Edward Lauria testifies before the Board of Standards and Appeals. Image credit: BSA

Board approved a new commercial building on satisfying Fire Department requirements.  On July 14, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals voted to grant a permit for the construction of a single-story commercial building at 47 Trioka Way in the Special South Richmond Development District of Staten Island.  The building will be concrete block with metal walls and roof, covering 15,120 square feet of floor area divided evenly among ten storage units and contractor’s establishments.

On December 15, 2014 the Department of Buildings refused to issue a Certificate of Occupancy for the building because the street giving access to the proposed building was not duly placed on the official map of the City of New York, and less than eight percent of the total building perimeter fronted on any legally mapped street.  On January 7, 2015 the applicant, Jeff Schaffer, appealed.

A public hearing was held on June 2, 2015.  Edward Lauria, counsel for the applicant, testified the site would not be used for transiting heavy trucks or construction loads as the lot size and design is too small to permit it.  Prior to the hearing, the Fire Department of New York issued a letter stating no objection to the proposal on condition all ten workspaces are fully sprinklered in conformity with the Fire and Building Codes, that no parking at the entrance of each workspace is clearly indicated, a fire apparatus access lane be provided at both curb cut entrances, and a Siamese connection and fire hydrant be installed.

On July 14, the Board voted 4-0 to approve construction, with the conditions set out in the FDNY letter.

BSA: 47 Trioka Way, Staten Island (3-15-A) (Jul. 14, 2015) (Edward Lauria, for Jeff Schaffer, owner.)

By:  Michael Twomey (Michael is the CityLaw Fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2014).