Why has development in recent years overlooked the need for parking in Queens? No thought is given for the need to park cars when a developer builds a shopping mall, church or day care center. I am having difficulty finding parking in my area like never before.
Many areas in Queens are finally being downzoned after years of waiting, but what good is that when a developer can place a “community facility” and blockbust your street?
A church, for instance, has no place in the middle of a single−family, residential neighborhood if it does not have adequate space for parking lot spots. A 40−foot−by−100−foot lot is not big enough for a church. The city requires an off−street parking spot for every family in an R1 to R4 zone.
For example, a one−family home requires one spot, a two−family home two spots, etc. But build a medical office, church or daycare center and parking requirements seem to be thrown by the wayside. A developer building a community facility can build a larger structure than would be allowed if he were just building a residence.
If a builder cannot provide appropriate off−street parking on an existing lot, that builder should not be allowed to build the community facility on that lot — especially when that facility is not serving the surrounding community anyway.
Rose Giordano−Forkan
Flushing
