From the Times Ledger:
Flushing civics were set to hold a rally this week to try to persuade the city Board of Standards and Appeals to deny plans for a Mormon chapel on 33rd Avenue.
The proposal for the two-story church, which exceeds several zoning laws, was most recently recommended for denial Feb. 23 by Borough President Helen Marshall.
The plan was unanimously turned down by Community Board 7 in January.
Both Marshall and CB 7 put in their recommendations before the BSA either grants several variances to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or sends it back to the drawing board.
Church officials said they would push on through the process, according to David Duffy, head of a group of 11 Mormon churches in the surrounding area.
Zoning lawyers for the church have contended that they can already build a chapel with extremely tall ceilings. Doubling the allowable floor space would permit them to have an extra floor inside and would only raise the overall height about 10 feet.
But activist and zoning expert Paul Graziano, who has been a vocal opponent of the church’s plans, said 10 extra feet is considered a standard story on a house, and that the Mormon church has room to build on the Sanford Avenue land it already owns.
The church has contended that the space is too small for its chapel, but the LDS Church recently cut the ribbon on a church in Jamaica that was built on a much smaller area.
According to a TimesLedger Newspapers analysis of blueprints for the Jamaica chapel, it has nearly all the same amenities as the proposed Flushing chapel.
29 comments:
BSA, the board of rubber stamps, will give it a thumbs up...and there goes the nabe.
I'd better list my home for sale PDQ.
Sure instant Mosque but not NY-Utah Morman Church.
A special press conference has been scheduled by Senator Tony Avella and Paul Graziano to protest the zoning abuses that the (LDS) has requested and hopes to get this message to the BSA. All those that are in support of protecting our communities from serious infringements of our zoning laws are urged to show your support by attending this rally at 145-15 33rd Avenue, the location of the proposed new chapel, on Thursday March 8, 2012 at 1 PM.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) has requested a basket of zoning variances to construct a huge house of worship covering a space where 3 large building lots once where the home of 3 single-family houses. The steeple of this two-story 34 high building will rise 94 feet into the air in this low-density single-family R2A zone. The variances include a request to permit double the floor area and the reduction of the side and front yards required under the new ' Yards Text Amendment' as well as the 'Community Facilities Text Amendments' passed over the last 7 years to protect low-density neighborhoods like this from construction that is out-of-character with the existing homes.
Don't worry . When we all pass on the LDS will make us mormon for the after life.
Shush! Helen's catching 40 winks in the photo.
Here's my vote: LDS instead of Mosque.
Community facilities and yard amendments are a joke. Buildings doesn't enforce those new zoning amendments. Take a look at 56-04 202 street. The owner has a permit to build a 1 family house in an R2 zone. But he has been telling all of us on the block that he is building an emergency pediatric care facility for a group of doctors. Buildings finally stopped him for not having his plans on site. Notice they didn't stop him for building a three story building that is way over height requirements and for a use that is NOT permitted under zoning. Good luck stopping a church.
I just looked at the property that you're referencing (56-04 202nd Street).
All the plans show are "vertical and horizontal enlargements" under R2 and then amendments having to conform to R2A. He actually has a DOB zoning violation issued against him as well.
There is nothing about an emergency pediatric care facility...if he's trying to build that, it's not allowed whatsoever in R1 and R2 zones, based on the Community Facilities Reform Text Amendment passed in 2004.
Prior to that, groups of doctors were gutting single-family houses and building big medical facilities and professional buildings in R1 and R2 zones - which are now forbidden specifically in those zones.
If Mr DiSouza (the owner) has told you that, he's absolutely breaking the law. And based on the SWO and complaints, clearly this guy is pulling all kinds of crap.
Paul Graziano
I love how they call this a "Megachurch". It'll be smaller than the local Catholic church. This is just a case of "not in my back yard" again. Notice how the Kissena Park people are more enraged about this than the neighbors.
If the lawyer or architect for the church has connection with BSA, then it will be approved. That's the usual case.
If the lawyer or architect for the church has connection with BSA, then it will be approved. That's the usual case.
This will be another example of the BSA rubber stamping a project that is universally opposed by the community.
