysider Sidney Abelson pointed out that with parking restrictions on both Marathon Parkway and Northern Boulevard — an already busy intersection — the 21 parking spaces provided at the site would not be enough for the more than 100 employees expected to work at the building.
“What are you going to do with their cars? Put them in their pockets?” he asked.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
