By Anna Gustafson
A resolution supporting the extension of a variance to allow BMW of Bayside to continue to use its site on Northern Boulevard to sell cars barely eked by Community Board 11 members this week.
CB 11 members passed the proposal by a vote of 17-16 at the board’s Monday night meeting at MS 158 in Bayside, with those in favor saying the city Board of Standards and Appeals would only consider the changes board members hope the BMW dealership will implement if they passed the resolution.
The dealership could not be reached for comment.
Individuals against the proposal said the business had long been a bad neighbor and repeatedly ignored residents’ complaints about the site, which included drivers speeding in the residential neighborhood, individuals barbecuing on site and loud tow trucks with flashing lights arriving at all hours of the night.
“The Board of Standards and Appeals, they’re not in the business of closing down businesses, even if the vote is against this,” CB 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece said.
The BSA has the final say as to whether or not BMW of Bayside will be able to continue its operations at 217-07 Northern Blvd.
The resolution that was passed called for BMW of Bayside to continue to use its site as a dealership. Elizabeth Safian, an attorney for Manes Bayside Realty LLC, the property’s landlord, said the business would be used predominantly for selling cars instead of servicing automobiles as it has in the past. Safian said most of the servicing business will be moved to the company’s Great Neck, L.I., location.
Iannece said the resolution contained a number of conditions to address residents’ concerns, including that all cars being worked on must be parked on site, fencing at the location must be repaired and maintained, after-hour tow trucks have to turn off engines and flashing lights on site and individuals at the location do not play excessively loud music or hold barbecues.
Iannece and others who voted for the resolution said they believed the BSA would only take the conditions into consideration if the board passed the proposal.
“This business has been a bad neighbor for decades,” said community board member Steve Behar, a Bayside resident. “There’s been numerous complaints over dozens of years. There’s been noise, parking cars on streets, they’ve been totally unresponsive to the community.”
East Bayside Homeowners Association President Frank Skala, whose organization covers the area where BMW of Bayside is located, echoed Behar’s concerns.
“We have complaints about this going back to 1974,” Skala said. “It’s the worst of the automobile dealers.”
But Bayside resident Mohan Jethwani said he thought the board “should give them time to clean up their act.”
“We should ask them to give a report every six months if they’re complying with our conditions,” he said.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
