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Land Use, Housing & Zoning
148 West 48th Street, Sun Garage, application pursuant to Section 11-411 for the renewal of a Special Permit for an existing 254-space public parking garage.
WHEREAS, The applicant, Sun Parking Garage, is applying for renewal of a Special Permit pursuant to Section 11-411 for an existing attendant public parking garage with 254 spaces; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has operated a attendant public parking garage at 148 West 48 Street continuously since 1954; and
WHEREAS, The applicant was granted a 50 year Special Permit to operate this garage at this location in 1954 under the pre-1961 regulations; and
WHEREAS, The applicant hired a law firm to renew the special permit in 2004 but subsequently learned in 2007 that the application had not been filed and the renewal had not been obtained; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has since retained the services of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP to help obtain a renewal of the Special Permit for an attendant public parking garage; and
WHEREAS, The applicant will undertake a number of changes to the garage to help improve the flow of traffic in and out of the garage including:
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Reducing the number of lanes on the ground floor from 4 to 3;
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Re-orienting the entrance and exit lanes in an effort to improve traffic safety and preventing crossing maneuvers;
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Reducing the length of the curb cut by 7 feet to decrease interference with pedestrian use of the sidewalk;
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Installing a visual warning system near the garage's exit lane to enhance pedestrian safety; and
WHEREAS, Although the Community Board has frequently disapproved applications to legalize existing illegal uses, because the owner has operated the garage in this location for over 50 years and was unaware that previous counsel had not obtained the renewal of the Special Permit; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of renewal of a Special Permit pursuant to Section 11-411 for an existing attendant public parking garage at 148 West 48 Street.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 29 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstaining.