By:Karenlyn Barone
Residents not only talked among themselves, but shouted their concerns about the proposed check-cashing business slated to open in their community. By the time the meeting was over, the noise had risen to a near roar, with audience members letting board members know in no uncertain terms that they were angry that a permit for the business had ever been granted, and that they demanded a rehearing.
"They stink," resident Margaret Iuculano said of the zoning board members. "What do we need this kind of business for in this town? What are they thinking?"
The board members had just taken their places, and President Murray Eskenazi had barely finished calling the meeting to order, when resident Joan Martin sprang to her feet to request the right to speak.
Although a decision on whether to reopen the hearing at which a permit was granted to Charles Guttilla and Paul Gunder to open Ballas SIS Financial Inc. was not on the agenda, Eskenazi - reluctantly - entertained comments from the floor. The consensus of those who spoke was that the board should never have granted a permit for the business from the beginning. Residents complained that they were never given formal notice of the original hearing, and that the proposed business's location, across from a church and two elementary schools, makes for an unsafe situation.
The East Rockaway Building Department originally denied the business's application for a permit in February, based on potential parking problems. The principals then filed an appeal, and had their case heard on May 19. No residents attended, and with sufficient evidence that adequate parking was available behind the building, the permit was granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Since word of the new business first reached them, residents have rallied in opposition, saying they were never properly notified, that the location of the business is inappropriate and that the services it offers are unwanted. At the Aug. 9 village board meeting, a petition with well over 700 signatures was presented, requesting that the board rethink the permit. Less than a week later, the Zoning Board of Appeals issued a 30-day stop-work order, but as of last Wednesday's meeting the board had yet to officially reopen the hearing.
"How close do any of you live to the property?" one angry resident asked the board members. "We are talking about a check-cashing joint, not a financial institution. I work in Manhattan near a check-cashing store, and even though 95 percent of the people who go there are legitimate, it's the other five percent that you have to worry about. I don't want that in my neighborhood."
Marie O'Brien's family has lived in East Rockaway since 1926, and she is unhappy about the prospect of such a business opening two blocks from her home. "There are old people, young people, babies and even a church on that block," she said. "It's unsafe!"
The noisy meeting never quieted down, and it was often difficult for Eskenazi to control it. The meeting was not scheduled to include any discussion about the business, yet one of its principals, Guttilla, was in attendance. At one point, frustrated by the audience's unwillingness to follow board protocol, Eskenazi adjourned the meeting, and board members John Conklin, William Goodspeed, Richard Gogarty and Elaine Boll left the room for several minutes. At that point, Guttilla rose and left.
When the board members returned, Gogarty said, "We have received over 100 letters raising two issues. One, was there sufficient legal notice given regarding the hearing, and two, [are there enough] parking spaces. In my opinion, there is no issue regarding the legal notices, but maybe there is regarding the number of parking spaces presented to us."
At that point, Gogarty requested a reopening of the permit hearing. Goodspeed seconded the motion, and the other board members concurred, making it unanimous. A rehearing will be scheduled.
"We are going to keep fighting this," said one lifetime resident. "How dare they think they can sneak a business like that into my neighborhood?"
By Karenlyn Barone
Before the East Rockaway Board of Zoning Appeals meeting even began on Wednesday, Sept. 1, the opposition in the packed room reached a fever pitch.
Residents not only talked among themselves, but shouted their concerns about the proposed check-cashing business slated to open in their community. By the time the meeting was over, the noise had risen to a near roar, with audience members letting board members know in no uncertain terms that they were angry that a permit for the business had ever been granted, and that they demanded a rehearing.
"They stink," resident Margaret Iuculano said of the zoning board members. "What do we need this kind of business for in this town? What are they thinking?"
The board members had just taken their places, and President Murray Eskenazi had barely finished calling the meeting to order, when resident Joan Martin sprang to her feet to request the right to speak.
Although a decision on whether to reopen the hearing at which a permit was granted to Charles Guttilla and Paul Gunder to open Ballas SIS Financial Inc. was not on the agenda, Eskenazi - reluctantly - entertained comments from the floor. The consensus of those who spoke was that the board should never have granted a permit for the business from the beginning. Residents complained that they were never given formal notice of the original hearing, and that the proposed business's location, across from a church and two elementary schools, makes for an unsafe situation.
The East Rockaway Building Department originally denied the business's application for a permit in February, based on potential parking problems. The principals then filed an appeal, and had their case heard on May 19. No residents attended, and with sufficient evidence that adequate parking was available behind the building, the permit was granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Since word of the new business first reached them, residents have rallied in opposition, saying they were never properly notified, that the location of the business is inappropriate and that the services it offers are unwanted. At the Aug. 9 village board meeting, a petition with well over 700 signatures was presented, requesting that the board rethink the permit. Less than a week later, the Zoning Board of Appeals issued a 30-day stop-work order, but as of last Wednesday's meeting the board had yet to officially reopen the hearing.
"How close do any of you live to the property?" one angry resident asked the board members. "We are talking about a check-cashing joint, not a financial institution. I work in Manhattan near a check-cashing store, and even though 95 percent of the people who go there are legitimate, it's the other five percent that you have to worry about. I don't want that in my neighborhood."
Marie O'Brien's family has lived in East Rockaway since 1926, and she is unhappy about the prospect of such a business opening two blocks from her home. "There are old people, young people, babies and even a church on that block," she said. "It's unsafe!"
The noisy meeting never quieted down, and it was often difficult for Eskenazi to control it. The meeting was not scheduled to include any discussion about the business, yet one of its principals, Guttilla, was in attendance. At one point, frustrated by the audience's unwillingness to follow board protocol, Eskenazi adjourned the meeting, and board members John Conklin, William Goodspeed, Richard Gogarty and Elaine Boll left the room for several minutes. At that point, Guttilla rose and left.
When the board members returned, Gogarty said, "We have received over 100 letters raising two issues. One, was there sufficient legal notice given regarding the hearing, and two, [are there enough] parking spaces. In my opinion, there is no issue regarding the legal notices, but maybe there is regarding the number of parking spaces presented to us."
At that point, Gogarty requested a reopening of the permit hearing. Goodspeed seconded the motion, and the other board members concurred, making it unanimous. A rehearing will be scheduled.
"We are going to keep fighting this," said one lifetime resident. "How dare they think they can sneak a business like that into my neighborhood?"
