ZBA hears from East Beech Street residents

Richard Boodman, a long-time Long Beach resident, came well-prepared to a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing last week to protest a developer’s plans for a century-old home on East Beech Street.

He held up a copy of a book, “Scoundrels By the Sea,” all about the history of corruption in Long Beach.

He made clear he was not talking about anyone in the meeting room at City Hall on March 24.  “This is about Long Beach in earlier times,” Boodman said.

“But if there’s ever a sequel written, it will be about real-estate speculators. Hopefully, it will include a chapter that they were ridden out of town on a rail,” he added.

Boodman was one of about a dozen residents of the Eastholme section who turned out to protest plans by developer Charles Mayeri of Great Neck, who bought the century-old home at 355 East Beech Street. Mayeri owns other property in Long Beach.

Mayeri came to the ZBA in hopes of overturning a decision last June by Long Beach’s building commissioner, Scott Kemins, who had issued a stop-work order prohibiting the developer from continuing to construct driveways at 355 East Beech. Building inspectors arrived at the home in June 11, but work on the driveways had been completed the day before, residents have said.

If the ZBA does not overturn Kemins’s decision, Mayeri is asking for a variance for the work to be completed.

Residents believe Mauyeri wants to sub-divide the property and build another home next to the current two-family house. They oppose such a move, citing overdevelopment in the area.

Albert D’Agostino, the attorney for Mayeri, told the ZBA that, “We believe the determination by the Building Department is plainly wrong and is speculative.” He acknowledged that a valid work permit did not exist when the driveways were constructed.

Jessica Rone, a member of the Block Alliance Association, a group opposing Mayeri’s plans, said a case presented to the ZBA previously by the developer was heard and denied,. She said for that reason, Mayeri’s current case should not be heard.

She said Mayeri had shown no hardships in explaining why he needs a variance.

Phyllis Ginsberg, another resident,  expressed another view.

“My concern is the overriding moral issue,” she said. “This person (Mayeri) owns multiple properties in Long Beach. This is not someone who doesn’t understand” zoning regulations. “This goes beyond this person playing games.”

The ZBA reserved decision.