Let’s get this petition signed! 
We urgently need your help in preserving Manhasset’s residential area from industrializing!

The owners of Manhasset Auto Body at 55 Bayview Avenue have been operating illegally as an Auto Body Shop instead of their approved use as an Auto Repair shop despite the Town of North Hempstead’s Board of Zoning Appeals denying their request for a variance and legalization.  

Now they are trying to appeal this decision and request variances for this use as well as for additional parking stalls--despite ongoing violations and numerous outstanding criminal charges filed in Nassau County Criminal Court.

Please join us in OPPOSING this attempt to have an industrial-use Auto Body Shop in the middle of our residential neighborhood.

Auto Repair Shops typically fix engine components that wear out during normal driving like brakes and oil changes, that are typically fixed in one day.  

An Auto Body Shop fixes the body of the car after collisions, replacing bumpers and damaged body panels and repainting to match factory colors. Repairs can take weeks.

• Painting requires large chemical paint booths that are vented through large roof-mounted fans spewing airborne fumes into the surrounding area. 
• Since repairs can take weeks, much more parking is required to store the vehicles.
• In addition, vehicles are often delivered to the shop in large flatbed trucks, obstructing local streets and sidewalks.

Use of this property as an Auto Body Shop is incompatible with the surrounding residential area:

1. This property is located at the corner of Bayview Avenue and Locust Place in Manhasset, just one block off Plandome Road, and is surrounded by homes with residential zoning.  
2. This already busy intersection is often used as a bypass road to Plandome Rd for those driving, walking, and biking to the Manhasset Middle and High Schools, the LIRR station, downtown shopping, and to destinations outside of town.   
3. The Auto Body Shop illegally installed an industrial chemical spray application facility with a large auto spray paint booth.  The new chemicals it intends to use will be sprayed and thus airborne through the industrial rooftop vents of this single-story building.
4. The constant vehicle activity, noise, exhaust, and use of flatbed trucks regularly block sidewalks and streets creating hazardous conditions for all who live, walk, bike and drive through the area.
5. The business also seeks a variance in zoning to accommodate more cars. The current allowable limit is 12 cars and they are looking for 17. Yet, it has become common practice for them to vastly exceed the allowable count (30+ vehicles at times) during work hours, overnight, on weekends, and for several weeks.  Often these are wrecked and unlicensed vehicles that need auto body repairs.  This is in violation of code $70-146.3 C (B).

In summary, we OPPOSE this Appeal #21382 and Variance request for the following reasons:

• It negatively impacts the character, harmony, safety, well-being, and property of this predominantly residential area.
• It presents hazardous environmental, fire, mobility, and traffic conditions and is incongruous with the immediate neighborhood that is lined with beautiful homes where children and families walk and bike to town, to local schools, and to Plandome Road shopping.
• It is objectionable to surrounding properties by reason of excessive noise and toxic vehicle and paint exhaust.
• It does not provide an essential service to the community.
• This type of business was not sought out by the community and is better suited for an industrial area.
• Approval of this appeal and variance would set a dangerous precedent for Manhasset in the industrial use of Business B Zoning.  
  This owner may be looking to add the Locust St Manhasset Park District lot and the Citibank property to expand his auto empire, further diminishing both the Business B and Residential zoning character and harmony experienced over the past decades. 

Several local civic groups support our opposition efforts.
But we need your individual help in preserving Manhasset’s residential area from industrializing!

Your signature is urgently needed! The next BZA hearing is soon. 
All the adults in your MANHASSET household may sign. 

Thank you!
Cristina Robino

Note: Petitioners may be updated on progress via email from Preserve Manhasset.