What else would you expect from a bunch of stooges hand-picked by Emperor Bloomberg?
They did the same thing in Bayside Hills.
Another Avella event leading to nowhere but photo ops for the senator.
Isn't this a New York City issue?
Where was Councilman Peter Koo?
A little song...a little dance...
a little seltzer down the pants.
After the party's over the church will be built.
Maybe the next door neighbor can get a good price for their home from the Mormons.
I'd move.
It does look like Helen had a bout of narcolepsy.
Steve Bayside hills was a slightly different case, the architect was the former BSA Chairman with strong ties to the current BSA and he knew what to say, write, and who to hand it to.
@Anonymous: You are correct that Bayside Hills was pushed thru by a connected architect. Your point furthers my point in that the BSA is a govenmental agency that simply ignores what a community thinks and what is in the best interest of the community. They obviously have their own agenda.
the asian owned day care center which is about to open in Auburndale was squeezed into 2 lots at 40-50 Francis Lewis Blvd. at 42 avenue. 196-29 42avenue is corner address. as of right, with no P/U or D/O space for 250 toddlers ?two under ground basement spaces for the tots were approved.
it was denied by CP.B.11, but approved by B.S.A. it was a R2 zoning . a two family 1950's resident dwelling ,with dentist office was demolished.the dentist owner got close to a million dollars for the lot.
i do not recall if Avella or Graziano created a rally for this development ?
but the former dem. john liu city councilman was on the donor's campaign list,as was the( former G.O.P.)Cm Peter Koo,(now a dem.)
are the elevator roof shafts illegally high? how did the owner get his $60,000 in violations dismissed ?
is this another case of dem. nyc crony capitalism ?
the owner also owns the flushing building which houses the local CM's office for 10 years ?????
the owner also owns the flushing building which houses the local CM's office for 10 years ?????
very good and another piece of the puzzle comes together
the asian owned day care center which is about to open in Auburndale was squeezed into 2 lots at 40-50 Francis Lewis Blvd. at 42 avenue. 196-29 42avenue is corner address. as of right, with no P/U or D/O space for 250 toddlers ?two under ground basement spaces for the tots were approved.
it was denied by CP.B.11, but approved by B.S.A. it was a R2 zoning . a two family 1950's resident dwelling ,with dentist office was demolished.the dentist owner got close to a million dollars for the lot.
i do not recall if Avella or Graziano created a rally for this development ?
but the former dem. john liu city councilman was on the donor's campaign list,as was the( former G.O.P.)Cm Peter Koo,(now a dem.)
are the elevator roof shafts illegally high? how did the owner get his $60,000 in violations dismissed ?
is this another case of dem. nyc crony capitalism ?
the owner also owns the flushing building which houses the local CM's office for 10 years ?????
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I can't speak for Avella having a rally, but I worked with the Auburndale Improvement Association to try to stop this day cafe center, particularly since they had to build partially in the roadbed of Francis Lewis Boulevard. I'm pretty sure Avella was against it as well, but you can ask his office.
However, it is NOT in an R2 (single-family) zone. It is in an R3-2 (multi-family) zone which allows for apartments, rowhouses and higher FAR, particularly for community facilities such as the daycare center.
While we were succesful at getting the areas west and east of FLB rezoned to R3X (1 and 2 family detached) and R2A ("anti-MacMansion" 1 family detached) respectively, FLB was not rezoned - except for the block immediately south, which has only detached houses on it (to R3X).
And, frankly, I don't care who owns it - Asian, Caucasian or otherwise. It's an abomination, and the fines/violations should be doubled for what they're doing there.
In terms of the local Councilman renting office space from the owner - are you referring to Peter Koo's downtown Flushing office?
If so, just for reference, the daycare center is not in Koo's Council District - it's Halloran's.
Paul Graziano
only J.Liu and tony avella and the former assemb.woman were in office when this project was proposed and approved by the b.s.a. all dems. Halloran was never in the picture until 2011,after the deed was done and enabled by others.
liu's office was in the owners building in flushing for ten years. he and koo were beneficiaries of the owner's donations.their landlord owns the Auburndale site .
observe the vehicle congestion at the site,across from P.S.130Q when it's 300 flushing main street pupil's vehicles, converge with the 250 daycare tot's vehicles with no D/O-P/U space. BE THERE SOON!!!!
only J.Liu and tony avella and the former assemb.woman were in office when this project was proposed and approved by the b.s.a. all dems. Halloran was never in the picture until 2011,after the deed was done and enabled by others.
