Prospect St. Church Gets OK from Village Board for More Parking
After initially denying their request last year, The Village of Brewster has agreed to a Waiver of Moratorium request from the St. Lawrence O’Toole Church to allow additional parking.
The initial application was struck down last March, after village trustees were concerned about how the plan for additional parking would fit into the new comprehensive plan. According to James Nixon, an architect representing the church, ten parking spaces would be added on an adjacent residential lot, which is owned by the church. In addition, nine spaces would be created alongside the church by changing the access point to the parking lot.
Nixon said cars would enter the property on Prospect Street, using the driveway on the residential lot, and would exit onto Eastview Avenue. Nixon explained the new layout will be straighter, wider, and cleaner cut than the current driveway, and will be better able to accommodate emergency vehicles.
“That’s not the reason we’re doing this, but it’s certainly a benefit,” said Nixon.
The house that exists on the residential lot will remain, and will likely be rented out, said Nixon, but the back portion of the home will be demolished to accommodate more parking.
Trustee Christine Piccini was concerned about the layout changes that the project would bring, arguing that there would only be a net gain of twelve spaces, as two of the new spaces will be reserved for residents of the home while three parallel parking spots near the church and two near the back of the property will be eliminated. Nixon explained that this is not the case, however, as the three parallel parking spots were never officially designated as parking, but were simply used as such.
Piccini argued that the additional spots would not solve the parking issue in the village and still feared how the approval of the Waiver of Moratorium would affect the comprehensive plan going forward. She also expressed trepidation if the church continues to need spaces, they could buy additional properties and turn them into parking lots.
“I’m just concerned about the future and a slippery slope,” she said.
Village attorney Anthony Mole explained that legally, nothing can stop the church from buying additional property in the future, but allowing them to turn a portion of the residential lot into additional parking will not have implications on other property owners through the comprehensive plan. Mole stated that even though the 40 Prospect Street property is zoned for residential use, it is owned by the church, which, as a religious institution, is not subjected to the same zoning laws as other properties.
“They enjoy more flexibility than a residential homeowner would in a regular home,” he said.
The waiver was approved unanimously, and will now be brought to the planning and zoning boards for further approvals. Nixon explained that St. Lawrence representatives had appeared before the planning board last year, where they received a favorable recommendation for the project. That recommendation was under the condition that the lot be screened with trees and shrubs, which Nixon stated will be done.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
