By Howard Koplowitz
The grassy, irregularly-shaped lot, which runs adjacent and underneath the Long Island Rail Road tracks on 141st Avenue near 224th Street, is partially surrounded just a few feet away from the parking spaces of three two-family homes that sit side by side. A green wire fence separates the property from the sidewalk on 141st Avenue.The mapped street was formed in the event that the LIRR elevated tracks had been lowered to ground level, a development which never materialized.Adam Rothberg, the attorney representing the developer, said at a recent CB 13 meeting that an administrative appeal of the plans is pending at the city's Board of Standards and Appeals and a variance is not needed because the lot is privately owned.”This is not a zoning variance Ð we're asking for relief,” Rothberg told board members, noting that he needed approval because 141st Avenue was a mapped street. He said the buildings would also conform to current zoning regulations.Because the land is not owned by the city, Rothberg said most of the concerns of the board members were irrelevant Ð a statement that led one board member to ask his colleagues to vote against the proposal.”I think we should just vote this down because [Rothberg] is not even interested in the problems we are raising,” said CB 13 member Seymour Finkelstein.The board opposed the measure by a vote of 18-0. But since there was no quorum, CB 13 will have to ratify the vote this month.One resident of one of the pastel-colored homes adjacent to the lot said it would be a “hazard” if the two homes were to be constructed.”How are we gonna get in and out” of our homes? asked the resident, who did not want to be named. “If there was a fire, God forbid. That's scary.”When asked if he thought about moving if the plans were to go through, he said that is a strong possibility.”Me and my wife were talking about that not too long ago,” the resident said, noting that he would have a hard time selling his property because he does not understand who would want to buy a house in a cramped space.One CB 13 member agreed with the resident.”Once you develop the property, the back of your building would be their backyards,” the member said.Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173