WRONG.
Halloran came into the picture on January 1st, 2010.
The project was not approved by Avella, Liu or Carozza. It couldn't even be approved by Halloran, much as he might be in favor of it (as he's never met a developer or their $$$ that he didn't like).
While Liu is guilty of many, many things and definitely benefitted politically and financially from this property owner, he had no say over the project.
It was approved by the Board of Standards and Appeals, the members of which are wholly appointed by Mayor Bloomberg.
The Community Board and Borough President votes on BSA variances are advisory only. BSA makes the final decision, and moer often than not vote in favor of the applicant.
Get your facts straight, Gramps.
this property, owned by liu and koo's FLUSHING MAIN ST.LANDLORD campaign donors,at 196-29 42 avenue,began to get D.O.B./E.C.B.complaints as far back as 2007.no contruction was done for about six months ,after the two story residence was demolished.
when construction began a stop work order was issued.
they accumulated a total of 25 violations,by 2010.no penalties were ever paid.
the community civic and c.p.b.11 complained prior to 2007,when the project was publicly announced.
Halloran's name being mentioned by Graziano is B/S. Halloran did not in any way have the responsibility to say or do anything. he wasn't a public servant in2007,the other local dems, Cm.avella, Assemb.
Carozza were. by 2009-10 ,the project was a done DEAL. DEM.crony capitalism wins in Queens again.
do not attempt to drive south or north past 42 avenue on Francis Lewis Blvd. presently the traffic is backed up southbound to N.Blvd, FOR THREE BLOCKS,at rush hours. and the daycare center is not open yet.
and John Liu had NO KNOWLEDGE that his staff and bundler was stealing $4800. from nyc taxpayers for each straw donation of $800 ? he listed over ONE MILLION in donations.
is it possible that he knew nothing about his landlord in flushing,who also owned a day care(Kon Wah) at liu's building,building in Auburndale ?
the D.O.T.had to approve of the building ,because it was to be built on part of F.L.B. future road space.
and the beat goes on.......
they deemed that the blvd would not need widening. visit the site on a rush hour and rainy day.you decide.
Then Cm,Flushing, John Liu was Chmn. of the Transportation Committee and a member of the educ. comm. is it interesting that P.S.130Q is 85% enrolled with pupils from Main St., during his staff and bundlers arrest,his first P.R. photo op. was in P.S.130Q. this was posted on Q.C. i guess he felt home and safe?
Halloran's name being mentioned by Graziano is B/S. Halloran did not in any way have the responsibility to say or do anything. he wasn't a public servant in2007,the other local dems, Cm.avella, Assemb.
Carozza were. by 2009-10 ,the project was a done DEAL. DEM.crony capitalism wins in Queens again.
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If you read what I wrote - which I am pretty sure you didn't - I made it absolutely clear that Halloran had nothing to do with it. All I said was that the site is in his district, which was Avella's prior to January 1st, 2010, because you were conflating John Liu, Peter Koo and the owner of the site in a way that may have been confusing to the readership of Queens Crap.
You should pay attention to what people are writing instead of accusing them of something they didn't do.
Paul Graziano
thank you P.Graziano,for the clarification of our comments.
"lets be heard",(BOB GRANT).....correctly.
my comments were really directed to the Halloran basher ,who simulates Media Matters on this site.
Seems to me that Helen is waiting for someone to bring the Advil.
WTF is this dope alluding to...
"lets be heard", (BOB GRANT)...huh?
Somebody's got a learning...certainly a comprehension disability.
Calm down...listen up...get on track, fella.
my comments were really directed to the Halloran basher ,who simulates Media Matters on this site.
Poor little tike, who was bashing Dan 0 on this thread? Not a negative comment around, as a matter of fact Mr. graziano was making it clear he had nothing to do with it.
Seems to me someone is on the defensive.
Ha ha ha ha ha!
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