By Juan Soto
There will be a second hearing at the city Board of Standards and Appeals on the St. Albans Presbyterian Church’s plans to build a five-story, affordable housing building on Farmers Boulevard.
During the hearing Tuesday, both sides of the project presented their cases, but the BSA scheduled another meeting for August before it makes a final decision on the request by the church for zoning variances involving maximum building height, maximum dwelling unit and minimum parking.
“The variances are very extreme,” said St. Albans community activist Sharon Johnson, who was at the Tuesday hearing. “I hope the board sees it.”
A few days before the hearing, neighbors gathered at the site of the proposed project to show their opposition to the building. Some 75 residents participated in the rally.
The residents of the area argued at the rally that if the developer constructs the building, traffic congestion on Farmers Boulevard would be “hazardous to pedestrians.” They added that as a result of the new business that opened in the neighborhood, the boulevard “is consistently congested, and more so at peak travel hours.”
The neighbors that disapproved of the church’s project, also raised concerns about the “negative impact in the already at maximum capacity” public schools PS 36, PS 15 and IS 59.
“We got the message across,” Johnson added.
The church is seeking those variances to erect a 67-unit structure of one- and two-bedroom apartments and a community center. The proposed plan is to construct the affordable housing building on two empty lots on Farmers Boulevard between 118th and 119th avenues.
The area is zoned for low-residential units, and it is characterized by having one- and two-story homes along Farmers Boulevard, as well as local stores.
“There were a lot of questions asked by the board, and that’s why, I think, we will have another hearing,” Johnson said. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 19.
It is up to the BSA to authorize the zoning variances. Until a decision is made, the proposed project cannot be built.
Johnson added that if the building becomes a reality, “an influx of 200 people is too much for the community. Our quality of life won’t be the same any longer.”
Reach reporter Juan Soto by email at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
