By Jeff Lipton
An application to open a Safeguard Storage Properties , LLC operation at 1176 Broadway in Hewlett has been filed with the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals. A public hearing before the Town BZA has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 17 at 9:30 a.m., at Town Hall Plaza, 1 Washington Street in Hempstead.
The merchants association expressed fear that such a large facility will particularly increase the traffic at the intersection of Broadway and Franklin Avenue, which storeowners said is already gridlocked during the afternoon.
The building at 1176 Broadway, formerly occupied by CVS, has been vacant for about a year, said Hewlett Business Association President Joe Gelb.
He said the town, which has plans to further beautify the area, will not be doing Hewlett any favors if this project is approved.
Hewlett is not made for this traffic, said Gelb. That's just not the thing for downtown Hewlett.
We're being strangled by traffic. If it gets a variance, that will be the death knell for merchants, Gelb said.
William Cohn, attorney for the storage facility, described the proposal as a self-storage warehouse, which will hold records for businesses as well as their seasonal merchandise, and household goods for homeowners.
He said the project needs a parking variance because it does not have enough off-street parking.
It shocks me that they are opposed to it, Cohn said. With a facility of this nature, there's no traffic, it's a high tax-generator and there's no services required.
But Gelb is convinced that the project is not right for the area. He said plans show that the entrance to the facility will be on Railroad Avenue, compounding the parking problem because there are limited spaces for customers, clients and patients. The municipal lots and parking spaces on Railroad Avenue are filled by the commuters and Independent Bus Company drivers.
All merchants, professionals and landlords must come [to the April 17 hearing] to express their feelings about these issues, stated a letter sent out to members of the HBA. Hopefully, we would be able to persuade the members of the zoning board that the project should not go forward as planned.
Your presence is a must if you wish to further build our village and avoid the demise of our shopping district west of Franklin Avenue in addition to a spillover effect on the rest of the merchants in our village.
