Rockaway Avenue redux

While developer tries again to get property rezoned, community rallies against him

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History is repeating itself, as a local developer is once again trying to tear down the two-family home at 62 Rockaway Ave. to build townhouses. This time, however, he has scaled down his plans from six units to five.

About 30 people came to the Feb. 11 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, most of whom opposed the project. During the three-hour meeting, Albert D’Agostino, representing property owner and developer James O’Reilly, presented the case for a variance to build the project. It included the argument that the property is next door to the condominiums at 99 S. Park Ave., and five townhouses between that building and the residential neighborhood directly to the south would be a “transitional use.”

The property at 62 Rockaway is in a Residential A district, which allows only single-family homes. It is occupied by a two-family home that was grandfathered in when the code changed years ago. The apartments at 99 S. Park are in a Residential B district, which allows multi-family homes. The variance that O’Reilly is applying for would essentially change the Rockaway Avenue property to Residential B without actually rezoning it.

O’Reilly’s current plan calls for five attached townhouses, each with a garage, laid out perpendicular to Park Place. According to the developer, the current structure has to be demolished to rid the property of asbestos and lead paint.

A few residents spoke in favor of the project, including Brian Gallagher, who lives next door to 62 Rockaway. Doreen Teta, a real estate agent and a 99 S. Park resident, said that the townhouses would increase the tax base, add revenue to local businesses and increase neighborhood property values.

Freda Wagner, another resident of 99 S. Park, spoke against the proposal, and mentioned past attempts to develop 62 Rockaway Ave. She presented old and new petitions, letters and articles from the Herald as evidence.

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