Quantcast

Judge to Kings: Play ball at SJU

By Adam Kramer

Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Thomas blew a fastball by local politicians and Queens civic groups when he cleared the way for the New York Mets' minor league team to open their season at St. John's University.

The Queens Kings' home opener is June 21, when the team is slated to take on the Hudson Valley Renegados at 7 p.m. at a new baseball field built on the St. John's campus.

Thomas decided not to issue an injunction sought by state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) and state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Bayside on behalf of several civic groups.

“I am extremely disappointed that Judge Thomas was unable to recognize the need for the injunction, said Padavan. “However, Queens residents who fear the loss of their protection under New York's zoning laws should not lose heart.”

Padavan said Monday Thomas had denied the application for a preliminary injunction to prevent the Kings from opening their season on June 21, which would have forced the team to delay the start until June 27. The team plans to spend only one season at St. John's.

The Bureau of Standards and Appeals, which rules on the city's zoning regulations, will decide on June 27 whether the construction permits to build the stadium for the Queens Kings were legally issued. It will also determine whether the new stadium is a commercial-use building and thus should not be in the residential neighborhood.

Thomas had originally said he would issue a ruling after the BSA made its decision, but the city agency postponed any action on the case until June 27.

Dr. Barry Weinberg, chairman of the board of the Jamaica Estates Association, said he and the residents of the communities surrounding St. John's are displeased with the Judge's ruling to prevent the Queens Kings from playing six games before the BSA's June 27 hearing.

“It is with sadness that we listen to St. John's and the city government, supposedly two pillars of law and honesty, claim that the stadium, built to professional minor league standards with lights and 3,500 seats, is really being built for the college team, and thus the stadium should be considered as an accessory educational use,” he said.

Weinberg said the St. John's team has never played a night game and its day games have always drawn less than 100 fans.

“We are pleased with the ruling,” said Jody Fisher, spokesman for St. John's University. “The project is beneficial to the community as we have maintained from the beginning. Once the facility is open and baseball is played, it will be viewed as a benefit to the community.”

Thomas had been expected to rule last week, but he reserved decision. The BSA, citing a need for more information from both sides at its June 6 hearing, postponed the decision on the stadium until June 27, a spokesman for the agency said.

“The merits of this case have not been weighed by the court,” Padavan said. “Depending on the BSA verdict, the course still must consider the devastating impact that the sports stadium would have on the community. The fact remains that the city has ignored state law on environmental review.”

“Also, commercial stadiums are prohibited in residential zones by law,” he said.

Padavan, Weprin and four civic groups brought legal action in April to try to stop the building of the stadium at St. John's. They fear the 38 home games planned this season at the stadium will bring noise, crowds, pollution and bright lights to an already congested area.

Padavan and Weprin originally asked Thomas to stop the construction two months ago, but the judge refused, saying they needed to first exhaust all administrative avenues, including a judgment from the BSA. He said the BSA could “expedite” the review process.

The city, the Mets and St. John's announced their plans to build the $6 million, 3,500-seat ballpark on the university's campus earlier this year after the Mets ran into problems when they sought to build on the Parade Grounds in Brooklyn.

The stadium is being financed by the city Economic Development Corporation.

The lawsuit contends that because the stadium will be used for commercial purposes by a professional baseball team, it must be located in a commercial zone. Jamaica Estates, Hillcrest Estates and Flushing Heights, which border the university, are residentially zoned neighborhoods.

The team plans to move to its soon-to-be-built permanent home at the former Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn for the start of next season.