By MIKE RUSSO
Toyota is now looking to limit the operation to vehicle storage, because, those officials say, economic conditions have hindered their intention to build a showroom as well.
Under its revised plan, Toyota would store 128 of its vehicles in a currently empty lot, at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Harrison Avenue. The parcel has sat undeveloped for some time.
The town Board of Appeals is now reviewing Toyota's proposal, because it would have to approve the property's newly defined use before the request could be passed on to the town board. According to Joe Pellegrini, secretary of the Board of Appeals, Toyota’s plans have been scaled down since last September, when it was interested in opening a dealership, complete with a showroom.
The appeals board held a public hearing on the case Jan. 27, and the new proposal may be discussed at one of two Board of Appeals meetings scheduled for this month. "According to testimony given [Jan. 27], the dealer, like all car dealerships, is financially hurting," said Pellegrini. "But what they would like to do is store new vehicles in the same spots that were approved to go along with the showroom in September. [Toyota] asked the Board of Appeals to give them a one- or two-year approval for simple storage of these new vehicles."
If the revised proposal is approved, town officials have said, Toyota is committed to beautifying the property with a chain-link fence covered with a green fuzz design and appropriate plantings. The cars would also be set back from the sidewalk.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
