Thursday, February 01, 2007

SHOULD MICKEY'S HOT DOG STAND ON JACKSON AVE BE ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN?

An article in today's Journal News (www.lohud.com) -"Greenburgh has beef with longtime hot-dog stand" reports that Mickey's snack bar was forced to close last month - after 78 years of selling food on Jackson Ave. The Building Department enforced a law that bars roadside vendors in residential areas. Mickey Difate, 96 years old, stopped working at the snack bar last year. The hot dog stand did not operate for a number of months. He now resides at an assisted living center. A family member was planning to take over the business and continue operating the hot dog stand.
The property is zoned for a residential purposes. The Difate's can apply for a zoning variance. Would you support giving Mickey's snack bar the variance so they can continue operating their hot dog stand? Or, should the town not make any exceptions to our law?
One resident wrote to me--suggesting that this snack bar is a local landmark in town. Another person pointed out that a snack bar is preferable to residential development at the site.
What do you think?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I support a variance as well as a landmark. He's been there for ever and its ridiculously to kick him out now.

Anonymous said...

agree

Anonymous said...

It's far too much of a traffic hazard having a "hot dog" stand at a roadside, the stand is at the end of a dangerous curve on a heavlily traveled roadway which motorist often exceed the posted speed limit. Furthermore now you have the danger of having kidss potenialiy running into the roadway, and motorist attempting to make a left turn out of the parking lot would create another traffic hazard. And besides there is no landmark, just an empty lot.

Anonymous said...

how many people in 76 years have been involved in an accident at mickey's? None. It's not a safety hazard.

Anonymous said...

As a home-owner in the area I do appreciate the family history of the stand/site but prefer it remain closed!

Anonymous said...

The law is the law. Besides, one day I was driving my car and got a phone call on my cell. I pulled over to the side of the road, not blocking any driveway, and the owner came out cursing and screaming at me to move. He said that I was blocking his business. Mine you, there were no cars in his area. He saw that I was using the phone but did not care about me or the law that required that if you want to talk you needed to pull over. I guess what I am saying is, if they are unfriendly to the public, then, the law should prevail.

Anonymous said...

The Law is DAH Law? Really! Who's law? And when are we really going to find out who brought all this to a head. Who the heck is John Lucido? Already your zoning board and this John Lucido are posing different excuses: 1)Commerical Business near/in residential area. 2) Traffic hazard, 3) DiFate can not get a resonable return on their 1/2 acre.
One last question: What city, Yonkers or Greenburgh has been checking the status of the Health Dept for this stand. I'm sure there has been no problem with that over the last 40+ years.

Anonymous said...

A LANDMARK IS A PERMANENT BUILDING,not one that has a motor and wheels.The building inspector is right.MICKEY STAYED THERE UNTIL HE RETIRED.JOHN LUCIDO DID NOT ACT BEFORE SINCE MICKEY WAS THERE.THIS COULD GO ON AND ON WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE TAKING OVER THIS TRUCK.HE OWNS THE PROPERTY SELL IT ,IF HE FINDS A BUYER.

Anonymous said...

I bet you don't live in the area. Do you think a residential development would be better? It doesn't fit in to the character of the community.

Anonymous said...

I DO LIVE IN THE AREA .that truck has been an eyesore for MANY YEARS.you seem to forget that property has been residential from the begining. now you want to let go as commercial.

LET THE DEPARTMENT DO THE JOB ACCORDING TO THE LAW.

Anonymous said...

The hot dog stand takes up almost no space. The truck leaves the area in the evening. Would you rather have a house(s) on the land? I wouldn't.

Anonymous said...

SINCE THE TRUCK LEAVES AT THE END OF THE DAY,HOW COULD ONE SAY THAT THIS IS A LANDMARK. PAUL LET YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS DO THEIR JOBS.MICKEY IS NOW RETIRED,HE HAD A LONG RUN OUTSIDE THE LAW.NOW IS THE TIME TO ENFORCE THE LAW.