Cedarhurst board denies 68 Washington Ave. project

The Cedarhurst Zoning Board showed the proposal for a 17-unit development on Washington Avenue no love as it unanimously denied the application at a Valentine’s Day meeting.

“Based on testimony evidence submitted to date,” Zoning Board member Meir Krengel said. “The board is not inclined to approve the application as is.”

Cedarhurst businessman and developer Samuel Nahmias was seeking a variance for a multi-family development in a single-family home zone. Attorney William Bonesso is representing Nahmias in the case.

Before the final vote, the board allowed Nahmias to revise his application and resubmit. Bonesso spoke briefly with Nahmias who said he was not prepared to modify his application at this time.

“We believe the evidence in testimony supports the application,” Bonesso said in his final remarks before the vote. “We have expert justification of not only our own but expert testimony of the village’s own traffic expert that this would not create a traffic hazard.”

Many residents at the last meeting in November, expressed their concerns about the proposed project because of the negative impact it would bring to Washington Avenue, which homes, the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns & Rockaway and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst firehouse.

“A project of this magnitude at this location at the present time is just about the worst idea ever,” said Cedarhurst resident Rena Saffra.

“I’m a little surprised at the request of this point to reduce the application,” Bonnesso told the Herald after the denial. “Certainly the board had an opportunity to bring that up if they were concerned about that in the last hearing.”

Community neighbors were ecstatic. Washington Avenue resident Michael Hatten called the decision historic.

“I’m extremely gratified by the decision of the zoning board to unanimously reject this use variance application,” he said. “Furthermore, I am hoping this will affirm single-family dwellings not be replaced by multifamily complexes.”

In January, Hatten created a petition on change.org to protest the development. More than 200 people added their names.

Bonesso said the Zoning Board denied approval because the project is not popular, and that is not justification for an approval or a denial.

“I’m not surprised of the community opposition,” he told the Herald. “I knew that was there but I believe we made the necessary legal proofs to establish the case but it’s obviously up to the board to make a determination.”

When asked what would happen after the Valentine’s Day shocker, Bonesso said Nahmias is entitled to appeal the case or come up with another proposed development on the property. A decision on how to proceed is yet to be made,  Bonesso said.

Have an opinion on the Washington Avenue decision? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.