Mormon church variance hearing

From WPIX:

Sanford Avenue near Parsons Avenue in Flushing, has submitted an application to move to 33rd avenue, a street that is zoned for single family housing. The zoning changed in 2009. But the church, according to civic leaders, bought three parcels of land and submitted plans to build to the city.

The community board turned down the application.

"Why go into a low density area and upset the community, destroy zoning when you already have a site," said State Senator Tony Avella.

Today, the community went to the Board of Standards and Appeals to make their case about keeping the church out. The church is asking the city for an exemption since it's a religious entity. If the project is given a go, the structure is set to be 21,000 square feet. The average home on the block is 1,500 square feet.