By Zach Patberg
The variance is needed because the proposed three-story residential building at 75-48 Parsons Blvd. would be too bulky for the property under the area's current R-4 zoning law, which permits all residence types as long as they fit proportionately within the lot size. Committee members objected mainly to potential safety issues since the site lies between two schools, the Solomon Schechter School and Robert F. Kennedy Community Middle School.At the first hearing, the members had asked the lot owner to return with design changes in three areas. One requested change was to tighten access security, with which the owner compiled by adding a parking lot entrance gate, key-card entry, ramps and speed bumps to the plans. The other two requests — to line up the driveway with a traffic light for entering and exiting cars to use as well as moving the building further back from the street — were not included in the revised drawings.Eric Palatnick, the attorney representing the owner, Parsons Estates, explained at Monday's hearing that the property boundaries did not allow for any shift or realignment. Also, the 20-unit building itself could not be pushed back as it would cut into floor and parking areas, Palatnick said.Four out of the seven committee members said they were not satisfied. The committee voted against recommending the application to the full board.”They haven't gone far enough,” said member Kevin Forrestal of the owner. “This is an attempt on their part but there are still concerns about safety.”Another member said that entering and exiting cars not regulated by a traffic light “makes for a congested and dangerous spot.”Pat Dolan, president of the Kew Gardens Hills Homeowners' Civic Association, said the building needed to be pushed away from the street to allow room for children to play in front where they would be more visible.Palatnick appeared disappointed with the vote, saying that a variance would not have even been necessary if the much-larger apartment complex directly behind it had not been built. When his client bought the vacant lot in the 1980s, the block it was on, bordered by 76th Road, was small enough to fall under the Predominately Built-up Area zoning, which permitted development to fill up space on already-developed property. The construction of the larger complex a few years ago, however, cut off the 76th Road border, creating a bigger block that no longer qualified under PBA zoning. As a result, a variance would be needed for any later development.Palatnick said he would appeal his application to the Board of Standards and Appeals. Reach reporter Zach Patberg by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
