Avella calls for investigation of architect

Avella criticizes DCA for sloppy review of questionable application. Council Member Tony Avella faulted the Department of Consumer Affairs and argued for action against the architect who filed inaccurate plans in Qdoba Mexican Grill’s application for an unenclosed sidewalk cafe at 216 Eighth Avenue in Chelsea. Qdoba had previously filed a petition to withdraw its application due to Council’s concerns.

Avella explained, at the August 12th hearing before the Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises, that when Council’s staff inspected Qdoba’s Chelsea restaurant, they found that the plans so greatly misrepresented what was actually at the site that staff called it “the worst application they had seen in 18 years.”

Avella asked Council Speaker Christine Quinn to file a complaint with the State against Qdoba’s architect since the site was in her district. He also added that the architect had “put their license on the line” by signing and stamping inaccurate plans. Avella concluded that it should not be Council’s responsibility to review the accuracy of applications; rather, the onus should be on the reviewing agency, the Department of Consumer Affairs, who in Avella’s view, did not sufficiently review the application.

Council: Qdoba Mexican Grill (August 14, 2008).

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