A plan to turn a florist on Schuyler Avenue into seven townhouses was rejected by the zoning board at the March 12 meeting. Concerns about abandoned mineshafts beneath the property had nothing to do with the board’s decision to deny the application. The application was ultimately killed by the project’s density, seven housing units on less than half of an acre.
While Schuyler Avenue is zoned for townhouses, the property would need to have four or less housing units to meet the density requirements.
Board members said they were satisfied with the plan designs, but the density was a major sticking point. "A good plan is keeping it at the density it’s zoned for. I’m not comfortable with this plan," said zoning board member Peter Norcia.
Eugene Cattanese, who has owned and operated Arlington Florist and Garden Center for over 35 years, brought the original plan to the construction department as early as September 2006. The zoning board first heard the plan, which included nine townhouses, in November 2006.
Over the past 16 months, the number of townhouses was whittled down to seven in attempts to garner the zoning board’s support. Cattanese’s attorney, John Dusinberre, argued that his client had a good plan, noting that it would ease traffic problems at the existing florist, remove the non-conforming use of a business in what is now a townhouse zone and eliminate parking problems. During past hearings, residents said Arlington Florist and Garden Center employees magnified parking problems in the area.
Previously, Cattanese developed four townhouses on Schuyler Avenue near the corner of Park Avenue. During past hearings, zoning board members said they approved of the aesthetics of the other project.
The debate at the Feb. 13 meeting of the zoning board centered on the underground mineshaft believed to be located in the southwest corner of the property.
Dusinberre said the developer would not agree to demolish the existing buildings to drill for mineshafts, but would come up with a plan to drill the property on a 30-degree angle to search for the locations of potential shafts.
"To get my particular vote without that drilling would be particularly problematic," said Richard Glennon, vice chairman of the board.
Neglia recommended the "directional drilling" to search for mineshafts, so long as the firm would have an opportunity to review the developer’s plan of attack.
By overlaying old mining maps with the current tax map and using the former Victoria mineshaft as a guide, borough engineer Neglia Engineering determined the existence of an airshaft in the southwest corner of the property.
Currently, a garage containing all of the property’s electrical utilities stands on the spot. The plans called for a Dumpster on the spot. Fifteen years ago, the borough requested access to Cattanese’s property to search for the alleged mineshaft on the property. Cattanese denied the borough’s request.
