Supreme Court upholds White Castle denial

A New York State Supreme Court decision recently ensured that White Castle won’t be serving up sliders in Bellmore.

White Castle had planned to build a 24-hour fast-food eatery on Sunrise Highway and St. Mark’s Avenue, but those plans were unanimously denied by the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals on June 2.

Following the board’s denial, White Castle filed an Article 78, a type of appeal under the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules. An Article 78 proceeding allows an individual or corporation to appeal a written decision made by a public agency. The proceeding is used by corporations or people in the hope of overturning a decision.

The Supreme Court upheld the town’s denial of the restaurant chain, a decision that was well received by town Supervisor Kate Murray.

“Councilwoman Angie Cullin and I knew that the Hempstead Town Board of Appeals was justified in denying the application associated with White Castle’s plan to build a 24/7 hamburger restaurant that would have negatively impacted local homeowners,” Murray said in a statement. “We want to take this opportunity to applaud the decision of the Supreme Court in upholding the Board of Appeals decision.”

When Bellmorites discovered the decision was upheld, they were relieved that the issue had been “put to bed,” said Eileen Casaszza of the Bellmore Preservation Group. The group was grateful that the community received the decision they had put considerable time and money into achieving. “We’re all thankful all around,” she said. “It really just solidified what we’re all about in Bellmore.”

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