Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro to Growth Management Task Force:“Devise new regulations for retrofitted gas stations”
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today made a formal request to the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force to mandate that new regulations be put into place regarding gas stations that have been retrofitted as grocery stores, mini-marts, coffee shops, or other commercial establishments.
In a letter to Task Force members City Planning Director Amanda Burden and Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster, Molinaro wrote, “More and more, we are seeing gas stations retrofitted to include some type of commercial enterprise. This has had a significant impact on local traffic, creating long lines of cars pulling into and out of the establishments and blocking traffic flow on our roads.
“I propose that the Task Force formulate new regulations to ensure that all future retrofitting requests be studied closely so that there will be no negative impact on traffic flow in the surrounding area,” Molinaro continued. “There should also be a review of on-site parking requirements, left-turn lanes and other factors.”
Mayor Bloomberg formed the Growth Management Task Force in 2003 to address overbuilding and development issues on Staten Island. The Task Force consists of elected officials, City agency commissioners, and representatives of civic and other groups, with a direct stake in the future of the Borough. In 2004, the Task Force adopted rules to curb out-of-character development in residential districts, the most beneficial accomplishments for Staten Island since the closing of the Fresh Kills landfill.
October 17, 2006