Thursday, October 30, 2014

TO OPEN A SIDEWALK CAFE, HAMILTON'S NEEDS A ZONING AMENDMENT

Public Hearing on Hamilton's Request for a Zoning Amendment
Wednesday, November 12th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton's (aka Lula Enterprises LLC) has called upon the office of attorney and lobbyist Vincent Petraro to assist it in getting a license for an unenclosed 45-seat sidewalk cafe right outside the restaurant.

Mr. Petraro's office is targeting the Department of City Planning (DCP), the Brooklyn Borough President, City Council members, and City Council members staff. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is the agency that issues sidewalk cafe licenses, but it doesn't accept license applications for sidewalk cafes that don't meet zoning requirements.

For that reason, Hamilton's has filed a rezoning request with the Department of City Planning. The request is for 2826 (Hamilton's) and 2902 (Jaya Yoga East) Fort Hamilton Parkway, portions of two city blocks that are both located within the Special Ocean Parkway District.

The requested zoning map change would establish a commercial C2-4 district (Local Service District) within an existing residential R5 district (General Residence District), allowing a preexisting legal nonconforming use to be brought into conformance to permit a sidewalk cafe.

After a review by the Environmental Assessment & Review Division of the DCP, the City Planning Commission has determined that this will have no significant impact on the quality of the environment.

Hamilton's needs Community Board 7's approval for the requested zoning amendment and is asking community residents to attend a public hearing of the board's Land Use/Landmarks Committee at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church as a show of support for the proposed cafe. If the committee, approves the request, it will recommend to the full board that it too approve it.

The committee will meet after the public hearing.

meeting location:
Good Shepherd Center
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Windsor Terrace (one block from the Kensington border)