Zoners Put Brakes on West Ward Tire Shop

Jeff Bay had a simple enough plan: use his garage space on 121 S. Eighth St. to open a store that would repair tires.

Not fix cars, or do oil changes, or even install new tires. He only wanted to fix tires.

"We'd be a service to the community that’s around us. There’s nowhere to get tires fixed," Bay, a Brooklyn resident, told the Monday. "If you have a flat, we’ll service the flat. And that’s the whole situation."

But neighbors, and the city's planning department, said there was more to the situation -- such as concerns about traffic and parking -- leading the board to deny Bay's request.

"We're not saying Mr. Bay’s use is necessarily a bad use," testified Brian Gish, chief planner. "But it’s not a good use in this location."

A handful of neighbors showed up to testify against Bay's plan for the property, which they said is in a section of the West Ward where parking is at a premium.

"We have neighbors who come home late, sometimes they have to park two blocks away," said Ted Toth, of Ferry St.

Board members also had concerns that Bay was already using the property to repair cars he uses for drag racing.

"They’re operating there now and they shouldn’t be," said board member Pam Panto. "Opening another business to repair tires…it's going to cause more traffic and more problems in the area. I just can't imagine there’s enough volume on a daily basis to make a living repairing tires."

Bay seemed non-plussed by the rejection. 

"I don't see how a tire shop is going to be a problem," he said. "It doesn't make a difference if we open a tire shop. We're going to be in there anyway."