Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Molinaro applauds Buildings Dept. on swift action to stop work on Tottenville development
Proposed Main Street Building Does Not Comply With New Commercial Rules
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today applauded new Borough Buildings Commissioner Susan Hinkson for quickly issuing a stop work order on a Tottenville development that does not comply with the new commercial text amendment approved by the City Council last December.
Plans for the mixed-use building at 203 Main Street were originally approved before the law for commercial development changed. The plans included 10 residential dwelling units, two community facility offices, and a parking lot for 20 cars.
New commercial regulations now require all developments in commercial overlays and certain districts to provide mixed-use facilities and comply with the Lower Density Growth Management Text Amendment. Among the changes were restrictions on first-floor uses and locations of parking facilities.
When the developer of 203 Main Street started construction this week, cutting down trees to clear the parking lot area, the Buildings Department issued a stop work order, citing the new commercial zoning rules.
“This is the type of action the Growth Management Task Force wants to see, and I applaud Commissioner Hinkson’s swift decision to issue a stop work order for a project that does not comply with the new commercial regulations,” Molinaro said.
“I will work closely with the Buildings Department to enforce these new rules, and I ask Staten Islanders to be vigilant and report any violations to help our Borough maintain its small-town atmosphere and preserve the Staten Island we all know and love,” Molinaro concluded.
February 3, 2006