CB 11 Grants Variances for Two Gas Stations, Animal Hospital

Community Board 11 approved variances on Monday for two local gas stations and an animal hospital, but with conditions for all three sites.

CB 11 approved a 10-year variance for Little Neck’s Gulf Gas Station, located at 260-09 Nassau Blvd., with only one board member voting against the proposal.

The variance for the station, which has been operating since the 1940s under various names, expired in March.

“It’s the only station in the area,” said board member Joan Garippa, who is chairwoman of the Little Neck Zoning Committee. “We recommended the approval with conditions – it must be properly landscaped, a retaining wall must be repaired and maintained and the use of the storage trailer on the site must be explained in the plans.”

The board also passed a variance for a Citgo Gas Station at 184-17 Horace Harding Expressway, but its members said the site needed to make a number of improvements.

Christine Haider, chairwoman of the East Flushing/North Bayside Zoning Committee, said she recommended granting the variance, but only for five years.

“We’re very concerned about this site,” board member Henry Euler said. “During the past few years, there’s been graffiti. There has been a lot of improvement, but we will continue to monitor this site and make sure it’s in compliance.”

CB 11 unanimously approved a variance for an animal hospital at 204-18 46th Ave. in Bayside.

Bayside Veterinary Center’s proposal was to extend its variance for 10 years, add a small, non-illuminated sign and to increase the hours of operation on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Haider said conditions for approval included giving the building a fresh coat of paint, fixing a cracked sidewalk in front of the site and relocating the dumpster.