Board 5 Changes Mind On Seasonal Club
Reversing its previous position, Community Board 5 members recommended last Wednesday, Dec. 10 that the State Liquor Authority grant a liquor license for a planned seasonal bar at a Ridgewood factory.
Based on the recommendation of its Zoning and Land Use Committee, the board agreed to support the application for The Back Yard, which will open in April 2015 at 56-06 Cooper Ave., within the recently-formed Ridgewood Industrial Business Zone (IBZ).
In September, the board recommended denial of the application, but at the next month’s meeting, The Back Yard’s operators-Justin Carter, Mark Connell and Eamon Harkin-came to address the board’s concerns and appealed for further consideration of their proposal.
Carter, Connell and Harkin subsequently met with the board’s Land Use Committee last Monday, Dec. 8, and appeared last Wednesday to again address community concerns about the site’s use and economic contribution to the area.
According to Carter, The Back Yard will occupy an open lot near the factory and employ up to 50 people at a time. The bar’s presence, he claimed, “caused the landlord to take what was otherwise a vacant building and put in traditional manufacturing tenants in the rest of the building.”
This, he said, would not only preserve the site’s original purpose but also allow for the bar to contribute to the local economy.
“We are also job creators, and everybody working for us is probably middle class,” Carter said, dismissing the notion that the bar’s wages were far lower than those offered in industrial and manufacturing trades.
The seasonal bar application, Connell noted, allows operation of the bar from Apr. 1 through Oct. 31, 2015 and would allow the bar to serve up to 999 patrons at a time, according to SLA parameters. Carter and his partners previously stated the bar would likely serve no more than 100 patrons on weekdays and 300 on weekends, with larger crowds expected at planned Sunday music events.
In order to remain in operation, Connell noted, The Back Yard would need to reapply annually for the SLA-and this gives Board 5 the opportunity to review and properly address the business’ operation and impact on the community.
“When we reapply for the seasonal bar license, you can call us back in,” he said. “You could bring us back every year for review.”
After many meetings with The Back Yard’s operators, the Land Use Committee decided to give it a chance to prove itself-or else deny it after review next year, according to Walter Sanchez, who chairs the panel.
“Maybe we should say ‘yes’ and look at it again in another year,” he said. “Our sense is that this outdoor space will produce more jobs than the industrial sector.”
“They’ve been most transparent,” added Kathy Masi, who sits on the Land Use Committee. “They answered all our questions at every meeting.”
However, board member Jean Tanler, a member of the Maspeth Industrial Business Association, charged the seasonal bar’s operation conflicts with the area’s industrial nature and contradicts the purpose of the Ridgewood IBZ’s creation: to protect and grow industry in the neighborhood.
“My concern is this would present a competing use in the neighborhood, with the potential to increase prices in the neighborhood and drive out industrial business,” she said.
Tanler suggested that the site’s manufacturing zoning-enacted in 1961-serves as detriment to business because it allows for commercial reuse. Though the zoning law must change, she noted, it requires a public review process that could take years to complete-and reduce the area’s industrial sites even further.
“The only thing I can think of to stop it is to disallow liquor permits in industrial areas,” she told colleagues during the public forum. “For this reason, I ask you to consider not approving this license as a way to send the message that these uses do not belong in industrial areas.”
District Manager Gary Giordano also cautioned members about the bar’s potential impact on the area.
“If something like this is not done well and causes problems, it’s going to put tremendous pressure on the [104th] Precinct,” he said. “That’s important to note, because whenever there’s a situation with up to 999 people [allowed on premises], the precinct will need to have a detail there, especially in the beginning.”
In the end, 24 board members approved The Back Yard application, while seven dissented.
Support for industry report
Despite some apprehension among board members, the advisory body also approved a resolution supporting the City Council’s “Engines of Opportunity” report, which outlined a number of ways to preserve and enhance the city’s industrial and manufacturing sectors.
As previously reported in this paper, the report recommended changing existing zoning laws to prevent manufacturing-zoned sites from being converted into residential lots or used for purposes other than industry. It also suggested introducing ideas such as “creative economy districts” that combine commercial and industrial businesses and mixed-use areas that include some residential space.
Prior to the vote-in which 24 members supported the resolution and seven opposed- Tanler suggested the board table a motion on the City Council vote until further discussing it with local businesses. She noted the MIBA, in consulting with business owners in Maspeth, heard concerns with mixed use development in particular.
“Even light industrial is not compatible with residential,” she said. “You have odors and late night deliveries. … We also have to see if it is financially feasible for a developer to develop mixed-use buildings. At this point, it might be premature to vote on this.”
Fellow board member Ted Renz, however, called for a vote, noting that mixed use “might be a solution to save manufacturing and provide more housing.” Renz serves as executive director of the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation, which supported the Ridgewood IBZ’s creation.
“Ridgewood has a history of mixed use,” he said. “Knitting mills and residences lived sideby side. They provided local, walkable jobs. … It’s time to think out of the box.”
Legislators drop by
In addition to offering holiday greetings, City Council Member Antonio Reynoso pledged his support of the legislature’s “Engines of Opportunity” report and told residents he was committed to boosting the local industrial and manufacturing economy.
To that end, he met with members of the RLDC and will soon meet with MIBA representatives to discuss the report and ways to boost industry.
“We’ll continue to push for economic development,” he said. “Jobs are very important. We can’t just build a city based on residential development.”
Reynoso added that he reaffirmed to the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association a commitment to bring at least $250,000 in funds to plant new street trees around Ridgewood. He also stated he would work with civic organizations to push for property tax reform.
Assemblywoman Margaret Markey also came to offer her holiday greetings and informed residents she would bring various programs to her district in the year ahead. Following the meeting, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo met with members during the board’s annual holiday party.
Liquor licenses
Arcuri announced that the board received the following liquor license applications:
– A new liquor license for 69- 38 Grand Ave. Restaurant Inc. for a business to be determined, located at 69-38 Grand Ave. in Maspeth (formerly Crux; application includes licensed outdoor area).
– Liquor license renewals for Juventus Sport Caffe Inc., d.b.a. Amici Café, located at 73-11 88th St. in Glendale; Baha Lounge, located at 83-38 Woodhaven Blvd. in Glendale; and Seneca Fiesta Corp., located at 603 Seneca Ave. in Ridgewood.
– A wine and/or beer license renewal for The Big Apple Deli Grocery Store, located at 61-01 Grand Ave. in Maspeth.
Those who wish to comment on any of the applications may do so by calling Board 5 at the number listed at the end of this article.
The next Community Board 5 meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. For more information, call Board 5’s Glendale office at 1-718-366- 1834.
