Update: We noticed this invitation today for a NYE party that goes until 5AM. If things get rowdy in the wee hours, call 311.
Since our last post, the Executive Committee of Community Board 2 voted unanimously to oppose the cabaret license application of One Front, fully supporting the recommendations of the Health, Environment and Social Services committee. This information was submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs. Since then, we have learned to our disappointment and surprise that the DCA has no public hearing process. Decisions by the Commissioner are made based on City Code. For those interested, the portion of the code that we have been told is relevant can be seen at the bottom of this post.
Thus, we believe that DCA may be obligated to grant a license based on the Administrative Code as it relates to zoning. This is where is becomes difficult for neighborhoods such as ours, as we are designated commercial/residential. In spite of the fact that this designation harkens back to 1960, and despite the fact that we are heavily residential at this stage, the official zoning remains the same.
Recognizing this, and responding to our community’s objections to the cabaret, our local politicians have written to the Commissioner of the DCA, Jonathan Mintz. We thank Assemblywoman Joan Millman, outgoing City Councilman David Yassky, and State Senator Daniel Squadron for their support, as well as the District Manager of CB2, Rob Perris, who has been most helpful through this process. In addition, with help from Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office, we are investigating how other commercial/residential neighborhoods, such as Tribeca and Soho, have kept cabarets from their neighborhoods. We believe that those neighborhoods have changed some of the wording within their zoning designation (a process which takes considerable time), but we will continue to research this. We may have to consider a zoning modification here as well.
In the interim, the Chairperson of Community Board 2 has written a second letter to Commissioner Mintz to emphasize that Fulton Ferry is substantially residential despite the zoning and that the DCA consider this. We have also recently learned that One Front St restaurant failed one of the standards listed in the code, so we have a temporary reprieve. You might consider writing directly to Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/contact/contact.shtml and cc Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The relevant Administrative Code:
The Administrative Code under which DCA must issue a license except for the reasons set forth in Administrative Code of the City of New York follows. The following (highlights and underlines added) is from Title 20, Chapter 2, Subchapter 20, Section 20-361:
20-361 Issuance and renewal of license. a. The commissioner may
refuse to issue or renew a license to an applicant only upon the
occurrence of any one or more of the following conditions:
1. the applicant, licensee, its officers, principals, directors and
stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of
the corporation have not submitted complete and accurate information
required by the department in connection with:
(a) an application for a license or renewal thereof;
(b) an application for the approval of a change of ownership;
(c) the furnishing of a record of convictions for offenses as provided
in paragraph five of this subdivision;
(d) the furnishing of financial information and records by the
applicant, licensee, its officers, principals, directors and
stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of
the corporation concerning the source of funds used or intended to be
used in the operation of the licensed business and the amount of total
funds each such individual has invested in the business;
2. the premises on or in which the licensed business is to be
conducted have not been certified as in compliance with the health,
fire, buildings, zoning and water, gas and electricity safety
requirements and standards established by the laws of the city and state
of New York or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction
thereof;
3. with respect to a new license application for the premises on or in
which the licensed business is to be conducted, there is no current
certificate of occupancy to operate a public dance hall, cabaret or
catering establishment;
4. the applicant, licensee, its officers, principals, directors and
stockholders have not complied with the regulations of the department
applicable thereto;
5. the applicant, licensee, its officers, principals, directors and
stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of
the corporation have been convicted of:
(a) any of the following offenses and there is a relationship between
the offense and the conduct of a public dance hall, cabaret or catering
establishment:
(i) an offense within article two hundred of the penal law relating to
bribery involving public servants;
(ii) a felony within article two hundred ten of the penal law relating
to perjury;
(iii) an offense within article two hundred thirty of the penal law
relating to prostitution offenses;
(iv) an offense within article two hundred forty-five of the penal law
relating to offenses against public sensibilities;
(v) an offense within section 260.20 of the penal law relating to
unlawfully dealing with a child;
(b) any other offense which is a felony under the laws of this state
or a crime committed in violation of the laws of any other jurisdiction
which if committed in this state would be a felony;
(c) any offense which is a misdemeanor involving the premises on or in
which the licensed business is to be conducted.
6. the applicant, licensee, its officers, principals, directors and
stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of
the corporation have suffered or permitted the premises on or in which
the licensed business is to be conducted, through improper or inadequate
maintenance and supervision, to be used for the commission of any of the
offenses set forth in paragraph five of this subdivision;
7. the applicant, its officers, principals, directors, stockholders
owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation
and employees thereof at the premises on which the licensed business is
to be conducted have at least three times been proven to be in violation
of the provisions of subchapter one of chapter five of this title
[The Consumer Protection Law]
of
this code or of any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(b) The commissioner shall not issue or renew a license if the
applicant, licensee, its officers, principals, directors and
stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of
the corporation have not paid, within the time permitted by law, any
fine, penalty or judgment duly imposed in connection with or arising
from the use, occupation or operation of the premises on which the
licensed business is to be conducted.
(e) Each applicant and licensee shall notify the department in writing
by registered mail, return receipt requested, within three business days
of receipt of notice of service of a summons for a violation relating to
the operation of the business licensed or to be licensed or to the
premises on or in which the business licensed or to be licensed is to be
conducted and of a conviction for any offense set forth in paragraph
five of subdivision a of this section occurring after the filing date of
the application for a license or a renewal thereof or occurring during
the term of the license.
(f) In the manner prescribed in rule three hundred eighteen of the
civil practice law and rules, each applicant or licensee shall designate
an agent, a substitute agent and a successor agent for receiving service
of process and communications from this department located within the
city of New York. Proof of such designation shall be filed with the
license application at the department.
