Garden City Board Adopts Commercial District Zoning Changes

The Garden City Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a new zoning law last week that removes certain commercial zoning restrictions within the village’s T-Zone, which primarily includes Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue.

“We are making it less cumbersome for the lessee,” Mayor Brian C. Daughney said, further stating that, in his opinion, the prohibition against restaurants and food establishments in the zone seemed outdated and an artificial creation that did not reflect reality.

“There are already 16 establishments in the zone that had been grandfathered or granted variances. Further, we have seven banks that already exist on the street,” he said. “The way that we drafted the law, only one more could be added into the T-Zone area. In an age when banks are closing branches, and not adding them, there is little risk in pushing out retail and existing restaurants.”

The changes were first suggested and requested by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce more than two years ago. “The Chamber believes that impediments to locating a business in the village are counterproductive to the economic vitality of the commercial sector,” said Dennis Donnelly, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “The elimination of restrictive covenants will only help spur further development of Garden City’s retail district.”

The lifted restrictions are intended to, among other things, streamline the process, enhance the pedestrian environment and achieve greater land-use efficiencies. The new code changes were not expanded to include general office uses beyond those that already existed in the code. The law permits banks and restaurants to replace empty storefronts as of right and eliminates Zoning Board of Appeals approval.

“This local law provides an opportunity for Garden City’s community to have businesses move in as they see the demand or need of residents,” said Village Trustee Robert A. Bolebruch. “This gives the community the flexibility to adjust, attract people and to change as society and demand changes. By lifting the zoning requirements you have in one area, you let business determine what is going to be there.”

To read the newly adopted local law in full, visit the village's website.

Photo: Village of Garden City