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Triangle lot in Ozone Park to become two-family home

By Alex Davidson

Borough and city officials are considering a proposed zoning variance to allow a two-story, two-family building to be built in Ozone Park on a triangle of property on Hawtree Creek Road.

Community Board 10 voted unanimously April 3 to approve the project that calls for a 25-foot-high, 2,200-square-foot building, a city Department of Buildings spokeswoman said. Borough President Helen Marshall was still examining the proposal following a land-use hearing last Thursday.

The Agusta Group is requesting a zoning variance that would provide for alterations to the size of the building's front yard, a change in the amount of space that could be constructed on the site and permission for cars to park on city streets rather than in private parking spaces. The group is the architectural firm for the project, while BRK Properties owns the property and will build the home.

“Because this is a small lot, we decided to ask for the variance,” said Sol Korman, consulting engineer for the group. “We hope the builder starts in the next month or two.”

Ilyse Fink, spokeswoman for the city Department of Buildings, said the city denied the Agusta Group's original application for the project Nov. 14, 2002, but she could not elaborate on specific reasons for the decision. Korman said it is a formality when a firm intends to seek a variance to first submit a plan that will knowingly be denied by the city.

The Agusta Group and BRK Properties is proposing to build the two-family home on a now vacant triangle of property at 109th Avenue, 128th Street and Hawtree Creek Road, Korman said. He said the building's entrance would be at 128-05 Hawtree Creek Rd.

The firm is seeking to reduce the amount of front yard space on all three sides of the property from 15 feet to 10 feet and increase the ratio that determines floor space to the building's total area.

“It's all a formality. You cannot build anything as of right there because the lot is too small,” Korman said. “After the variance is approved, the builder could start immediately, but that's up to the builder.”

Neither the architectural firm nor the builder is asking for a permanent zoning change, which will remain at R3-2.

Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.